Interiors: what’s hot for this year?

This article was written for Pure Lifestyle magazine: September 2008

As this is the first issue of this new magazine I think some design tips on ‘what’s hot and what’s not’ for this year might be a good start. I hope these points give you some inspiration for your home decor this year.

Minimalism is out, many top designers are using sumptuous, patterned fabrics to create bright colourful rooms featuring retro upholstered furniture without sacrificing elegance or beauty. There are many second-hand shops where you can pick up some really good old sofas and chairs at relatively low cost. Even if the fabric is a little dated or worn, as long as the frame is of good quality then you can get the piece re-upholstered to suit any design scheme.

Colour has a very important role to play in any home, it can be the difference between a house that flows from room to room complementing each other or a horrible and costly mistake which makes you curse each time you walk into a room. Yellow and black or red with black, seventies colour palettes are big right now with influences coming back from the days of platforms and flares.

Lighting can be just as important as colour to a room by changing how the room is viewed. Using accent lighting and multiple light sources to emphasise key decor highlights such as objects or architectural features is always a good idea.

Designers are indulging their senses this year by adding different textures into the home such as silks & velvets. Think of the different textures you can give your rugs, curtains, loose covers, sofa throws, scatter cushions and wallpaper.

No matter what any of the industry expects say this year it is clear that there are many ways for you to make your home individual and personal but it is a good time to be bold and make an impact.

If you are looking to create a very modern design statement I recommend Japanese sliding panels. These are a great alternative to curtains or traditional blinds.

They are made from material which is secured to rods on a sliding track and weighted at the bottom, providing effective shading, privacy or screening.

A huge range of fabrics can be used to make the blinds, contrasting colours can have a striking effect. They are often made with stiffened fabrics and can be lined to give as much light reduction as you need. There is a huge range of fabrics to choose from, most designer ranges can be made into panels but it is a good idea to avoid products with a high linen content, this type of fabric creases badly and the panels can quickly lose their shape.

You can cover a very large area with panel blinds, tracks come in 3, 4 and 5 ways allowing up to 10 panels in various widths.

They are very easy to fit and maintain; the brackets are easily screwed into a ceiling or wall, the bracket arm swivels and locks into a groove on the top of the track, then the fabric panels are velcroed onto sliders on the track. Panels are easy to clean, much the same as curtains, if it's a washable fabric then you can remove the panels easily from the track to wash either in the machine or by hand.

You can easily change the panels when you redecorate, because they are velcroed onto the panel track they can be removed and replaced with new ones.

And finally, are panel blinds expensive? No, they shouldn’t cost any more than a good quality pair of curtains.

Company Profile
Soft Options: made to measure soft furnishings from New Home Shop
Soft Options is all about attention to detail, the best in fabric design, exceptional craft, skill and experience to achieve the highest standard of finished product, from curtains and blinds to bed throws and cushions. If you’re looking for an individual interior or a quick makeover, we’ll bring the shop to you.
Contact: Fiona Ramsay on 0141 585 6484