5 Emerging Trends From the 2019 Decor + Design Show
Australia’s top trade show for interior design spotlighted innovative new products and global trends
Australia’s housewares, furniture and design professionals gathered at the 2019 Decor + Design trade show in Melbourne in July to highlight new directions in home decor. Houzz’s Australia editors previewed the coming year’s color and materials palettes, shapes and designs, as well as manufacturing innovations. Read on to see the trends expected in Australia and internationally, with insights from Victoria Redshaw of trend-forecasting company Scarlet Opus.
Photo by Erika Maccarinelli
Three things to watch for as recycling and innovation grow:
Three things to watch for as recycling and innovation grow:
- The color of recycled goods is determined by the waste products used in the process. Blue is one of the most common colors to emerge in the process, so expect to see more variations of blue palettes in the future.
- As with the SMarT tables, the final product depends on the supply, then composition, of recyclable materials. That means uniformity is out the window and “sustainable custom” is in.
- Consumers’ love affair with matte finishes may begin to wane. Instead, expect to see household goods that feature a luminosity resulting from the use of recycled materials such as glass and plastic and grown materials such as algae.
Logan Dresser from Satara Australia. Photo by Erika Maccarinelli
2. Charred Wood, or Shou Sugi Ban, Drawn From a Japanese Aesthetic
Shou sugi ban is a Japanese technique used to preserve wood, in which the surface is charred and then treated with oil.
The color black is still big for walls, furniture and kitchen cabinetry, but in the future it will often be rendered with a handmade aspect. Satara Australia’s Logan dresser has a charred appearance similar to shou sugi ban. It’s made of reclaimed teak with a charcoal finish.
2. Charred Wood, or Shou Sugi Ban, Drawn From a Japanese Aesthetic
Shou sugi ban is a Japanese technique used to preserve wood, in which the surface is charred and then treated with oil.
The color black is still big for walls, furniture and kitchen cabinetry, but in the future it will often be rendered with a handmade aspect. Satara Australia’s Logan dresser has a charred appearance similar to shou sugi ban. It’s made of reclaimed teak with a charcoal finish.
Black and fan shapes were evident in GlobeWest’s Avery Palm screen
Candle Kiosk candles. Photo by Erika Maccarinelli
The handmade black aesthetic is also showing up in smaller items, such as candles. Candle Kiosk’s designs, seen here, have a mottled appearance, a natural effect of the cold-pour process.
Authenticity and quality are expected to be of increasing importance as consumers and manufacturers turn away from cheap disposable goods. Concern over the plastics in our oceans led Candle Kiosk founder Winnie van Donk to design the long-burning candles’ environmentally friendly recycled-paper packaging.
Redshaw says there’s a movement toward “the art of living,” seeking to avoid distractions and aiming for a more measured, less busy lifestyle. “It’s about consideration of our well-being and the well-being of the natural world, serenity, balance and preservation,” she says. “We will see this reflected in a greater use of honest materials that are natural, durable, sustainable and crafted to be sensitive to location.”
Is Veganism the Future of Decor?
The handmade black aesthetic is also showing up in smaller items, such as candles. Candle Kiosk’s designs, seen here, have a mottled appearance, a natural effect of the cold-pour process.
Authenticity and quality are expected to be of increasing importance as consumers and manufacturers turn away from cheap disposable goods. Concern over the plastics in our oceans led Candle Kiosk founder Winnie van Donk to design the long-burning candles’ environmentally friendly recycled-paper packaging.
Redshaw says there’s a movement toward “the art of living,” seeking to avoid distractions and aiming for a more measured, less busy lifestyle. “It’s about consideration of our well-being and the well-being of the natural world, serenity, balance and preservation,” she says. “We will see this reflected in a greater use of honest materials that are natural, durable, sustainable and crafted to be sensitive to location.”
Is Veganism the Future of Decor?
Terrazzo-look pendants from By Living. Photo by Erika Maccarinelli
3. Terrazzo Is Still Going Strong, but Chips and Colors Will Become Bigger and Bolder
The terrazzo trend appears to be continuing its trajectory, influencing pattern design and bolstering a color-chip aggregate aesthetic. Of the myriad examples at Decor + Design were these pendant lights from By Living. Constructed of Jesmonite — a composite of a gypsum-based material in an eco resin — with beech spindle, they are handmade to order in Melbourne.
3. Terrazzo Is Still Going Strong, but Chips and Colors Will Become Bigger and Bolder
The terrazzo trend appears to be continuing its trajectory, influencing pattern design and bolstering a color-chip aggregate aesthetic. Of the myriad examples at Decor + Design were these pendant lights from By Living. Constructed of Jesmonite — a composite of a gypsum-based material in an eco resin — with beech spindle, they are handmade to order in Melbourne.
GlobeWest Paloma Luxe side table
Because the ’70s are making a comeback:
This GlobeWest side table speaks to how steadfast the terrazzo trend is. But get ready for new looks for the composite, with the chips becoming larger and color combinations bolder.
“This will be amplified as the ’70s and ’80s design vibe that has been a recent obsession of the fashion industry takes hold in the interiors sector — because although terrazzo is 500 years old, as a material it had a major revival and was widely used in the late ’70s and ’80s,” Redshaw says.
The Right Way to Bring Back ’80s Style
Because the ’70s are making a comeback:
This GlobeWest side table speaks to how steadfast the terrazzo trend is. But get ready for new looks for the composite, with the chips becoming larger and color combinations bolder.
