Interior Design Trends Throughout The Centuries

On Thursday 20th February I attended a CPD Presentation run by The Interiors Association in The Stillorgan Park Hotel, Dublin.

The presentation, hosted by Ciara Nolan a committee member of The Interiors Association (of which yours truly is currently Vice President) and Kerry Meakin a lecturer of Interior Design at DIT.

There was a great buzz in the room which was filled with creative minds from all over the interiors industry.

The first half of the presentation was hosted by Ciara who discussed interior design trends throughout the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.

Ciara brought us on a journey from the 1860 – 1910 William Morris inspired Arts and Crafts Movement; through the Art Deco Glamour Years; the effects of World War II on interior design and the following Post War boom of the 1950’s.

Pimpernel (1876) – This design was probably one of Morris’ personal favourites as it hung in the dining room at Kelmscott House, Hammersmith. The pattern, with its mirrored symmetry and the wild, windblown flower heads is typical of Morris’ greatest designs.

Straight lines and geometric shapes are synonymous of the Art Deco period. Mirrored surfaces, inlaid woods such as rosewood and ebony were favourites of Art Deco designers.

We hip-hopped our way through the Groovy 1960’s and the best forgotten decade that was 1970.

In the 1960’s it was all about shag pile carpets, low furniture and teak teak and more teak!

Those of us of a certain age still have nightmares over the Avocado Bathroom suite!

We explored the radical changes of the 1980’s and 90’s, before arriving at the designs we have in today’s 21st century.

The 1990’s saw us dazzled with florals prints, fussy festoon blinds, curtains with swags and tails, sponge painting and wallpapers with borders. I had it all and probably thought I’d decorated a little palace at the time. **shudders**

The second half of the presentation was hosted by Kerry Meakin of DIT who focused on this years trends together with the emerging colour palettes and textures we can expect to see in 2015/2016.

We looked at Radiant Orchid the Pantone Colour of the year for 2014.  I must say I was quite surprised by the split in the room over the love/hate of Radiant Orchid.  I love it, (I’ve written about it here) but only as an accent colour, I think it’s way too overpowering for an overall colour scheme.

But that’s what makes us good designers – each having our own style and not afraid to speak out about it.

Radiant Orchid Pantone Colour of the year 2014

We looked at the Pantone and Dulux colour analysis for 2015/2116 as well as discussing the materials, colours and textures that will feature next year.

And what are they I hear you ask?……

Now that would be telling but let me just say that blue (teal, cobalt, indigo) will feature very strongly.

You heard it here first 🙂