Trends at the Ideal Home Show

In juxtaposition to the vintage florals and distressed wood on show, reclaimed metal was a standout material. Stocktons showcased its metal riveted furniture, including a metal traveling trunk with leather straps – a nod to 1940s aviation. Although it isn’t to everyone’s taste, expect this trend to be a hit. 

Another trend, which veered slightly from the aesthetics and more towards the consciousness of design, was for environmentally friendly and socially interchangeable products. The Flexible Living Home by Fine Design was a full sized walk-around house heralded as a blueprint for the future of housing. It offered an affordable solution to the changing patterns of life with a floor plan that can be modified to create two, three or four bedrooms with “add-ons” available to accommodate family growth.

Hivehaus designed by Barry Jackson was also a full-sized show house. The design consists of hexagonal cells joined together to create a modular cluster of connected living spaces – your own ‘hive’. The roof has large circular sky domes that allow natural light to flood in and any wall can be made from glass. The aim is to deliver the hives as ‘flat pack’ – a concept that its designers refer to as “DIY architecture”. 

Cosy and flamboyant florals by Laura Ashley led the vintage-inspired trend. Using vibrant coloured cushions juxtaposed with elegant and timeless beauty, Laura Ashley created a traditional style whilst showing plenty of personality.

Continuing the theme was the vintage festival-inspired room set by British Home Stores, which captured the look with garden furniture and indoor vintage styling.

Marks & Spencer are pushing the outdoors-indoors trend this season and showed off an eye-catching layout perfect for summer. The trend has been popular for a while now, regularly spotted at Milan Design Week, but it remains strong and had a heavy presence at the Ideal Home Show. Continuing the theme for bringing the outdoors in was Next with their coastal-themed room set. A combination of wood and wicker was teamed with glass and ceramics in a breezy palette of teals, soft greens and muted taupe. As a material, wood was popular – weathered, distressed, natural or reclaimed and painted.

The Interiors section included the upcoming collections by John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Next, Dwell, Laura Ashley, British Home Stores and HomeSense. 

It was interesting to see the different styles on offer, but the trends that particularly stood out included bold prints with a slight 1970s feel. Florals and stripes are a popular choice and mustard yellow with duck-egg blue was the colour scheme of choice for John Lewis’s anniversary room set – to coincide with the retailer’s 150-year anniversary.