The 2018 Interior Design Trends You Need To Know

The year is almost at an end. As 2018 comes quickly, new trends start to emerge on the horizon. 

Some years have been less predictable than others. 2016 in particular started a series of trends that pushed the boundaries. From strange and unique textures to jaw-dropping colours. 

2017 has been a year of experimentation in the interior design field. Forecasters and trendsetters are predicting that this boundary-pushing will expand even further before it retracts. 

In other words, prepare for some seriously interesting and exciting interior decorating trends to hit next year.

The Colours

According to experts, there are a number of existing colour hues that will continue to be “in”. Three are on their way “out”. And two that you can still get away with - just. 

The In Colours

Caliente: Also known as AF-290, caliente is a sizzling hot colour that simply exudes warmth and confidence.

“It is pleasurable, passionate and makes people feel special, like they’re getting ‘the red carpet treatment’,” Ellen O’ Neil said. 

Oceanside: Oceanside is a two-sided colour. It’s one that’s reminiscent of a cosy, stress free cottage overlooking the surf. And will actually create the tantalising sense that you’re at this exotic getaway. “It is a colour,” as the director of Sherwin Williams explained, “that makes its way into every corner of the home and inspires a sense of wanderlust.”

Shadow: PPG has called this their colour of the year, opting for a dark, intimate feel rather than the open and airy colours of the past. As Dee Schlotter of PPG noted, 

“In past years, consumers have gravitated towards open, airy spaces that are thought to leave room for exposure. However, in the current day, consumers often feel uneasy, restless, or like their privacy is being invaded. So they crave deep, comforting colours that offer a welcome escape from the chaos of daily life.”

Dark Plum: This is a colour that’s standing on an edge, according to some trendsetters. In late 2016, Dark Plum became a hit in New York. Francesco Bilotto noted, “you could see it showcase everywhere from kitchen cabinets to foyers.” The shade that was meant to create a unique statement has lost part of its appeal due to overabundance. Still, its fate is in the air.

Autumn Maple: This is one of the shades that refuses to die. Pantone has classified it as a very earthy Autumn hue that still works year round. It’s one of their all-time best sellers. The burnt orange tone lends any space a nestled and comfortable feel, giving it a certain sunset spice.

Chinoiserie Red: Exotic, impactful, and attractive shades will continue to be popular this year and next. Strong colours and the way they clash dynamically with pastels and whites will be a major force in 2018.

Deep Emeralds: The gamut of deep greens isn’t going anywhere soon. Colours like Bluegrass Green and Courtyard Green will continue to dominate the design world.

“These are colours that are steeped in history,” designer Jeffrey Bilhuber adds, “but also of the moment.”

Oval Room Blue: The colour of distilled drama. Designer Lauren McGrath has nicknamed it her “little miracle worker.” This sort of shade looks great all year round. It brings other colours out and doesn’t dominate a space. It goes great with metallic tones, such as timeless silver and gold.

Black Chiffon: The colour of shadows and mystery. It’s one of the most masculine colours out there and one that’s become the watermark and baseline for that tone. Black Chiffon works great with wooden fixtures, overhead lamps, and leather dining chairs.

Stone White: The antithesis of Black Chiffon. Whites, in general, will always be in. “Not every room can have a dozen windows,” Christine Lowe emphasises. “To capture sunlight in those hard to reach nooks, the best tone is Stone White.”

Dusk: For many interior designers, there’s a known rule: You can never have too much blue. Dusk is a light, anti-Smurf blue that attracts and calms at the same time. It is one of the most relaxing colours sold by Sherwin Williams.

The Out Colours

Windsor Pink: This is a colour that became a fad in late 2016. Windsor Pink, also known as “millennial pink,” is seeing its last days in the spotlight. The ‘too juvenile’, or ‘too sweet’ nature of it is no longer having the desired effect. And its bland, salmon-esque appeal is losing traction in a world that is leaning toward brighter colours.

Deep Turquoise: A moodier colour that became ubiquitous in 2017. It’s dark hues made their way into every home. It was a staple of the Moroccan wave that washed over the nation last year. Now Deep Turquoise is on its last leg.

Shadow: Last year’s poster child will inevitably be next year's redheaded stepchild. “It’s become too common and too bland,” Argentine designer, Juan Carlos Tovar, explained. “When everyone has it, it ultimately losses that ‘it factor’ that made it shine.”

The Maybe Colours

Brick: There is an increasing fascination with the dirty, grungy, rockstar look of the late 80s. Brick and dark colours in reddish-brown tones will be heavily desired. Small rooms, in particular lofts and trendsetters’ apartments, will try their best to emphasise their owner’s wild days with that added touch of maturity.

The general feel will be “faux rock dinge.”

Greys: Hues of greys from dirty white to washout black may start to move toward increasing popularity. They’ll feel natural with the industrial wave that’s dominating the fashion world right now.

What to Expect From 2018

In 2017, people displayed a more conscientious approach to interior decorating. The general idea has been that it's better to buy once, and spend as much as needed than simply replace. The trend has moved toward purchasing quality products and natural materials. 

These same principals will be fundamental for the coming months as 2018 rolls in.

The consensus is quality over quantity, style over abundance, taste over crassness.

These are the trends to look out for in the coming year:

• Plants and vegetation are the new must-have. Small plants, singular and exotic are going to dominate the landscape.
   
• Palettes will continue to be a popular look. Although, unlike other years, people will lean toward worked palettes and a professional touch, rather than a DIY outlook.
   
• There will be a growing desire to reconnect with nature. Pantone’s colour of the year confirmed this trend.
   
• Wood will be widely used, a counterbalance to the sleek, futuristic feel of the last 4 years. 
   
• The natural look will be highlighted by marble and small amounts of plexiglass.
   
• In the masculine section, the Nineties are back. Velvet, leather, tartans and geometric shapes will be the linchpin used to decorate most man caves.
   
• Deconstructed luxe will be the ubiquitous look of most modern and young living and bedrooms. In contrast to the hi-gloss and super shiny metallic look that’s become a standard in most tech-heavy homes, 2018 will have continued nods to the industrialism feel of the late 80s. Think Berlin before the fall of the Wall or Nirvana’s Seattle. Look for thick exposed brickwork, the use of cement, and raw, natural materials.
   
• We all want to adapt our homes to our lifestyles. Tablets, smartphones, and an intelligent house will be what every client will ask from their designer.
   
• Brass will triumph over copper. Marble will always be in. Ceramics, meanwhile, will fade from sight.
   
• Wood will be the main material used for decoration. A slick, polished, super smooth wood will be the encompassing material used to mesh everything together.
   
• Velvet sofas and armchairs will be everywhere, especially in more female-friendly homes.

• For those in constant search of a more Caribbean atmosphere, pineapples and flamingos will be replaced by sawgrass, parrots and the occasional bamboo.
   
• Typography will be increasingly used. For example, you may see a framed art piece with the word “EAT” over the stove in a kitchen. 
   
• Fringing will increasingly show up on everything from pillows to blankets to small furniture. Even curtains are a possibility.
   
• Although this will be a pricier trend, we should expect to start seeing more iridescents such as lucite being used. 

Welcoming 2018 with open arms

2018 will be an exciting year in the world of interior decorating. New colours will sweep in, breathing fresh air to old spaces and revitalising stale homes. 

Brian Reed said, “Everything is designed. Few things are designed well.” 

As 2018 rolls in, consider how you will design your spaces well.