What's trending in 2018?

Will rose gold still rule supreme? And are pineapples still premium? Here’s what’s likely to be trending in 2018.

• A craving for authenticity. According to Vega’s national programme navigator of interior design Maretha Olivier and decorating lecturer Androlette Havellar, we’re currently experiencing the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Following on from the Third Revolution’s transition from analogue to digital and the emergence of technology, we’re now seeing artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, robotics and the internet of things coming to the fore, and this is having a significant impact on what we want for our interiors. “Nostalgia is a big theme: think of your granny’s crocheted blanket or the clock your dad made in woodwork class,” says Olivier. Linked to this is an appreciation of craft and the handmade, as well as items that can be reused, repurposed or refurbished, and that link us to our heritage.

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• Bright colours. Metallics are still in, but Olivier advises that warm, earthy and neutral tones, brightened with primary splashes, are big news.

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• A nod to the earth. From architecture (designing with an eye to maximising daylight so that reliance on artificial heating, cooling and lighting can be reduced) to design, with the use of natural materials, the accent is on the sustainable and eco-friendly.

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• Bringing the outside in. Already a major trend, our love of greenery is set to continue. One of the easiest ways to embrace this is through indoor plants.

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• Dual-purpose furniture. With South African homes becoming smaller, economic turbulence making a dent in disposable income and environmental considerations ensuring that we are less keen to buy more than we need, Olivier notes that double-duty pieces are in demand. Nesting tables are a good example, as are ottomans that transition easily into extensions of your couch.

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• Practicality first. Alon Sachs, co-owner of Mobelli Furniture + Living, says that people place a growing premium on convenience – which means that furniture that’s easy to maintain is becoming a favourite. Think of easy-to-clean slip covers, for example.