Sorry Marble—We'll Be Cheating on You With These Interior Trends in 2020

While we may consider ourselves to be the authority on fashion, we're becoming more and more enamoured with interiors. The lines between fashion and homeware are becoming increasingly blurred on Instagram, after all, with many of our favourite style bloggers showcasing their equally well-turned-out homes on their grids in addition to their OOTDs.

With our interests piqued, we decided to ask those in the know what they think 2020's top interiors trends are going to be. Though marble, velvet and dried flowers are still proving very popular for the year ahead, there are three trends that interiors experts are championing for 2020.

We consulted with Partner and Design manager of Homeware at John Lewis & Partners Philippa Prinsloo, Co-Founder and Director of Att Pynta Kai Price, Creative director at Narcissus Flowers & Plants Marion Sandwith and Design Director at Made Ruth Wassermann, to find out how we should be decorating in the new decade. Here's what they said…

ONE WITH NATURE

"Centred around creating calm, our Spring Renewal edit is a response to our increasing need to reclaim our natural rhythms, connect to the natural world and consider our wellbeing," explains Prinsloo. "This collection utilises understated earthy tones to create a restorative and relaxing retreat. As we become more mindful of what we eat, how we exercise and relax, we understand that our environment plays a significant part in affecting our mindset. By creating a look that layers natural materials and champions craftsmanship, Spring Renewal forges a textural landscape."

"Velvet doesn't show any signs of slowing down as a material, but we are starting to see more diversity now in the form of bouclé, sheepskin and other, more natural-looking textured fabrics coming through,” says Wassermann. "People are looking to make bolder decisions with their upholstery, and statement chairs in these more trend-led materials are a really accessible place to start. We've also seen resurgent popularity of natural materials. Timbers in natural finishes are joined by woven materials, cane, bamboo and seagrass, the finish of these being more casual and less polished."

There's another brand taking this trend a step further: "With a huge focus on environmental issues, we have definitely seen a shift from 'fast' interiors to buying pieces that will last and are seen as timeless," says Price. "We have always loved handcrafted ceramics and will be focusing on styles that have a classic feel to them while being ethically made and not mass-produced."

As far as flowers go, the floristry industry is also seeing a shift towards more sustainable arrangements. "For 2020, we're seeing a few burgeoning trends starting to becoming part of the mainstream," reveals Sandwith. "A key factor is sustainability. Consumers are much more aware of the environment and are seeking eco-friendly alternatives to maximise the lifespan of their bouquets and floral designs without compromising their ethics."

"Florists are coming together to pool their ideas for eco-friendly mechanics and encouraging each other to inhibit the use of floral foam (a single issue micro-plastic). In particular, dried flowers have seen a huge rise in popularity, especially in the past few months, and we think they'll continue to be very popular in 2020. Natural dried flowers and grasses look soft, textural and whimsical—perfect for arranging into small bouquets in vases around the house or creating something larger and more impactful that can far outlast fresh-cut flowers. Embracing Mother Nature's wild and tumbling style is timeless and yet always surprising."

"Complementary to this has been the rise in popularity of nude-toned flowers—think shades of nude, caramel and biscuit, and flowers like quicksand roses, toffee-coloured anthuriums and café au lait dahlias, which sit beautifully alongside textural pampas grasses and sculptural fan-palm leaves. It's a look that's taken a natural, neutral and very elegant stance rather than being rustic or twee, and a look that will work throughout the seasons and in any room of the home to bring a luxurious quality."

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EMBRACE ECCENTRICITY

"We've started to see a movement which we've coined 'eccentric country,'" reveals Price. "We've seen this trend creep in more and more recently, as people want to give their homes a country feel. Creating a cosy home, that is full of colour, prints—this can be from printed fabrics on sofas, wallpapers, adornments—then juxtaposed with lots of artwork and paintings. A colour pallet of yellow, pale pink and greens seems to be the most popular. See Luke Edwards Hall's Instagram for inspiration on how to channel the look."

Prinsloo agrees that we are becoming more creative with our surroundings: "Our customers are embracing colour and pattern to deliver an eye-catching look for the new season. Mixing styles and pattern, the palette offers the freedom to express individuality and create a real personality for your rooms. Featuring the return of classical style icons including the slipper chair, the chaise longue and the pleated lampshade, this nostalgic nod provides a strong sense of welcoming."

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SPOTLIGHT ON BLUE

"Classic blue is making a comeback with Pantone naming Classic Blue the colour of 2020," says Price. "This colour is timeless, and it works wonderfully with mustard yellow and dusty pink hues." 

Blue tones will instantly bestow your home with an air of calm, particularly when paired with tonnes of grey and white. However, as Price suggests, it feels fresh and new when partnered with more vivid tones akin to that found in the eccentricity trend. 

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