Watch this space: Top Interior Design Trends 2019

Be brave with bold, textured patterns

Bold, textured patterns were a mainstay of 2018 and will continue to infiltrate interior spaces in 2019. 'Patterns on wallpapers, light upholstery, smaller occasional tables and rugs will tend to be geometric in shape', notes Tredgett. 'There is less and less demand for floral patterns these days. Now, it's about being brave with exotic patterns on interior home accessories'. Marsh adds that tropical leaf patterns and organic motifs will continue to make a strong showing in 2019. Expect to see plenty of stars, flamingos, and pineapples on fabrics, wallpapers and accessories.

Personalise your interiors

2019 will see a renewed interest in vintage interiors. With the rise of mass production and click-and-buy online shopping, consumers are more and more open to personalisation as well as eclectic interiors that draw inspiration from multiple medias and periods.

'Purchasing one-of-a-kind pieces from [vintage markets, vintage stores and auctions] is an easy way to make your interior feel unique', says Tredgett. 'Look out for vintage lighting, and in particular vintage lamp shades, if you are new to this form of collecting'. Marsh adds that investing in a good quality textured or patterned rug from The Rug Company or Jennifer Manners is a good way to bring a room together. If you're feeling brave, start with the rug as your focal point and build out the decorative scheme from there.

Statement flooring & tiling

There's a growing appetite for patterned tiles; as part of a bold decorative flooring scheme in hallways, stairways and entrance ways; or as part of a decorative wall or backsplash scheme in bathrooms and downstairs loos. Geometric patterns in indigo are set to be a big trend in 2019, as are tiles with cool contemporary shapes in grey or pink. Good quality encaustic tiles can be found in both high-end and more affordable outlets, including Fired Earth and Bert and May.

Sustainable interiors

2019 will see a renewed interest in up-cycling, sustainable living and natural, raw materials. 'The trend for buying everything brand new is well and truly over', says Marsh, 'now, it's about designing interiors that protect, respect and preserve the environment as much as possible'.

Take the time to repair, resurface and repaint any existing items: woods can be sanded back and re-stained; carpets can be deep cleaned; and existing marble surfaces, or encaustic tiles can be polished. Think before buying new things and chucking out old things, and, most importantly, take the time to make the process of collecting part of the decorative journey. 'What makes a house a home', says Tredgett, 'is the presence of things that commemorate a moment in time or an experience that is unique to the client'. It's not about a quick, uniform fix. 2019 rings in the return of individuality, and celebrates the old and new. Yes.

Curate your walls with love

Buying art is not an easy business. The choice is overwhelming, prices can be eye-watering and it's difficult to know where to start looking. But buying something to embellish your walls should be a fun, personal and even educational journey.

'Buy something because you love it, and not because it matches the room', advises Tredgett. 'Hopefully, you will have it forever, so it needs be something you can visualise in different rooms and in different houses'. If you're new to the art buying game, try experimenting with sculpture and ceramics, as well as with form and scale. When it comes to sculptural works, go very small, or very big; playing with heights in a room creates various points of interest and will satisfy a roaming eye.

Click here to read more of our top tips on starting an art collection.

Colour schemes

Accent colours will continue to be big in 2019. 'If you're feeling brave', says Marsh, 'add splashes of mustard yellow, hot pink, indigo or a bold green' to the room. But rather than overpowering the room with one dominant colour, add a colour-pop to a neutral palette. You can add bursts of colour, including Pantone's 2019 colour of the year Living Coral, to public living spaces including dens, libraries and sitting rooms via embellished accessories, such as lamp shades and cushions; or, if you're feeling experimental, via one painted, accented wall.

Go green

Marsh acknowledges and encourages the contemporary interest in creating and nurturing green urban spaces. People are keen to fill their homes inside and out with as much greenery as possible. You only need a perfunctory glance at Instagram to find plenty of young urbanites enthusing about their geraniums and tomato yields. In our digitally-saturated, anxiety-ridden era, there is something deeply satisfying about taking time to tend to plants.

This is where the 2019 trend for vertical planting stems from. With just a wall, you can now create the illusion of lush, soothing greenery inside and out. Patch offers a multitude of ideas for urban planting, while VistaGreen are the go-to specialists for artificial green walls.

Embellish everything

It seems fringes, trims and tassels are back: they will embellish everything from cushions and curtains to blinds and lamp shades. But don't fear, in 2019 trimmings will be paired with plain, contemporary patterned fabrics rather than the floral, fussy fabrics of yesteryear. We love this modern twist on a traditional look.

Glorious bathrooms

Bathrooms are no longer just functional, practical spaces. Now they are spaces for rest and relaxation, too. As a result, there is a growing appetite for bigger more luxurious bathrooms that are a forethought rather than an afterthought.

In small urban bathrooms, add vintage mirrors and wall lights to give the illusion of space and brightness. If you're lucky enough to have space aplenty, though, convert an old dresser into a vanity unit or place an occasional chair in a corner for added luxury. Add geometric encaustic tiling to the backwash for a touch of wow factor, and embrace the trend for brass and gold metals for plumbing, taps and pipes. And now relax...

Natalie Tredgett // @natalietredgett

Natalie Tredgett is a London-based interior designer best known for her colourful interiors, comfortable living and modern twist to tradition. She believes that a home is meant to be lived in and express the personalities of its owners. Natalie got her start at the forefront of the international design industry working under Nicky Haslam at NH Design and has recently been featured in Stella Magazine.

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Lucy Marsh // @lucymarshdesign

Lucy trained as an interior designer at Chelsea College of Art and University of the London Arts. She then worked for Nina Campbell Ltd as one of Nina’s four interior designers. In 2010, Lucy set up her own design practice and has built a broad portfolio ranging from large scale high end projects to smaller scale medium tier projects all across the world.

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