From looks that embody simplicity, practicality, and efficiency to styles that highlight clashing colors, elaborate lines, and daring statement pieces, interior design is a matter of personal choice. But trends are constantly evolving, and with every season, we witness the emergence of something new.
There are trend staples such as Mid-century Modern, Bohemian, Minimalist, and Victorian. Then, there are the funky-sounding Shabby Chic, Hollywood Regency, Grandmillennial, and Japandi. Sometimes the differences are blurred by the subtlest details; other times, the distinction is utter, downright, and in-your-face.
We take our hats off to those who conscientiously stick to a particular trend. However, we believe that the home should be a blend of everything you love – whether it’s floral motifs, two-tone kitchens, roof windows, over-the-top glamour, or marquetry wall coverings.
Not sure which format suits you? Learn from the popular interior designs of Northern England. Here are four luxury trends to guide and inspire you in choosing the perfect style for your home.
Geometric Balance
There is a mistaken belief that geometric patterns in interior decorating include only sharp, pointed angles and strong, cutting lines. But when it concerns the Geometric trend, all man-made shapes are created equal – from triangles, squares, and hexagons to circles, ovals, and crescents.
It is very likely that you already have geometric decors in your home. Think of square rugs, triangle-printed cushions, and rectangular windows. You may have a round coffee table, an oval mirror, and moon-shaped seats. Then, there’s the hexagonal pattern, making a comeback in floorboards, bathroom tiles, wall shelves, and light fixtures.
Geometric shapes and patterns are everywhere, so it is easy to go overboard with the trend. But if you put too many geometric designs in one place, you sacrifice cohesion, water down the impact of the bold patterns, and prevent any of the shapes from standing out.
To prevent this interior design faux pas, you must find your geometric balance. It’s as simple as pairing bold and elaborate patterns with soft and subtle forms to avoid overpowering the senses. Choose an area in your house where you want the geometric style to pop. Consider herringbone floorboards in the kitchen, square glass mosaics in the bathroom, or muted mural walls in your living room. Lastly, be bold with color blocking to create impressive accents and complement metallics and monochromes.
Fitted Kitchen Furniture
The kitchen has taken a 360-degree spin from being a dark and dank discreet space at the back of the house (hiding it protects visitors from the distracting smells, sounds, and sights of household staff doing early 20th-century chores) to becoming the room homeowners love to show off. A kitchen that is both functional and aesthetically appealing automatically earns the homeowner bragging rights.
But what makes a kitchen practical and beautiful at the same time? Take a hint from the luxury bespoke kitchens of Cheshire: clean lines, structured simplicity, unassuming elegance. Yes, minimalism in the kitchen never really went out of style.
To achieve a sleek, seamless, uncluttered look, go for a fitted kitchen. The style employs bespoke cabinets, matching wall-to-wall units, coordinated colours, and integrated appliances. The best thing about a fitted style is that you can personalize your kitchen according to your lifestyle, hobbies, and interests. If you love to cook or entertain, you can install a walk-in pantry, a double fridge, a breakfast bar, or a built-in coffee maker.
The fitted design maximises available space by allowing you to utilise nooks and oddly shaped corners as an extra storage place or for putting up unobtrusive decors. You can keep bulky kitchen gadgets and other kitchen necessities in custom-designed shelves or cupboards, making the room look more organized and spacious.
Retro Artwork
Call it nostalgia, curiosity, or good taste, but some people feel a certain degree of affinity to vintage items, be it a couch, rug, or painting. Imagine a cherry-red egg chair from the 50s, a vinyl turntable record player from the 60s, or a framed Jaws poster from the 70s.
The last few years saw the rise of contemporary style, featuring neutrals, blacks, and whites and sharp, visible lines in the form of high ceilings, bare windows, and geometric-patterned flooring. While we love the subtle sophistication of the contemporary style, we need to break the monotony occasionally. Putting up a vintage painting on a plain wall creates a welcome contrast and adds color to an otherwise drab-looking room.
Don’t be afraid to select pieces from multiple eras and experiment mixing the old and new. A 70s push-button phone would look fascinating on a modern wall-mounted open shelf. Hang a macramé plant holder over a chic glass and acrylic coffee table, decorate your room with flower power wallpaper, warm your kitchen with brass and copper fixtures.
Generally, there are no fixed rules on incorporating retro and vintage artwork into your interior design. An eclectic mix of various pieces makes the area more vibrant. But if you are recreating a specific theme -- for instance, the Great Gatsby -- be sure to stick to the motif. Do not display too many art decors in one place, as this will lessen the impact of the piece and defeat the purpose of accentuating the original architectural elements of a room.
The Industrial Look
While nobody knows exactly when the industrial look began, it is apparent that the style took a cue from turn-of-the-century buildings, abandoned workshops, and vacant warehouses. Yorkshire, which was at the heart of Britain’s Industrial Revolution, abounds with these 18th-century structures. Many of which have become residences that feature a carefully fashioned no-frills and fuss-free ambiance.
Perhaps the most distinctive characteristic of the industrial style used by Yorkshire based interior designers, is it unapologetically flaunts the working structural parts of a building to produce a unique touch. Exposed beams, cooper pipes, bare ventilation ducts, and wide-open floor plan become integral parts of the industrial look’s interior design.
So, how do you apply the industrial look to your home? The trick is to mix old and modern materials to create a rustic and timeworn yet urban and contemporary feel. To achieve this, highlight exposed brick walls and polished concrete, combine weathered timber with wrought iron, and layer squared lines with organic shapes and abstract forms. Go for neutral palettes and accessorize with bold retro artwork, metal pendant light fixtures, cooper pipe shelving, or steel framed mirrors.
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