2010 will be a year where the right interior design is paramount. Due to the economic downturn, more and more people will be looking to entertain at home and turning to money-saving ways of making their home look special. Recycled and repurposed items mixed with eco-friendly natural materials are the over-riding themes for the year. Here is our rundown of interior design predictions for 2010.
Natural Materials – The use of natural materials such as solid wood and stone will become more popular over the use of other materials such as plastics, glass and MDF. Solid wood flooring has been popular for a number of years and this trend will continue. Solid woods such as pine will make a welcome comeback and we will see some newer contenders come to light such as mango, bamboo and sheesham hardwoods.
Vintage Style – Out with the new, in with the old! Modern hard styling is out this year, replaced with vintage country looks. Particular favourites include: Animal skin or shag-pile rugs, Chesterfield wing chairs, antique and eastern influenced rustic pieces and printed fabric and wallpapers. Combine classic pieces in a modern room to create a diverse, expensive look with a warm and comfortable feel.
Green – This year’s colour will be green in all its guises. Teals and turquoises are definitely hot and bold floral prints will be popular. Use as an accent colour with creams and off-whites for a classic colour combination. Alternatively, mix light teals and blue-greys with splashes of bold accent colours such as purples or oranges.
More Green – Not the colour green, this time we mean eco-friendly. Sustainability is no longer simply a buzz word for eco-warriors or a cool word used to sell solar panels and 2010 will see a great deal of more sustainable products that just happen to also look great. Sustainable woods such as mango and bamboo will rise in popularity and recycled and repurposed items are no longer for hippies. Recycled furniture and creative use of repurposed items given a second life is key. Inventive use of materials not only looks good but is a real money saver.
Staying in – In 2010, staying in is the new going out. More and more people are feeling the effects of economic shakeup and are choosing to entertain at home rather than eating out. For those looking to entertain, nothing is more important than making your guests feel welcome and nothing says welcome like a warm and comfortable setting. Creative use of materials and styles will provide some great talking points so dig out that old armchair or sofa, re-cover in some bold, modern fabric and watch the jealous look on your friends faces when you show off your funky “new” furniture. Check out interior design blogs and magazines for inspiration.
Outdoor Entertainment – This summer will be big for outdoor entertaining, weather permitting, and the same design trends will be popular outdoors as well as in such as solid wooden garden furniture, eastern influenced planting and repurposed items.
Have fun with your home. A home is not a static design; it is an ever evolving, living organism which continually needs attention. Make your home look the way you want it to, not how some pop star’s house looks on TV in some glossy magazine. After all, it’s you that will be living there and a home which reflects your personality will be far more pleasing than a carbon copy of someone else’s home.
This work was written by James Rockford who is a regular author for sites like Sheesham Furniture. James is dedicated to DIY, home improvement and furniture and also writes regularly for amazing sites like Zebra Rugamongst others.