Everybody noticed that this Milan Design Week 2017 was all about colour.
Today, however, I’m doing a roundup of the interior colour trends for 2018, starting from what I saw in Milan, of those new hues I think will be very cool for the upcoming months.
The biggest trend is to go more and more towards bright and stronger hues, shades that are more flamboyant. This return to colour goes together with a return to the Eighties and its strong design and colour scheme.
There was pink everywhere, especially in the Barbie-like pink, the “Millennial Pink“.
Primary colours come back, especially Red, the Yellow (yes the Minion one), the blue (the Klein blue).
Then there are all the warm and earthy tones but becoming brighter; from Orange, Burgundy Red, that reminds me a bit of Pantone Marsala.
Loved the violet and dark turquoise match, which I have noticed several times: looks like we will see a lot of violet and purple in next times.
Lots of green as well, although the trend is to go from the dark and desaturated shades that we’ve seen a lot last year. Right now it’s leaning more towards natural and vitaminic hues: there was no Pantone greenery in Milan, but new interesting shades of Sage, Celery and Avocado greens
THE FINAL VERDICT
COLOUR
An abundance of warm and earthy colours was on display at this year’s fair, replacing the more minimal palette of previous seasons. Hues of sienna, tan, terracotta through to stronger rust and russet were used all over on walls in rooms, as well as furniture and accent decor objects. Popular accent colours on the show were black forest, emerald green and watermelon red.
KITCHEN
Marble continues to be the preferred material for kitchens, however, the look is now decidedly more discreet, with little Carrara seen this year. The all-black kitchen was a very popular look, especially when paired with indoor plants. That being said, electronic appliances such as fridges, dishwashers and stovetops are increasingly hidden elements in kitchens. Cooktops are truly integrated into the kitchen with the gas element and knobs placed on the stone top without the stainless steel or glass plate at all.
The trend of concealing storage and tableware was reversed this season, with plenty of freestanding cabinets with glass doors and open shelf racks for showing off crockery. Heaps of green and brown marble used. Gone is the 40 or 60mm thick stone bench. Marble bench tops were as thin as possible, often using a shark-nose profile to appear to float over the cabinets. Sometimes the edge wasn’t visible at all, with the bench sunken into the cabinetry.
Black is the new white.
LIVING ROOMS
Wallpaper in the living spaces is back and here to stay. The key trends are either going to be geometric or organic. Geometric designs take cues from the Memphis style with dashes and stripes
Curved sofa. Organic styles were seen with soft and watercolour markings, or paint splotches. These tend to be easier to live with, as they form a softer backdrop than bold geometric designs. Stay away from floral or damask designs
FURNITURE
Next year things are leaning towards comfort in couches, with many low, puffy, curved and plump shapes. It is almost like a daybed platform, with a backrest which divides the seating into three parts. Many designers took to showcasing fringing on furniture for a luxurious look with an edge.
Referencing 1950s glamour, long fringing was used as a skirt on marble coffee tables and also running along the bottom of a red velvet sofa.
HOMEWARE AND STYLING
Popular styles and materials include terrazzo, velvet, ottomans and side tables, lamps, brass objects, handmade glazed ceramics, mouth-blown coloured vases, wooden vases. Indoor plants have been in our homes for a while now, and there was no indication of this changing anytime soon.
BATHROOMS
The move towards colour is continuing in the bathroom, not only through tiles but also basins and toilets. We foresee colours such as soft plum, dusty blue, dark green, beige, brown and charcoal.
WHAT’S IN:
Warm colours, natural stone, cacti, curved shaped furniture, wicker, cordless lamps, black kitchens, portable lighting
WHAT’S OUT:
Florals, damask, polished glossy stone, white kitchens and bathrooms, copper and rose gold finishes, minimalism, shiny high-gloss finishes
WHAT’S NEXT:
Suede, more designers collaborating with mass-produced furniture brands, Asian-inspired design, red accents
