Mixing palettes: Fashion-inspired interior design

MANILA, Philippines - However different fashion and interior design may seem, a lot of parallelisms exist between the two worlds. Textures, colors, textiles, and other materials used may vary, but more often than not, past, present and recurring trends serve as common denominators. As fashion runways pave the way for new trends this year, interior designers are also on the lookout for fresh sources of inspiration. Being a designer inclined towards creating classic looks for the home, being aware of trends is important in updating my aesthetic while balancing my own personal style with what’s hot right now.

Color

For interiors: Colors such as pinks, icy grays, royal blue, fuchsia, aged green, amber gold, sand, corals and neons will be reflected in both paint and fabrics.

For fashion: The color forecast of Pantone for 2011 Spring fashion are: Honeysuckle, Coral Rose, Russet, Regatta, Peapod, Blue Curacao, Beeswax, Lavender, Silver Peony and Silver Cloud.

Accents

For interiors: Glass and crystal fixtures that glitter and sparkle will be seen. Mirrors made of nickel, chrome, or silver are decked with motifs of deer, peacocks, roses, and numerical shapes. Bronze sculptures that are glossy and covered with tinted or pearl beads. Cast door handles and candlesticks made of nickel, chrome, or silver have wood or chevron patterns. Black and fair marble are used for vases and inlay is common but combines drama. Art Deco fashion was fresh during its heyday and many inspirations from the era still look very current.

For fashion: Pearls, necklaces and laces mixed with delicate layers of Veil, Faux furs and corsages that can give you a real sexy feminine look will be quite popular.

Patterns & fabrics

For interiors: Mayan, Incan, Aztec and African inspired patterns including geometric floras, trapezoids and primitive portrayals of the sun will be visible to the fabrics of pillows, bedding and draperies. Patterns with retro style are also fierce for 2011. Art Deco will be very much become an inspiration for the year 2011.

For fashion: Timeless and sophisticated animal prints, stripes and geometric patterns will be very much become a style savvy for the year 2011.

Metallics

For interiors: Silver, Antique Bronze, Soft Gold. Partiality may diverge but still the strong status of silver as the king of metallic shades still lingers for the year 2011.

For fashion: Bronze, soft gold and silver. Choose gold, silver as well as other shades to make you shine in any special events memorable.

Interior and fashion design may differ in many ways, but they share common denominators in creating a good design, such as the design process basing on colors, textures, shapes, and proportions; one may find inspiration from each other. 

Based on the trends mentioned above, 2011 will be an interesting year for interior design. There have been revivals of past trends and long forgotten colors, as well as a lot of fresh interior design ideas evolving and emerging. But how do we adapt these trends to make our homes still look very timeless?

Choose your lines well. Having trendy interiors doesn’t mean stripping off everything that you already have every year. By choosing clean lines in the initial process of your interior design, giving your homes an updated look to adopt new trends would be easy. I usually recommend neutral tones for the main areas with splashes of colors for the accents.

Pick good furniture pieces.  

• Invest in a very nice and good quality sofa that you think would survive at least three to four years of heavy use, or five years and up for light use — selecting a good quality sofa maybe a bit pricey initially but in the long run it could save you more money. How? A good quality sofa may just outlive its purpose and you can just have it reupholstered when you feel that it already needs a makeover.

• Invest a fine set for dining — always check design, durability and proportion. Should you need to update it, all you have to do is have the exposed wood re-varnished and have the slip seat re-upholstered.

• Invest in a very good bed and mattress. A good night’s sleep will always be very beneficial to your health and disposition. Imagine coming home to a very good mattress... It can relieve you of body pains and stress from after a whole day of work. Having a good night’s sleep can actually even make you more productive.

For accessories, use pieces that you really like, but choose wisely. I always make sure that I get my money’s worth. When I choose accent pieces, I make certain that pieces I’m buying could and would stand the test of time by simply asking these simple questions: Do I need it? Do I really like it? Would it blend well with my other existing accessories? Is it durable enough should I accidentally dropped it on wood surface? Would it still be fashionable in five to 10 years? If you answer at least 3 yeses to all these questions then go ahead and buy the accent piece.

Always being cautious of your design in the initial stage of your house planning and taking into consideration what I have mentioned above could help in updating your interiors easily to suit trends that will come out in the future. Just remember, it is always better to make a timeless design concept than create something faddish. What’s important is that you are pleased with whatever you do with your place and it should always mirror your own personality — after all you are the one who will live in it.