Trends in Furniture Design

Trends in Furniture Design

Trends in furniture design come and go, year on year, with some sticking around long after the others have been relegated to the interior design hall of shame and others never really quite achieving lift off.

So, what should we be looking out for right now and how can you make sure that your investment in modern furniture will pay off?

Firstly, straight lines and ‘conventional’ design is currently playing second fiddle to much more unusual forms — on-trend furniture design is all about the element of surprise and wonder, with a good dollop of humour thrown in too

So, whilst curves and eye-catching sculptural shapes are very much in — often paired with some pretty striking materials to set them off — think wave shaped chairs made from glossy composites, for example, expect to have your mind-boggled by furniture pieces that rely heavily on computer controlled manufacture that has given designers the opportunity to create some never-before-possible forms. Shelving that looks as though it is about to topple over, pieces that appear to float and generally do the impossible should be expected.

It is not just the physical shape of furniture that is turning heads either, it is the materials used to make them. Blackened or charred timber is big news,

as are woods that have been bleached, limed or painted. Glossy composites and steel wires are also attracting plenty of attention, as are antique metals such as brass and copper

— metallic leather too is tipped to add a bit of glamour and sparkle to proceedings 

One of the key things making furniture design so exciting right now is the way in which materials which are not always thought of as sitting comfortably alongside one another are being combined. So, don’t be surprised to see natural materials paired with man-made composites, and look out for designs which offer just glimpses and peeks of colour from within an otherwise minimalist cloak

Talking of colour, blues and greens in all their various guises continue to be popular 

with fuchsia pinks making an appearance in furniture design too — timber, glass, plastics and composites can all be coloured to take advantages of these fun colour trends. And as for black and white — the furniture world is positively buzzing with it.

Although many designers are taking a lot of inspiration from nature at present with a whole host of new pieces reflecting the shapes of the world that surrounds us — trees, birds, the ocean and plant-life — in equal measures there are designs out there with a very geometrical feel, with polygons and honeycomb patterns in particular often showing up 

Finally, don’t be surprised to discover that the trend for upcycling is still going strong, transforming unloved items into some very desirable and unique furniture pieces. And while we are on the theme of eco-friendly design, biodegradable materials are proving very popular with many furniture designers at the moment, who seem able to do impressive things using materials such as compressed earth, agricultural waste and cardboard.

But whichever of these new trends catches your eye, always keep in mind that however impressive a design may be, if it doesn’t reflect you and your lifestyle, or it won’t fit in with the rest of your interior scheme, then move on. Perhaps it is good news then that customisation and bespoke furniture pieces are also now far more accessible and affordable — and currently very in vogue.

What could be better than being able to incorporate elements of your favourite new trends in a piece tailored to you and your home? You have to live with it after all.