My Prediction For The Big Interior Trends of 2019
A few weeks ago I attended a bloggers dinner at the Miele London showroom to talk all things interior trends for 2019. Before the event all the bloggers were asked for their predictions beforehand and it was quite surprising to see that we were all pretty much on the same page to what we think is ‘over’ in interiors, and what we think will be the next thing that everyone will be doing in their home.
They are a funny thing, trends, because who really decides? It’s all a bit subjective and of course you should only do stuff in your home that you really love, but it was interesting to see a pattern in what we thought was going to be a desirable ‘look’ for next year. Hours spent scrolling through Instagram, reading blogs and devouring interior mags obviously shapes all these opinions.
I can only talk about what I personally think will be a ‘trend’, and to be honest there may be other things that are shaping up to be a trend but if I’ve got no interest in it, then I’ve not taken any notice. This list is therefore my curated trend prediction that I put together before the dinner. I’ll probably be giving all of these trends a go before the end of 2019, so stay tuned if you want to see how they pan-out in a ‘real’ home!
Painted Coving
Image credit: James Merrell
This is something that I have seen popping up a lot towards the last half of the year, and there are two ways to do it. One is to paint the coving that joins the top of the wall and ceiling a completely different colour to both the wall and the ceiling, as seen in the picture above. The second is to paint it the same as the wall colour, so the room feels elongated (like in the images below).
Gone are the days when everyone painted their ceiling, coving, doors and skirting white. Instead, you either paint your skirting and doors in the same colour as the walls to create a cohesive space, or you make them a feature by painting them in a (often darker) colour to the walls. Next in this paint evolution trend process is to make the most of the coving by highlighting it. Painting the coving a totally different colour is a good choice for a hallway, as a way of building interest in an otherwise furniture-less narrow space. It also gives you the option to have a bit of fun with colour. You may not want all your hallway walls coral pink, but colouring in the coving makes a great focal point.
If you have a room with a low ceiling, then painting in the coving the same as the wall colour, rather than have it painted in the same colour as the ceiling, will add height to the space as the coving becomes parts of the walls and is not sectioned off as part of the ceiling.
SULKING ROOM PINK
Image Credit: Farrow & Ball
This is one of the new Farrow & Ball colours released in late 2018 and it instantly appeared to be the most well-received from the nine new shades. This comes as no surprise as this is one of the best pinks out there, plus so many people are still embracing pink within interiors. Sulking Room Pink is neither an overly feminine pink, nor is it a plaster pink. Instead, it is a sophisticated warm pink with a slight retro feel. I particularly like it on this upcycled vintage sideboard by Elizabeth Dot Design, below. I expect to see it used a lot in successful room designs in 2019.
Image Credit: Elizabeth Dot Design
PAINTED BLACK WINDOW FRAMES
OK, so the first of my top 3 trend predictions are all paint related, but this is a good thing as painting is one the cheapest things you can do to change up your space and is attainable for everyone! The trend for painting your window frames black is coming over from the States, which is something that is already quite mainstream over there. I’ve seen it used a lot by US design extraordinaires Emily Henderson and Brady Tolbert and it is something that I really want to do in my own home next year. The key is that you leave the sill and the main frame white and just paint the actual inside window frames dark. I would not advise using a really tar-black colour for this as I think it would look too heavy. Instead, go for ‘off black’ blacks like ‘Blackout’ by Mylands or ‘Lamp Black’ by Little Greene. Dark greys like ‘Downpipe’ by Farrow & Ball would also work well.
Emily Henderson in her Portland House Project
CURVES
2LG Studio for John Lewis of Hungerford
So, circles were huge in 2018 (does anyone even buy a square or rectangular mirror anymore?) and the natural progression from circles is sexy curves, especially in furniture. The enormously talented interior design team 2LG have just collaborated with John Lewis Of Hungerford to create this curvy kitchen with arched cabinetry. While their Tilda sofa, below, a collaboration with Love Your Home, also curves down in the middle.
Tilda sofa, 2LG for Love Your Home / Footstool, Atkin & Thyme / Pendant Light, Dar Lighting / Pink Vase, &K Amsterdam / Duchess Armchair, Content By Terence Conran / Kooper 2 Seater, MADE.com / Marimekko Flower Vase / Delia Kingsize Bed, MADE.com
THE EXPLOSION OF HIGH STREET INTERIORS
Image Credit: H&M Home
This year H&M Home launched a very well-received lighting and furniture range. Items were well-designed and well-priced and a lot sold out in minutes. I predict that H&M will expand their home range next year and there will be limited edition collaborations with high-end designers that will fly off the shelves (the same as when they collaborate with top fashion designers on affordable clothing ranges.) As well as H&M, Zara Home and La Redoute became the places to go to find pieces that looked a lot more designer than the price tag. While the Design Project by John Lewis is still my go-to for stylish yet affordable pieces, such as great quality desk lamps and wall lights. With River Island launching a home collection towards the end of this year and BHS lighting coming back (yes, again, for the 3rd time!) I think the move from fashion to furniture will be a real focus on the UK high street and result in a lot more choice for all of us.
Neutrals
Image credit: Gubi
OK, so, this is the one, this is the trend that EVERYONE predicts, the move away from the dark wall to much lighter, brighter, warm neutral tones. We are talking whites with pigments of pinks and browns, so nothing stark, just calming and fresh. The images above and below encapsulate these colours perfectly, they are press images by Gubi and they were sent to me by fellow blogger French For Pineapple who has just painted her lounge in the most gorgeous warm neutral by Benjamin Moore Paint. We don’t know what the colour is in these Gubi images, but isn’t it perfection??
Image credit: Gubi
DESIRABLE PET PRODUCTS
Great interiors can often be ruined by rubbish-looking everyday items, such as the plastic dog water bowl or dodgy pet-bed purchase from your local vets. Fear not! All your interior prayers have been answered with snazzy-looking products for pets by companies such as MADE.com and Marks & Spencer. At a dinner with MADE recently one of the designers told me that the products they designed for pets was one of their most popular collections in 2018, so expect others to follow suit.
Ash pet bed and copper dog bowl, MADE.com / Pet Shampoo and pillow, Marks & Spencer.
So what do you think to my trend predictions? Do you agree? Have I missed anything? What do you love? What do you really NOT love???? Let me know in the comments section below!
