I recently participated in a lecture on trends in decoration
in which topics such as: new styles of living and market perspectives for the
coming years were addressed. As a journalist and in more than five years of Blog
and, more recently, as an Interior Designer, for the first time I see the
alignment of said “trends” with practical life. In fact, I don't even like that
word very much: Trend, I prefer to call it “movement”. So, here are reflections
on what I saw from this movement, which is living the home as fully and
authentically as possible.
10 Trends of living in 2020
1 - Verdant times
Leaf green has already been chosen as the color of the year.
It is in the accessories, furniture, carpets, walls and, of course, in the tons
of plants that will invade your surroundings this year.
2 - Practice detachment
Living with less. This is the new social order and what the
“The Tiny House Movement ” preaches, which, in addition to smaller houses,
praises living simply, in more efficient and sustainable spaces. Assumptions
also shared by supporters of the collaborative economy. So, practice this new
way of living and review your home, your ways of consumption and how you can
improve your conduct to live more simply.
3 - Minimalism of comfort
Living with less, as I said before, does not mean living
without comfort. The new house does not boast, nor should it have the
impersonality of the windows. Living well recommends comfort and well-being.
The Scandinavian wave, very well translated by the “Hygge” style of living,
shows this essence of creating a simple and happy atmosphere at home to enjoy
the things and people you love in your home.
4 - Recycle
In times of unstable economy and urgency to save the
environment, reuse is an increasingly growing attitude in domestic life. We
have talked about this several times here. Give new uses to old pieces: Chair
turns into a nightstand, dresser becomes a bar, bottles become vases. Reuse,
change places or functions, you will see that even that piece that you don't
like anymore or think that doesn't match your home anymore can be amazing.
5 - Everything has a history
Who has never complained about the worn floor, the rusty
tap, that worn wall? Know that all this is a reflection of the daily life of
those who inhabit the space. Living leaves traces and you must learn to live
with this fact without problems. Celebrate that. Just don't let neglect and
carelessness create unnecessary stress. Take care and love your home, but
without sacrificing your routine.
6 - Hybrid furniture
More conscious consumers and smaller houses, has made
furniture design achieve a development never before seen in world history.
Furniture with more than one function, in addition to aesthetics, is already
the most requested by this generation that redefined that one can be more than
two or three.
7 - Natural wood
Wood is perhaps the element that most brings comfort to a
home. Present in abundance in our daily lives, in nature, wood is now more
natural than ever. No lacquer, no colors, no cover, just it, raw with its
incredible natural veins. Preferably use those from demolition areas.
8 - Integrated life
The house is no longer made up of small ghettos. The TV left
the rooms and returned to the living room, reuniting the family in the moments
of coexistence. In practically 100% of real estate launches, the kitchen is
already open to the living room, which no longer isolates the cook or the house
staff. The balcony is also integrated into the living room, the bathroom to the
bedroom and many other rooms that open up and give space to a more fluid and
unified life.
9 - The revaluation of “made by hand”
Without elaborate shapes or “high tech” products, the new
home wants to rescue the art of making by hand, in a handmade way, to enhance
the unique with its imperfections and subtleties. Who doesn't prefer a coffee
strainer over the Nespresso machine? So is the house. Which has failed to value
mass industrial production, to house more exclusive pieces, fused with the
creator's soul.
10 - Classic Revisited
When talking to an antiquarista you will realize that times
of poor sales are in the past. In recent years antiques, previously used in
environments labeled as classics, have gained vintage status and in 2020 they
will be even more sought after. However, this time, the more robust pieces,
such as the Chesterfield sofa or the Barcelona armchair, should be overlooked
in favor of furniture and smaller objects or that have a dual function. Chairs,
sideboards, auxiliary tables, stools, lamps and many other furniture and
objects created in the 50s and 60s will be more coveted and more expensive, of
course. But, as is often the case, the furniture industry must introduce new
pieces inspired by these old models to meet market demand.
