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After a year’s absence thanks to pandemic lockdowns, Decorex Africa is back. And for the first time it has stepped away from the one-venue expo model to a design trail in which visitors tour design studios, art galleries and lifestyle showrooms for renovation inspiration.
As the arbiter of all things stylish in the world of décor, interior design and lifestyle, the annual expo is looking very different this year, but is an example of how smart innovation can stand up to unsettling disruptions like a pandemic.
For the month of June Cape Town, the first in Africa to be named a Unesco City of Design and a former World Design Capital, has seen designistas clutching their maps and motoring around several design trails soaking up exhibitions, talks and displays.
With 100 stops and free entries, this has been a stimulating month for Capetonians as well as visitors to the city.
Several exciting new trends have emerged on the other side of lockdown, many as a response to the way the world has changed.
Sanitised spaces:
“New needs and lifestyles are emerging from the days we are living now. We are in a moment of significant uncertainty, but there are already some new rising trends we have observed as a consequence of the pandemic,” says Decorex creative director Anita Bloom.
Bloom says the pandemic has triggered a new focus on wellbeing which will remain relevant in a post-pandemic world and have an impact on our interiors.
“People started to be, of course, obsessed about hygiene and sanitising, and even when this pandemic passes, people are more likely to be aware of hygienic habits as they desire more than ever to remain safe.
“As a consequence, we will most probably see enormous opportunities for any products or services concerning home hygiene and sanitisation: air purifiers, indoor air quality monitoring, new filtration systems for the air and the water. Germ-resistant materials for flooring and surfaces, as well as auto-cleaning technologies to be integrated inside furniture, for example inside wardrobes and kitchen cabinets, are likely to become more popular.”
Smart toilets, already common in Japan, could experience a demand, as could automatic cleaning taps of the kind we are starting to see in public restrooms. Taking home hygiene to even more futuristic levels, Bloom foresees new pollutant-absorbing home accessories and fabrics being made from materials with air-purifying qualities that may also be auto-cleaning.
Outdoor sanctuaries:
Because lockdowns and social distancing have kept us apart for so long, many of us have responded to relaxed restrictions by gradually reuniting with loved ones in safer outdoor spaces and so gardens, decks and balconies have become our new sanctuaries.
“With us spending more time in the privacy of our homes, there’s a demand for creating perfect sanctuaries for our wellbeing, and we are seeing this highlighted with outdoor trends of wellness, statement light features and natural materials,” says Bloom.
And, because nature and comfort are what we need right now, plants, natural wood and outdoor daybeds or cocoons are a good way to furnish our outdoor spaces.
Nature indoors:
During hard lockdown it became almost impossible to buy flowers and so many of us snipped whatever we could find in our backyards to pop into vases. Flower-loving Bloom put her secateurs to good use too.
“This was a difficult one for me as I am obsessed with having fresh florals in my home at all times, but what I did do was head out to the garden and pick gorgeous monster leaves and any greenery I could find.
“Dry organic elements such as dried plants are still exploding in décor spaces and the ever-popular pampas grass allows you to create nature-inspired environments within your home. We are seeing this displayed in oversized vases, or as a suspended arrangement above dining and outdoor tables.”
Bottle gardens:
Spending so much time at home catapulted us into decluttering frenzies to get our sanctuaries in order, and to fill the void Bloom suggests purchasing meaningful items that will remind us of happy times to come post-Covid-19.
Again, nature is trending, this time in the form of bottle gardens, a type of terrarium. “A big décor small trend emerging are bottle gardens that we started seeing in a small corner from Maison et Object in 2020. This will be seen in many interior design projects now, responding to the demand of having nature in our lives.”
Colour:
For all of us who embraced grey as the new neutral, there is relief in the knowledge that it is still a safe choice. The trend now is to mix in warm off-white hues — from champagne to beige.
“Total white has been replaced by new warm, neutral colours,” says Bloom. “Grey and warm beiges give a space a welcoming, cosy, clean minimalistic look. Add pops of sage green and biophilia (green plants) into your space.”
As for accent colours, bright yellows are still a cheerful bet which plays into the playful living macro trend, but sage green is inching into its space.
“Millennials especially, either at home or at work, want to be entertained and express their personalities. With social media changing our perception of spaces and interior design, we see a result of explosion of Instagramable pop-up spaces, especially in the retail sector, that are filled with bright, vibrant colour pallets of yellow, lumo pink and blue.
“Within interiors, yellow is taking a back seat and making way for the trending sage or muted-tone green — which all relate back to the ‘new natural’ and the need for greenery in our lives and homes,” says Bloom.
Kitchen cool:
Kitchen renovators looking for inspiration and wanting to resist the all-white trend, should note that metal textures combined with contrasting colour surfaces are the stylish, contemporary choice. The kitchen is still the heart of the home and should as far as possible combine food prep and family-time activities.
“Contemporary kitchen design ideas and materials must combine stylish aesthetics with durable and functional finishes and material choices,” says Bloom.
“We are seeing a lot of metal textures being combined with contrasting colour surfaces. Some are clad in stone, granite, marble, with the occasional wooden accent. Often the metal insertion is also used as an accent — framing of the kitchen hood, a basic line in shelves or kitchen island constructs, cupboards and as a detail in the lighting installation.
Repurposing:
So many households have taken a crippling hit since Covid-19 began and have little or no disposable income. Bloom acknowledges this reality, but says money is also being refocused from travel and luxuries like handbags and high-end shoes to the home because so much time is spent there.
“It’s about being clever with your decisions and looking at the most cost-effective ways of doing this. Add a fresh coat of paint and reupholster couches and scatters to give your space a fresh look. Refurbing furniture has been a big trend for a while now as we look at sustainability and not just getting rid of the old but restoring and being more mindful of all our décor decisions.”
Supporting local:
When the hard lockdown brought many industries to their knees, many small businesses had to become innovative and adapt and there was a call for communities to become mindful of supporting them rather than shopping online.
“We saw a lot of designers start manufacturing face masks by using material cut-offs to meet the current demand. The community has definitely come together and supported each other through these tough economic times and have decided to look local and keep the community going in whatever way possible.
“We have such amazing talent in SA, and it’s been amazing to see how designers have come together. They have collaborated to create new designs and teamed up with emerging creatives to help support and keep the industry afloat.”
Fun trends:
Sometimes it’s fun to keep up with a trend or two to refresh our living spaces with trendy accents without breaking down walls or doing a big budget reno. Bloom identifies a few beauties to consider.
Bubble suspension lights — mostly seen in luxury interior design projects. This is a fun, elegant addition to any private or hospitality division.
Biophilia — natural elements with indoor gardens. Biophilia is a love of life or living systems and these interiors are spaces that reconnect us with nature. Biophilia is more than bringing the outdoors in. It’s about natural lighting, views on nature, plants, living walls, natural materials, textures and patterns with natural motif that will provide a positive impact on our mind and soul. Biophilia designs can reduce stress, enhance creativity and clarity of thought, improve our wellbeing and expedite healing.
Gold accents — applied in small corners or furniture design adds a little detail for luxury minimal design spaces.
Canopy beds — though four-poster beds have been out of fashion since the late 80s, we are seeing a steady increase in the number of customers requesting new versions of lightweight four-poster beds.
• The Decorex Africa Design Trail is on until June 31. For more information go to www.decorex.co.za
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