Seneca Trend Report 2018
I know we are talking trends for 2018 and beyond, but I want to start by drawing attention to an exhibition that was presented in 2015 by Foundation Louis Vuitton, Keys to Passion (April 1st to July 6th, 2015). And the reason for starting here is that this exhibition was curated into four parts that seem an entirely appropriate fit with what present and future trends represent. For the most part, these are ideas that have continually been explored by artists and philosophers for centuries, but they feel intensely relevant and poignant today.
- Subjective Expressionism: evoking questions of about life, death, angst and solitude. Munch, Bacon, Dix and Giacometti.
- Contemplation: from mediations on nature to the radicalism of abstraction. Monet, Mondrian, Bancusi, Rothko and Picasso.
- Popist: capturing the energy, vitalism and invigoration of modern life, with an eye to the future. Delaunay, Leger, and Picabia.
- Music: the close relationship between artists and music. Kandinsky, Matisse and Severini.
You’ll see as you read on, that these four themes fit with the trend themes we foresee for the coming year and beyond.
There is a lot in this report. So take your time to explore and digest what is on offer. This report will remain on our website, so check back whenever you feel like it.
Four key trends:
Natures touch:
Green hues: Green was a key trend in 2017. Moving forward, we will continue to see hues of green present, but the use of this colour broadens from a single reference point of kale to encompass a much wider spectrum – from new growth zesty lemon green through to translucent green glass and onto deeper kelp like hues.
In 2017, we saw kale green paired with raspberry pink. Now this shifts to moss green hues complimented by heather tones, softer pinks or burnt orange. Teal green paired with terracotta or soft beige.
Colours to note:
- Green: moss, kelp, green glass,
- Purple: mauve, heather, lilac
- Orange: deep red, burnt orange, rust, terracotta and dusty pink
- Blue: turquoise blue, teal
From Pantone®: “Designers are beginning to tackle the “nature deficit” and are developing solutions that bring the natural world into the urban environment by way of considered urban planning, nature-symbiotic architecture and engineered nature.”
Nature is expressed not only with the colour palette. Alongside florals (often romanticised) we’ll see leaves and plants as well as allusions of nature with textural rubbings and weaving and weather motifs such as clouds and water droplets.
Mono coloured spaces:
Think green room and blueprint – this is a trend we will see particularly for retail spaces.
Intense and intoxicating – drawing people in and attempting to control responses. This trend seems to flow on from brutalist architecture trends that flowed onto brutalist graphic design trends. A raw exposition of uncertainty. Now into interior trends where bold powerful statements are being made with immediate impact. Capturing the spirit of innovation, freshness and creativity.
Some would see brutalist architecture as being too austere and hard edged for interior spaces, however this mono coloured trend is about deliberate edginess and defined point of difference without being cold or closed off.
Variation will come with the use of graphic elements (geometric patterning & fine line detailing), texture and tonal shifts.
In the home expect the intensity of colour to be paired back and white or neutral tones added to bring balance, but the idea remains. A single colour as the theme for a room.
Futuristic world:
A celebration of technology – bright colour (green, blue, pink, purple alongside metallic – silver and gold), translucency, projected light, layering/screens, transitioning of colour. Expect to see materials such as mesh and tinted coloured glass becoming common place.
Translucency, with sheers or semi sheers which give the impression of mesh with cut outs and texture will come to the fore.
Pantone® have a trend palette they have dubbed TECH-nique.
In recent years (and still very much relevant) we’ve followed the well-being trend by creating quiet, zen spaces to retreat to, seek refuge from the hustle of our every day, our on the go, connected lifestyles. This technology trend comes as a direct point of opposition to the well-being trend. It is not seeking to attack or undermine our dependency on gadgets, bright lights and stimuli, but rather to find beauty and exoticism in ever changing, unpredictable and futuristic high tech.
Read more at Interiorzine
Colours to note:
- Power pink, velvet burgundy, deep purple and mauve – a deliberate statement of sensuality and sexuality.
- Sapphire blue – translucent and intense. Blue paired with gold.
- Green glass
- Metallic – gold, silver and metal
For more on Pantone's colour predictions, visit Inspiring Interiors.
Balancing act:
Playing with scale and colour, this trend is about being bold with the pieces you pair and the colours you place alongside each other.
Large, soft and organic shaped furniture pieces in strong colours. Bright colours with bold stripes and geometric patterns. Fine lines from black thin framed furniture and lighting features, alongside large soft sofa in bright colour.
Like the works of artists Kandinsky and Luigi Russolo, there is music at play here. It is not just a matter of this and that, mix and match, but a careful composition of elements to create the finished performance.
Colours to note:
- Zesty yellow/green paired with grey/silver and warm charcoal.
- Watery hues and deep aquatic blues with golden tones of natural wood.
Things to watch out for:
Reuse – The upcycle trend of recent years takes a shift sideways with the challenge to design editors to reuse. Already we’ve seen this with Coco Shells from Elitis utilising the discarded coconut shells as a texture for wallcoverings (and shells in their soon to be released Trancoso wallcovering). Expect to see more fabrics, wallcoverings and homewares that use waste products from building and agriculture processes. This trend has made its way into building materials with the likes of exterior cladding systems made from recycled milk bottles, but it will start to feature more in interior materials also.
A sojourn to Russia – For some time, our gaze has been towards Scandinavia for the aesthetic we adopt in our homes. But this is beginning to shift. The question is, where to next? A few likely reference points stand out for the coming years – ancient empires of Japan, China and Russia.
These destinations reveal stark contrasts between contemporary culture and deeply entrenched heritage and it is this dichotomy that will inspire and intrigue.
Each design editor may have a different take, but the trend will be to seemingly merge old with new, holding on to sentimental pieces (dreaming of faded grandeur) and blending in modern touches (fine lines, industrial materials and precision). Just as the kimono has made its way to the catwalks, expect these traditional cultural reference points to be present our homes.
Across all trends:
Continuation of modular and versatile furniture items. Mixed use spaces, and homeware solutions that fit this. Mix and match, easy living solutions.
Baroque influence and richness of sensational experiences: gold, velvet, reflective/shining surfaces, and dark wood furniture. Sitting somewhere between the charred wood (black, or almost black) to dense dark tones.
Tufting, fringes and pompoms – we’ve seen it on cushions and bottom of drapes, but expect to see these more traditional crafting techniques and finishing touches on ottomans and other furniture pieces. As well as two tone upholstery, mixing colours, textures and prints.
