Interior design trends for 2015

The New Year is a time at which many of us dwell on the state of our homes; resolving to ‘paint that bathroom’ or ‘finish the kitchen’ once and for all. It’s also a time at which experts share their predictions for fads and fashions that you might like to take inspiration from.

Distilling all these gems and sorting the outlandish from the realistic can be a job in itself, so we’ve done it for you – using insight from those in the know. Here are five top interior design trends for 2015:

The colour ‘Marsala’

Each year, those in the industry and beyond eagerly await the announcement of the Pantone Colour of the Year. As we bid farewell to Radiant Orchid, it’s time to welcome in Marsala 18-1438 – a shade that Pantone calls a “naturally robust and earthy wine red” which “enriches our minds, bodies and souls”. Though it received a mixed reaction, the warm red-brown hue has already been spotted on the catwalks, worn by the likes of Beyonce, Blake Lively and Taylor Swift. It’s likely that the colour will be incorporated into homewares, soft furnishings, paints and wallpapers, featuring in many home improvements this year.

Twisting the traditional

An emerging trend that has been identified by Houzz.com editor, Sheila Schmitz, is the mixing of older items with modern ones – especially ‘contemporary chairs with rustic tables’. Schmitz believes that pairing two things that seemingly don’t go together actually ’emphasises the best qualities of both’. It’s something you might see in the kitchen, too, where swish city apartments incorporate more traditional items like a range cooker; AGA has even developed two slimline ‘City’ models – which, available in a range (sorry) of fashionable colours, don’t look out of place in a brand new flat.

Forget the chrome

This year is expected to be the year in which we see far more materials being used in our kitchens and bathrooms. Gold fixtures are predicted to be big, offering a softer alternative to the usual chrome or stainless steel taps, according to Town and Country Living, while the Decorator’s Wisdom blog suggests oil-rubbed bronze will prove ‘important’ in 2015 for handles, towel rings, etc but if that is too dark, then brushed nickel might make a better alternative.

Mood lighting

Homeowners can show those granite worktops off to their best effect if they follow the trends for improved mood lighting in the kitchen. Softer under-cupboard illumination has been seen in the showrooms in Milan which change the entire atmosphere of the room, promoting relaxation and sophistication. Interior design studio, Matteo Bianchi blogged about how this lighting works best with simple colour palettes and materials – such as marble and steel. Houzz.com says that ‘statement-making ceilings’ will be commonplace, whether using lighting, windows or embellishments – the aim being to make us ‘all look up’, apparently. However, the additional light – be it natural or not – will also impact on the ambience of the room, so if you really want to make a change, let it be this one.

The feminine touch

To counter the stark, minimalist sharpness of geometry and clean lines, some experts expect to see softer elements in our homes. We’re not talking chintz and an explosion of pink; think more ‘subtle cream next to loud lace’ or indulgent and tactile roundness. Interior designers, Tucker & Neguspredict the use of more organic, graceful shapes, such as droplets, particularly in the form of lights, glassware and decorative accessories. Fellow experts at the Delta Faucet Company forecast feminine curves juxtaposed against ‘boisterous colours’ to achieve a ‘pretty but practical’ effect.

There are hundreds and hundreds of design trends predicted and shared online, but hopefully the above might have encouraged you to think about your own living space and how you might improve it – finally crossing that long-held New Year’s DIY resolution off your list!