interior design trends

 HIDEAWAY HOME OFFICES

(Image credit: Another Country)

A small home office is all about smart WFH stations that can be disguised. To the unassuming eye they'll look like a drinks cabinet, or a writing bureau, or perhaps an armoire. But what they hide is all your work stresses and strains and papers and bits.  

'For most of our clients, this involves utilizing a spare bedroom as their home office that can still act as a guest room when needed,' says Candance. 'For others, we’ve helped them by adding ADU’s or converting their garages into separate spaces for working. And for our clients who are tighter on space, we’ve helped them designate an area in the home that makes use of a clever piece of furniture that serves multiple purposes. Anyone can create a hideaway office by rethinking their existing furniture pieces or choosing items that can do double duty. A small desk becomes a larger nightstand in a guest room, or a c-table that’s big enough for a laptop can tuck up next to a chair or sofa for working hours and then moonlight as sleek side table when the work day is done.'

ALFRESCO BATHING

(Image credit: Inclined Studio. Studio credit VPA Architects)

Ever since Gwyneth Paltrow debuted her home spa to the world, designers have been thinking of new ways to fold this feeling into decor. The materials, the textures, the steam rooms...and now, the return of the outdoor shower and bathtubs has become a part of  bathroom trends.

'For a raw feel in the outdoors, consider materials such as blackened steel with a patina or rustic, live-edge wood,' says Victoria Holly, principal and founder of Victoria Holly Interiors. 'These material provide an unexpected take on more traditional materials such as metal or wood. I also like to bring in larger format tiles in a concrete look or even faux concrete waterproof plastering to the outdoors. We love to incorporate faux concrete for a built-in tub surround or on countertops, and also like to add in exposed copper pipes or black iron fixtures.'

LUXE OUTDOOR LIGHTING

(Image credit: Jess Isaac. Design: Jessie Lane Interiors)

As we all want to spend more and more time in our backyard, it's no wonder the trend for luxe lighting has come outside with us. Be it in outdoor dining or living rooms, eye-catching pieces are the need of the house. 'Outdoor lighting prevents our outside spaces seeming like dark black holes when viewed from inside the house,' says garden designer Kate Gould.

'Sculptural lights are a big trend,' says Scott Richler, founder of Gabriel Scott.. 'A completely customisable sculptural lighting statement made from an innovative material which is also durable for the outdoors is the need for most homeowners.'

'Fantastic chargeable options, means style is no longer sacrificed for function, so you can have gorgeous table lamps on your alfresco dining table, with all manner of different types of fairy/bulb lights and solar powered uplighters for your plants,' says Cat. 'Good garden lighting is not just for the moments you are outside, but it makes an enormous difference if you are inside looking out, as suddenly your garden becomes a feature to be enjoyed, and celebrated.'

IRREGULAR RUGS

(Image credit: Note Design Studio)

Irregular rugs are striking designs that undoubtedly have all been created to own the floor. Not only do these living room rugs have an eye-catching print,  they’re also all shaping a new outline in design, quite literally, as they all sport an unconventional shape. 

Whether you’re going curvy, geometric, or angular, these top sports all boast a little bit of ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking, and we’re ready to embrace it. 

'Scallop edges are not going away for a while and I'm here for it,' says Cat Dal, founder of Cat Dal Interiors. 'We love a playful moment, so we have just proposed henry holland's Diagonal melt carpet as the stripes literally 'melt' in the corner of the rug which is such a piece of art.'

PLUMPED-UP SEATING

(Image credit: Folio Studio)

Designers are demonstrating how a more relaxed style of seating designs can combine comfort factor and everyday practicality, but with high-level refinement and ultimate style-desirability. Embracing curves as the newest chair and sofa trend. 

'Curved  and plumped up sofas sofas  first become popular in the 1950s when Vladimir Kagen created his Serpentine sofa,' says Samantha Wilson, interior designer and founder of Collection Noir. 'Since then, and thanks to this iconic piece and subsequent iterations, designers have been given a little more creativity when designing a space.'