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Multi-award winning designer, Kelly Hoppen MBE, releases interior trends report for 2012 and shares with you all the knowledge you need to for this year.

“This past year has been an exceptionally busy year, an endless whirl of designing interiors, launching products, writing a book and filming the first series of my Channel 5 show Superior Interiors.

“After taking some time off over Christmas to recharge my batteries it is now the time of year when we all begin to think about ‘trends’. The recession has had a big impact on the way people are living their lives and their core values – what is truly important to them, their families and lifestyle which of course translate into interiors.

“Although times have changed as more people want sustainable and modern luxury, consumers are still holding on to classic and timeless pieces in order to feel a sense of comfort and meaning during these difficult times.

The juxtaposition between modern minimalism and classic elegance will play an important role in upcoming seasons. It is also important to highlight that the current generation is one that loves traveling and taking inspiration from different countries and cultures especially as the world gets smaller. This is very much in keeping with the look I predict for 2012 which is global fusion with a return to the east meets west ideology.”

What’s hot in 2012

Furniture:

• Old reclaimed wood is coming back. Furniture pieces made with reclaimed wood and finished with lacquer, shiny metals or glass will be ‘must haves’. So, whatever texture is used for part of the piece it will be mixed with the completely opposite texture as part of the finish – it is like ying and yang and a look I will be featuring in my next collection out in the summer.

• Stylish luggage inspired furniture is in, so large leather trunks in lighter shades will be used for storage and to brighten up rooms.

Fabrics/ upholstery:

• Texture will be a big focus as people place more importance on comfort so Hungarian and Swedish linen mixed in with silks and velvet, the materials being the complete antithesis of each other, will be used for bed linen and cushion coverings.

• Waxed fabrics, rough Swedish linen, toweling and sacking will be used for upholstery to give furniture a contrasting modern and rustic feel. For example, a seat front would be upholstered with a shiny fabric and the back with hessian or sacking, thus highlighting the wood in the chair but with a defined finish.

Windows:

• Slatted blinds and shutters are in – they look slick, make it easy to give keep out light and are practical and easy to clean in comparison to curtains which gather a lot of dust.

Bed linen/ cushions:

• High thread count linen will make consumers feel good as more people want comfort.

• Pattern fabrics such as Paisley, Brocade and Ikat are making a comeback and will be used for bed linen and cushion covers.

Wallpaper:

• We have seen an increase in patterned and textured wallpaper over the past year and interest will keep rising over the next season. Some of the must have prints will include oversized geometric floral and vintage patterns.

Colours:

• Splashes of pastel pink, emerald green, Italian suit grey and burnt orange will be the shades of next season.

Art:

• Sculptures are making a comeback with organic formed pieces being a highlight as more people look to nature for inspiration.

• More and more people will look to invest in valuable photography and art.

Accessories:

• Different shaped and sized vases mixed with different types of flowers will soften room settings in a straight and neutral interior.

• Clusters of candles will be used in rooms instead of a few lined up candles.