ForLook Interior Design

Interior Design trends::The New Old

There is new trend sweeping the world of interiors.  It seems that people are getting fed up with the designer look, the themed look and the super-modern look.

The keywords of the trendy interior are eclectic, unique & timeless. This means that mass-produced furniture & decoration is out - one-off, customised and individual pieces are in..

Stylish interiors are now a mixture of old and new. Not just as a way of combining antique with modern, but using contemporary materials in traditional shapes -  such as old-fashioned looking armchairs in a silver finish; classical armoires covered with mirrors; antique bed-frames dressed with contemporary fabrics; Victorian lamp-stands with modern shades etc. The most important issue is to have objects that are unique and interesting.

This new trend of fusing traditional aesthetics and high-tech finishes might be a reaction to the world we live in: the insecurities of our present and the uncertainty of our future. It’s simply more comforting to be nostalgic… It’s also a reaction against globalisation and mass-produced manufacturing. Most homes are now look-alikes and look like pages out of the Ikea catalogue. Even designer items are no longer unique, because too many of them get made. 

So how do you create this new look? You can either commission designers and furniture makers to make you unique furniture or artwork. Or you can customise your existing furniture. Or you can go to a market and buy interesting looking items that can be updated.

I know this is easier said than done - but really, just use your imagination.
Any old bits and pieces can be updated with some interesting shimmery paints. Old chairs and armchairs can be upholstered in contemporary fabrics. Customise boring, mass-produced chests of drawers or sideboards with mirror and glass handles.

The current home decor magazines tend to favour dark, moody colour schemes. Do be careful with this. This kind of Art Deco inspired look works well in California - but not in the UK. ( I’ll write about decorating with colour in the UK later, as I think it’s a crucial subject). So keep your colours light and bright on the walls, and use darker colours on accessories only.

The most important element of a successful interior is balance. So don’t over do things and don’t under do things. Look at lines, shapes, materials and colours - they must work together. I’ll write about this method too, in a future article, and I’ll put a link to it here.

The other new interior design trend is Wabi-Sabi. Read about this in our next article.