“This will be amplified as the ’70s and ’80s design vibe that has been a recent obsession of the fashion industry takes hold in the interiors sector — because although terrazzo is 500 years old, as a material it had a major revival and was widely used in the late ’70s and ’80s,” Redshaw says.
The Right Way to Bring Back ’80s Style
Akkaara pendant light and Entangled wall carpet. Photo by Erika Maccarinelli
4. Rustic and Primitive ‘Looks’ Are Out. Authentically Made Products With a Cleaner, Natural Aesthetic Are on Their Way In
There’s a move away from rustic and tribal toward what Redshaw calls “modern/graphic craft” — a cleaner, natural aesthetic. Most important, these products are made by artisans, often in cross-genre collaborations that are created with social equity concerns at their core.
One example is Akkaara, a Melbourne company that describes its products as “handcrafted to glorious imperfection.”
4. Rustic and Primitive ‘Looks’ Are Out. Authentically Made Products With a Cleaner, Natural Aesthetic Are on Their Way In
There’s a move away from rustic and tribal toward what Redshaw calls “modern/graphic craft” — a cleaner, natural aesthetic. Most important, these products are made by artisans, often in cross-genre collaborations that are created with social equity concerns at their core.
One example is Akkaara, a Melbourne company that describes its products as “handcrafted to glorious imperfection.”
The company’s Entangled collection features hand-woven screw pine coverings. The leaves of the screw pine — which grows along the banks of rivers in Kerala, India — are dried, organically dyed, then woven together.
Their manufacture makes a profound difference in the lives of the artisans. Hand-weaving screw pine is a significant cottage industry in India, a source of income to women’s collectives.
Their manufacture makes a profound difference in the lives of the artisans. Hand-weaving screw pine is a significant cottage industry in India, a source of income to women’s collectives.
Tribe Home’s Taimany rug collection is another case in point. These one-of-a-kind, hand-woven, vividly patterned rugs harness the modern craft aesthetic. They’re made in the Herat region of western Afghanistan, the center of traditional weaving by Beluch and Tajik housewives and manufactured under Tribe Home’s “Care and Fair” initiative, which supports improving local infrastructure, welfare and livelihoods.
Tribe Home rug. Photo by Erika Maccarinelli
Also noteworthy was Tribe Home’s Revive collection of “reinvented” rugs. Each dates back about 30 years and is “revived” by over-dyed and embroidered saturations. Sustainable custom indeed.
Also noteworthy was Tribe Home’s Revive collection of “reinvented” rugs. Each dates back about 30 years and is “revived” by over-dyed and embroidered saturations. Sustainable custom indeed.
Satara Australia’s Roxy folding chair. Photo by Erika Maccarinelli
In colors that communicate optimism — think terra cotta, mustard, rich green and brass — Satara Australia’s Roxy folding chair is made of woven synthetic wicker in a teak frame.
In colors that communicate optimism — think terra cotta, mustard, rich green and brass — Satara Australia’s Roxy folding chair is made of woven synthetic wicker in a teak frame.
e360 Design “Butterfly Migration” artwork by Jennifer Robson. Photo by Erika Maccarinelli
5. Fantastical Imagery to Soothe the Soul
Artist Jennifer Robson lives in the rainforest in Australia’s Queensland state. Her work consists of digital prints on an aluminum panel with copper leaf. Images are left unvarnished to age and patina with a touch of green over time.
Redshaw sees a growing trend toward images that show an imagined place of a fantastical nature. That comes, she says, from a collective “eco guilt” and wishful thinking. She expects to see more botanical, oceanic and dark jungle imagery as part of this trend. One of the key colors will be dark jade, and she also predicts the rise of luminous purple, from lilac to dark, throughout the home. She expects products to take on shapes resembling tangled plant life, with fluid and floating designs, oscillations, swollen contours and fan-like shapes.
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5. Fantastical Imagery to Soothe the Soul
Artist Jennifer Robson lives in the rainforest in Australia’s Queensland state. Her work consists of digital prints on an aluminum panel with copper leaf. Images are left unvarnished to age and patina with a touch of green over time.
Redshaw sees a growing trend toward images that show an imagined place of a fantastical nature. That comes, she says, from a collective “eco guilt” and wishful thinking. She expects to see more botanical, oceanic and dark jungle imagery as part of this trend. One of the key colors will be dark jade, and she also predicts the rise of luminous purple, from lilac to dark, throughout the home. She expects products to take on shapes resembling tangled plant life, with fluid and floating designs, oscillations, swollen contours and fan-like shapes.
More on Houzz
Read more stories for pros Browse millions of photos for inspiration
Talk with your peers in the Pro-to-Pro discussions
Join the Houzz Trade Program
1. The Use of Waste Materials
An increasing number of consumers are concerned about environmental damage and climate change, something that’s emerging as a key influence on interiors trends.
One reflection of this was the inclusion of Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMarT) Microfactories at Decor + Design. SMarT is a University of New South Wales cross-discipline group from the faculties of science, engineering and the built environment. Its aim is to develop innovative environmental solutions for the world’s biggest waste challenges. One of its first projects is the creation of materials to be used in decor.
SMarT tables —which are moving into the commercialization phase soon — are made of a blend of waste glass, single-use coffee cups, used coffee grounds and waste textiles, all sourced from waste aggregators, recyclers and community groups.
Redshaw, who attends interior design trade shows all around the world, synthesizes what she sees to identify global directions. She says the rise of the use of postconsumer plastic, oyster shells and other waste material from the food industry to create new products is a trend likely to gain momentum in coming years.