The trouble with trends

Interior design trends have never moved faster. No longer constrained by print editions or trade shows, the use of Instagram, Pinterest, Tiktok and AI tools means that designers can see what’s happening anywhere in the world almost instantly.

But while there’s much to be said for these endless feeds and fast-moving trends, how do you create spaces that look current without feeling predictable? We’re all seeing the same things which means there’s a risk that the same references can quickly become ubiquitous. It’s clear that the best designers use these trends as a springboard - it’s how they’re interpreted and what you do with them that matters.

Our recent project working with Bell & Swift at the Sheraton Heathrow hotel is a great example. The redesigned public areas in this busy airport hotel include a lobby, lounge and bar and feature recognisably current design influences. From the colour palette of soft cream, tan and indigo to the layered textures and soft curves of the furniture chosen, the space has a fresh look but doesn’t feel like a collection of disconnected trends.

The Mys chair used in this project features a distinctive pleated detail to the upholstery - we first spotted that styling in Milan this spring and expect to see it in many more interiors over the coming months. It works so well here because it sits alongside other pieces with different design influences - from the mid-century styling of the Egadi side chair to the classic Joanne armchair which has been one of our most popular pieces over recent years. This shows that a successful scheme is rarely about one trend or style - rather than leading with a particular aesthetic, the best designers look at what that particular space actually needs and build a scheme from there, using inspiration and input from a variety of sources.

When the inspiration is endless, sometimes it’s smaller design decisions which make the difference. Not everything needs to be unusual or original - one or two deliberate choices are enough, as seen in our recent project at Residence Inn by Marriott Edinburgh which offers guests a home away from home with space to sleep, eat, work and relax. From a relatively restrained foundation, the designers have introduced personality and character through some smart selections of furniture. Take the Tea side chair - we supplied this classic with a black-stained beech frame, fully upholstered in burnt orange faux leather, providing a strong pop of colour against the more muted sofa and flooring. Our bespoke service allows designers to create something unique, like the lozenge-shaped coffee table which we made specifically for the suites in this hotel. Rather than reflecting the next fashionable trend, this demonstrates how design which responds to the space is so much more nuanced and interesting.

Furniture can also be used to establish brand identity, working as part of the visual language where hotels, bars and restaurants operate across multiple sites - this doesn’t have to mean a cookie cutter approach where every location matches the others, but a way of using furniture to bring consistency across different venues. Our projects working with exclusive members-only fitness brand Natural Fit demonstrate this - now operating luxury spa, gym and cafés across three locations, each has its own identity and style but is recognisably part of the brand.

The sites in Hove, Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone use different accent colours and other decor elements, but there’s a consistency in feel through the furniture we supplied - notably pieces from our Eileen collection which appear in various forms and finishes, from bar stools to arm chairs and lounge chairs. The use of these items from our collection of contract furniture anchors the brand’s visual language across locations without becoming monotonous - rather than a trend-driven interior, there’s scope here to inject updates and different finishes as each site opens without having to reinvent the look and feel or lose consistency as the business continues to expand.

Flexibility in finishes and upholstery also allows designers to respond to trends or update an interior - either by choosing a classic like our Rimo chair and choosing a specific fabric or leather to suit the design scheme, or by bringing new life to older pieces and recovering to bring a new look. This approach is both sustainable and stylish (always on trend!) and is something we’ve seen most recently at the new look Lírica restaurant in London’s iconic Cumberland Hotel.

The most interesting interiors aren’t those which either ignore what’s happening around them, or those which slavishly follow trends, but those which incorporate elements of the new adapted to make it their own. There’s inspiration everywhere, and we love working with designers and operators to create something which looks great now and for years to come. 

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