Design Team: Trends to watch out for in 2016

“Geometric patterns continue to dominate in 2016, and we’ll be seeing more experiments with 3D effects. Technology is really opening doors in this area.

“At the opposite end of the spectrum — cultural heritage and traditional ethnic prints from all over the world show a lot of promise to be big design trends this year. Pattern, print, colour and texture — bohemian vibes, Asian and African styles will all play key roles in this area.”

“Bold galactic themes continue to grow in popularity — offering a mix of deep blues, blacks and purples, textured finishes as varied as rock and velvet, as well as metallic elements that create high drama, opulence and an otherworldly sense of adventure.

“Urban landscapes and the exposed industry trend continues to be a big influence over the coming seasons. Look out for elements such as polished concrete, brickwork, distressed materials and raw industrial aesthetics.”  

“We started by looking at the big colours of the year such as Pantone’s Rose Quartz and Serenity, and Dulux’s Cherished Gold. These are two very different looks — one captures a soft calmness and a dream-like quality, the other has a vibrant decadence and glowing warmth using on-trend metallics.

“Earthy hues are also big news, and include everything from duck egg blues to shades of brown and tones of grey. Nature, minerals and water elements are seen to influence colours this year with unusual aquatic shades and dark jungle flavours showing the promise of shaking things up.”

This month the Design Team has put together the favourite looks and trends to watch out for in 2016. Exploring colours and textures, cultural themes and international design influences. Here we share the thoughts of Amy and Maria from the team, and take a behind the scenes look at their mood board ideas.