Return of the retro
DECOR This year, you can confidently pair grandma’s chairs with a modern chandelier to create your own personal style. Trend analysts have predicted the return of vintage style, writes Neela Gulati
Trend analysts are noticing a resurgence of patterns, textures and colours rooted in the vintage. The trends for 2011 reflect the concepts of family and preserving the past. ‘Shabby chic’ is the style this year which means antiques can be very beautiful and chic, even if the fabric or paint is a little tattered or tarnished.
Green living has become a component of style. By reusing and repurposing furniture and accessories, people are doing a great thing to protect the planet. Using items again and again will continue to be popular this year. Perfection and professional touches will not exactly be important anymore. Personalised flair and homegrown imperfections will be more acceptable.
Restoration & greening up
What will comprise trends in 2011 will be an interest among decorators to “green up” by way of restoration which means you not only save money but also contribute to protecting the environment.
Everybody will tend to seek forms and colours with a global influence. The recession has diminished our need for non-essentials and that will be seen in the simple geometric design of furniture.
Vibrant colours should be used to go well with this, but, modest ones with golden hues will also be used. Tomato red and oceanic blue will also be used this year. Neutral grey and white in combination with other colours, as well as various shades of yellow, will be used.
Sophisticated combinations can be created using glass, crystal gold or steel which must be illuminated by various sources, to create a glow in the room. The neutrals will be infused with colour, taking a standard neutral into a new, more visually interesting realm.
Vibrant colours
Urgent blasts of vibrant colour will be used as a quick and easy way to keep your interior design scheme exciting. You can expand your vision by adding colours not only in paint but floors, ceilings, window treatment, light fixtures, accessories etc.
Spring in nature symbolises birth and colours of spring bring hope. Violet, orange, mandarin, yellow and green may be used on fabrics. Floral motives with a retro touch will be appreciated. Comfortable warmth in homes with open bright spaces and minimalistic lines will be welcomed.
Vintage furniture: Restored furniture, mostly pieces treasured over generations are increasingly finding their way into modern homes. These will continue to occupy pride of place this year too.
Another trend called ‘Etno’ which is inspired by the “colour-oriented” scheme from India, Morocco, Central Asia (combined with heat, aroma of spices from Asia) can look good both on a white background and strong different contrasts - red, orange and yellow. But if you don’t like the ‘Etno’ style, pick out a few items such as coloured carpets, lot of wood, natural shades and dim light to get the effect.
‘Outdoor’ is another catchy trend for this year. If you are an outdoor person, you will fall in love with this trend. One of the trends this year will be to bring aspects of the outside, into the living room. You can bring your rattan deep chairs, low, bamboo coffee tables and bulky, large plants inside with special effects from natural light flowing through large windows.
Home and work
It is predicted that home space will continue to assimilate work activity. Continuity of large multi-purpose rooms, rather than divided ones, will be seen this year too.
Kitchens will combine eating and meeting spaces: bringing dining, cooking, meeting and recreation into one large space. The kitchen is the place to be in 2011. No longer does the chef remain isolated from the guests while s/he prepares the meal.
Minimal and natural
Minimalistic schemes with natural designs and a mix of vintage patterns will dominate the trend for design this year. Lush velvets and brocades can be contrasted with cool pastels of 2011. There will be a greater emphasis on creating new sustainable forms of energy too, but in the design world, there will be an emphasis on beautification too.
Windows will be grouped to play a major part in lighting. Artificial lighting will be recessed, hidden or camouflaged into the lighting design.
We will see home theatres, entertainment rooms and computer rooms becoming staple. There will be a playful mix of new technologies and vintage elements.
Colours and materials will be dominated by nature. According to Pantone, the colour of 2011 is an optimistic pinkish red called Honeysuckle.
Gold and bronze look
While silver will always be a favourite, this year’s love affair is with warm-toned metals- gold is of course the ultimate in luxury, while bronze has a more casual feel. You can look for light fixtures and picture frames in warm toned metals.
You will also find metallics painted on furniture, printed on wall papers, even woven into fabrics. You will see the design wave pushing back and sliding in the 70s with an updated, elegant twist.
In 2011, we can confidently pair grandma’s chairs with a modern chandelier to create our own personal style. Modern style is cool, but there are old textures being brought in to soften the hard edges.
