One of the world’s largest and most important consumer fairs, Ambiente shines a spotlight on key trends in interiors for the year ahead. With sections focusing on Dining, Living and Giving – think attractive, giftable accessories – it presented almost 4,500 exhibitors from 96 countries last week, and afforded a comprehensive overview of design directions for 2017.
Here are seven need-to-know trends we’re hoping to see in our homes over the coming months.
Make a spirited statement with contrasting prints in vibrant shades that celebrate fun and fantasy in the home. For an instant injection of colour and shape, throws and rugs make an instant impact with minimal effort. Or if subtlety is more your modus operandi, try whimsical tableware for easy yet effective introduction of patterns and prints into your abode.
In a world of plenty, Ambiente encourages us to make materials matter and focus on the artistry, craftsmanship and handiwork that goes into each product we possess. Think cast iron pots, weighty wooden chopping boards, naturally-dyed leather accessories and lots and lots of linen – all in a stong, masculine palette of indigo, terracotta and neutral grey.
Inspired by nature, filigree arrangements and tactile textures endow delicate design objects with a sensual pleasure. Matte ceramics, intricate weavings, sand-blasted glass and 3D-printed products in a soothing palette of soft pastels, nudes and ivory seduce and enchant, embracing the ethereal and infusing interiors with an incredible airiness.
Strong, sculptural and geometric forms inspired by Art Deco but existing firmly in the contemporary sphere will play a major role in the coming months. Statement appointments, accoutrements and particularly lighting evoke a powerful sense of self-confidence and elegance, and, while the palette speaks of mid-century design, the execution is nothing but modern.
Want to incorporate Pantone’s colour of the year, Greenery, into your abode, but worried an accent wall might look a bit… Kermit? Look to the natural world for an organic alternative in the shape of cacti, which, according to Ambiente, are to 2017 what the golden pineapple was to 2016, albeit longer living.
This year is not all about the aesthetic, but the olfactory, too. Diffusers take on new dimensions and play a sculptural role, appealing to the eye as well as the nose, while the scents themselves expand beyond the realm of the conventional to include Japanese handcrafted paper, moss and more – all intended to create a sensory sanctuary in the home.
Minimal, natural and with a consideration of craft and a timeless sensibility, Japanese design is back in vogue. From tatami mats and kimono fabrics to cast iron tea sets and yakishime porcelain, expect the Land of the Rising Sun and its renowned understated aesthetic to make its distinctive and timeless mark on your interiors this year.
