Careful, considered spending on quality products seems to be the mantra right now, so it’s an evolution rather than revolution in terms of key interior trends for 2019.
COLOURS
While white and greys may still be going strong as the neutral base to any scheme, there is a move toward going bold throughout the home. Walls, particularly are dark, with matching woodwork rather than the usual white to create a dramatic, all-over visual experience. From Farrow & Ball’s Down Pipe to Fired Earth’s Charcoal, black is most definitely back. Eschewing the hi-gloss, lacquer-look surfaces of the 1990s, we’re picking chalkier, matt painted finishes to add period style sophistication. Navy and emerald greens are also key colours in 2019 for statement islands or for creating contrast with a freestanding larder.
At the other end of the spectrum, Rose Quartz – Pantone Colour of the Year in 2016 – is increasingly a favourite for those who want a dash of colour in their lives without it being too in-your-face. Time will tell if Pantone’s Living Coral, an altogether more zingy shade of pink will end up gracing our homes quite as much as this gentle, elegant blush tone.
Surprisingly rich, earthy colours were all over the recent Spring/Summer interior design shows, so expect to see lots of terracotta, ochre and mustard shades on the high street shortly. They work beautifully in tandem with the darker greys and blues that have been adorning soft furnishings for a while now and work equally well alongside soft pastel pinks and emerald greens.
PATTERN
Geometric shapes, specifically in tiling and fabrics continue to grow but are gradually moving away from monochromatic black and white. Richer blues and mustards are much more on-trend in 2019, while tile designs that can be laid in several different ways to create a multitude of patterns provide consumers with an element of personalisation. Kitchens, bathrooms and hallways with designs featuring tiles from companies such as Bert & May, Fired Earth, Ted Baker and Ca’ Pietra abound on social media.
While metro tiles are still a popular addition for splashbacks, there’s a move away from the standard ‘brick’ format to patterns that are more intricate, such as herringbone.
Meanwhile, searches online for botanical wallpapers with bold, tropical patterns continue to grow, with the latest interior design trend forecast from Pinterest reporting a 401% rise.
MATERIALS
Marble is a growing trend for kitchen worktops and splashbacks, mostly fed by the amazingly realistic faux stones that are currently available. Manufacturers of quartz composites, such as Caesarstone and Silestone now offer a large number of worktops that – because of their easy-care properties – are as good, if not better than the real thing. Waterfall or drop edge worktops on islands are also driving the increase in statement stone composites, such as Dekton’s Taga, which was inspired by Taj Mahal quartzite.
Concrete surfaces are also great for adding to that industrial aesthetic and work well for floors and walls as well as worktops, particularly in kitchen extensions featuring Crittall or Crittall-style windows.
Meanwhile, steel seems to be loosening its very firm grip on the kitchen, with taps, handles, light fittings and even sinks all receiving a welcome touch of warmth from brushed copper, rose gold and burnished brass finishes. Adding texture – or at least the illusion of it – is another interior design ideal growing in popularity. This can be as simple as layering several materials together, creating an indoor garden feel with a profusion of potted plants or even adding china and glassware that feature raised or etched surfaces. Even parquet floors seem set for a makeover with searches for painted parquet rising 1276% as people look for design inspiration on bright colours and geometrically patterned painting techniques to adorn wooden flooring.
APPLIANCES
The ‘broken plan’ trend for kitchens and living spaces ensure that appliances for 2019 will be quieter, better looking and more connected than ever before. For ovens and induction hobs, black glass with minimal steel trim is definitely in vogue right now, while the Mozart downdraft hood from AirUno has a see-through central panel, perfect for maintaining sightlines in open-plan spaces. Meanwhile, both Smeg and DeDietrich are adding copper trim to their appliances and Miele are improving kitchen tech with by launching a hood and hob that talk to each other via their Con@ctivity 2.0 technology, meaning it automatically adjusts the suction power depending on what’s cooking beneath.
If you’re sprucing up your living room or looking for kitchen design ideas and not sure where to start, keeping abreast of these broader interior design trends for 2019 will help to keep you on track.
