Home is where the heart is, so treat it to a fresh look for spring. JLife gets insight from the experts and picks out furnishings that will update your décor for 2016.
We are in a new season and the warmer weather brings a craving for change around the house. There are plenty of trends to bring into the home and garden this spring, so whether the living room needs a revamp or the bedroom could do with a lick of paint, allow JLife to provide a guide to the interiors trends for the months ahead.
ASK THE EXPERTS
Knowing where to being is half the battle. JLife caught up with two home décor experts who revealed their thoughts on the top trends this season.
Perfect Pastels
Nadia McCowan Hill, resident style expert for online furniture store, Wayfair.co.uk, picks out the colour palette for spring/ summer 2016.
Spring has officially sprung, making it the perfect time to switch up your interior palettes for something fresh, light and new. Naturally, the two Pantone colours, Rose Quartz and the blue Serenity are leading the way in interior trends this season. Soft, versatile and easy-on-the-eye, this winning pastel duo is perfect for this time of year when a quick and easy refresh is in order.
Another shade dominating the trends is yellow. A cheerful colour with seasonal connotations and surprising adaptability, yellow is a great accent hue and a natural fit for spring.
In terms of materials, gunmetal has replaced copper as the metal of the season, while woods and rattans dominate the trends thanks to the explosion of the ‘outdoor in’ trend. Springing from this look is the widespread desire for wicker seating, twig accents, floral wallpaper and luscious indoor plants.
Fade to Grey
Designer for BBC1’s DIY SOS the Big Build, Julia Kendell is also interior design spokesperson for The National Homebuilding & Renovating Show. Here, she reveals her thoughts on how to rejuvenate the home this season.
The trend for pared-back, industrial styling in interiors has reached the kitchen with utilitarian designs prevalent. Chunky styling, the use of open shelving replacing wall cupboards, and a mix of materials including distressed timber, steel and honed granite or concrete surfaces are key to reproducing this look.
The way I design for my clients has changed recently with separate larders, the utility becoming the ‘wash-up area’ to avoid clutter in open-plan spaces, and tall double-door crockery stores and dry-food stores most popular.
High-gloss is taking a back-seat to softer, more tactile and easy to maintain alternatives. Grey will continue to have a very strong presence with contrasting light and dark featured heavily.