A BIG picture concept of Macro Trends 2014 into Spring/Summer 2015

I attended educational workshops at the Furniture Show in North Carolina which I enjoy doing each Spring and Fall, to give an idea of how the trends are progressing from the last show, confirming in detail all the colours and styles we are seeing and where trends are headed for 2015.

Greg Dunlop, one Trends advisor, calls the overall concepts for large scale trends “Macro Trends” to identify creative direction up to 2 years ahead in furniture, bedding, decorative accessories and textiles.

Here are 3 more Macro Trends (building on the other article on our website ‘Fall 2013/Spring 2014 Trends Forecast’) including expanded notes to help better explain them.

Macro Trend #1- “Focus”

The material world comes into “focus”. There is increasing importance of photography in our image driven world. We pin and Instagram everything we see or experience to celebrate the beauty of our surroundings. Design features such as high definition texture together with tinted/frosted surfaces will be key. The half-tone dot and water color treatments, will be very directional for hard and soft lines. Soft floral patterns are rendered through a haze of romanticism or magnified to a point of high-definition clarity and beauty magnified to a point of high definition clarity and beauty.

Expanded Notes:

Last season’s trend blends into this year’s. Eg. Art glitches now show more clarity to reality. We’ll see more of the following looks: watercolour/aquatic- water droplets capture water effects, layers & softly defined edges, Atmospheric photography- soft focus & soft hues, High Definition texture- digitally printed fabrics and pastel tones, Half-tone dot- more prevalent on wall art, sofa fabrics and decorative items, Tinted & Frosted- fuzzy so one can’t quite see through, Soft Florals-romantic haze, high-def clarity or soft edged florals. The color palette will show delicious pastels- oranges, yellows, greens, blues, lilacs & pinks. On the flip side we’ll see these colours that almost get florescent on decorative accessories, kitchen gadgets and accents to spruce up our outdoor living spaces.

Furniture will look sophisticated in colour- never solid or flat, texture is important; exaggerated use of color for eg. Lacquers; frosted finishes; blurred treatments on woods & glass for eg. the glass on coffee & end tables. Accessories will exhibit items with stacked concentric rings for eg. Candlesticks or pattern on dinner plates; more photographic prints will be revealed on items such as lamps; mirrored finishes will be revealed on a large assortment of home décor items, clear glass is still popular; digital prints on fabric offering soft looks are strong for eg. Pillows with florals; the use of coloured thread or yarns woven through fabrics for detailing and others giving a rippled aquatic effect; abstract & realistic photographic looks for eg. on rugs and pillows, many showing a printed pattern and oversize prints. I saw an example of this on windows that had a screen treatment applied to show a pattern on the window. Evidently there are many different patterns available in the market. Lastly one comment about bedding- it appears as though peaceful light looks, watercolour, soft florals, ombre effects (light to dark or vice versa) plaids and new weave techniques are trending in popularity.

Macro Trend #2- “History 2.0 ”

Inspired by the possibilities offered by the science of “de-extinction”, designers explore new technologies and ancient craft techniques to breathe new life into retro design styles. Design themes evolve from fossils, rock formations, and bone-like structures or texture. Animal prints together with iridescent shell motifs are key directions. Totemic and primitive patterns are very graphic directions while the retro-style of Art Deco is revived for the Spring season of 2015.

Expanded Notes:

Myth Updated from last market continues & evolves. Our imagination takes us into the future. We may even see new animals- with scientists taking DNA from animals that are extinct who knows what will happen! The fossils, rock formations & interest in animal bones lends itself naturally to a taxidermy phase. Rattan and wicker will be revived (like wood wicker too) with elements like new colours or fringed edges because of its great texture. Totemic & primitive patterns are seen in fresh fun way, perhaps with sequins, and we’ll see more materials depicting cave drawings. They appear spiritual & shamanistic & have graphic appeal. Furniture will have fabrics with natural fibres and materials that show texture (chenille or webbing cord) or mimic texture with stones, twigs, bones etc. Lighting will have layered looks, bone like structures like we’ve seen for a year or so, constucted from natural materials, macramé effects and lighting looking like hanging pendants, lamps with sticks and even some lamps that have a ‘vertabrae’ look on the base! Some short points about accessories; they will use animals, bugs & insects, inlays with mother of pearl like on boxes, a patina that makes it look like its been around for years giving a sense of history, use of botanicals with pops of bright colour or graphically neutral, shells & seeds- passage of time concept, satins & velvets- gold & bronze palette, subtle animal prints, pale drawings for eg of dinosaurs, tie dye looks, tribal designs, folkloric elements eg totem poles, fossil prints and cave man drawings. It was mentioned in this category that darks will be key in bedding.

Macro Trend #3- Bio-Dynamic

The fluid forms of microbial life inspire bold new shapes and patterns for interiors. Print and pattern is flat and 2-dimentional while hard products are more relaxed forms with a melted or liquid style. Bio-Dynamic-design is influenced by cell structures from under a microscope with things like fungus and abstract shapes being key. The distinctive style of the 70’s ushers in the idea of retro kitsch with high-end ceramics and statement pieces for interiors.

Expanded Notes:

The seasonal dynamic comes from the New Geological Age from last seasons concept of the re-use of product waste- a combo of natural & plastic materials. Imperfection is celebrated in products that are look like neither industrial or natural. Many are abstract compositions. Kitchen items may look retro and incorporate elements like ruffled edges. Comments about accessories: pottery texture, glass in crazy shapes, fluted edges like on vases (inspiration taken from nature) bright and bold looks, rug hooking, macramé, crocheted treatments, craft is more sophisticated. Items showing pattern overlap. There will be an influx of 80’s aesthetics with graphic patterns & micro patterns eg. in area rugs, and bedding. Bedding will have handmade looks, large patterns with small stripes & slub yarns adding to the made-by-hand appeal. Organic greens are notable. Some other things you’ll see in print & pattern are daring looks with hand-stamped patterns (like potatoe stamps), neon on black background, geometrics, squiggles, oversize dots & lazer-cut graphics. Retro inspired items like dinosaur prints and all kinds of items for the kitchen and bathroom will be fun with rubberized bottoms, cartoon images, organic shapes, silicone looks, bright colours & wire baskets.