Interior Design Trends for summer 2012
Interior Design Trends for summer 2012
Good news for all of you feeling the winter blues and not enjoying the current cold snap. This spring and summer will bring with it some exciting new interior trends to really invigorate your design scheme. New colours, fun textures and an injection of technology will all make for a bright, vibrant summer vibe in your home.
Colour
As ever, the consumer markets of fashion and furnishings are inextricably linked, with trends jumping from one to the other every season. Colour blocking continues to be the main trend here and can be hugely effective if done correctly. Pastel shades are essential this summer, so colour blocking one wall with a pastel blue and contrasting with deeper navy furnishings will create a fresh, airy feeling in the room. Adding a feature piece in a vibrant colour adds a focal point, which can be as minor as some cushions or some colourful artwork on the wall. The real trick when colour blocking is to be consistent with saturation, hue and brilliance. Be careful to avoid over complicating your design with too many competing forms, lines and shapes; keep it simple with a few attention-grabbing colours.
New Tricks
Although in an ideal world, summer will be blissfully warm with not a cloud in the sky, the reality is that the summer months can often be miserable and even quite chilly in some parts. Incorporating a method of heating into your interior design doesn’t have to be difficult though. Some electric heating systems are now so slimline that they are barely noticeable on the wall. Alternatively you could go for one of the more outlandish modern designs for a multifunctional purpose of heating and a focal point.
Comfy Textures
One trend that continues to come through has particular relevance for upholstered furniture is the use of more plush and chunky textiles to really push that feeling of comfort in a room. Textiles in interior design have been swaying towards softer lines and more exaggerated cushions for a while and now chunky knits are the natural extension of this movement. Look out for thick yarn patterns that look like they’ve been knitted with a huge set of needles! Throw a few of these textures into a living room and have some lazy summer days on the sofa.
Geometric
Strong geometric patterns create a feeling of structure in a room, but can be overused and even be a bit painful to look at. They are highly effective though and are now starting to crop up in places you might not expect them. Hexagonal or triangular inlays in table tops and cabinets provide a modern aesthetic but should be used in subtle hues.
From refreshing your colour scheme with some pastel shades to switching up your furnishings with some thicker textures, these new design trends are likely to stick around. The main focus is combining comfort and creativity with designs becoming more stripped back, with simplicity taking a more prominent role.
