Latest interior design trends for 2020

1. Statement sofas: Brown leather was huge in the 2000s, with dark browns and grey fabrics taking over at the beginning of the last decade. The latest sofa trend is at the other end of the colour spectrum and involves sumptuous velvet upholstery in eye-poppingly bright colours like hot pink and yellow. Pantone’s colour of the year is Classic Blue – the perfect hue if you’re investing in a new sofa to slot in and complement an existing colour scheme.
2. Paint colours: The grey Scandi palette has defined the past decade. From dove through to charcoal it was a breath of fresh air after years of magnolia and off-white, but times are changing again. Warmer pinky, peach and oatmeal shades have been gradually replacing grey in the neutral palette, and trend forecasters are predicting a move towards pale green in 2020. Dulux has a version of the shade, Tranquil Dawn, as its colour of the year for 2020.
3. Brightly painted kitchen cabinets: The kitchen is usually the most expensive room in the house, and the one where the majority of us have traditionally played it safe with colour schemes. Not anymore. 2020 is predicted as the year of colourful kitchens with the home-interest website Houzz reporting an increase in its users posting pictures of blue and green kitchen cabinets and searching for yellow kitchens.
4. Rattan revival: Rattan is a perfect example of an inexpensive, lightweight and super-stylish eco-friendly material. Perfect in properties of any period, it works just as well in the living room as it does in the kitchen or bedroom. Don’t insult rattan by consigning it to the conservatory, although it works beautifully there too.
5. Products made from recycled materials: French Connection is launching indoor/outdoor rugs made from recycled plastic bottles, Sainsbury’s have a range of soft-as-cotton eco-friendly bedding (each double duvet set made from 48 recycled plastic bottles); John Lewis have rugs made from recycled saris and from February Heals will be offering bistro sets made from recycled plastic fishing nets. Waste-free is the 2020 watchword.
6. Glasshouses: In 2017 David Cameron single-handedly boosted the market in shepherds’ huts. In 2018 summerhouses were the must have garden accessory, followed seamlessly by the rise of the “she-shed” last year. 2020 marks the moment for the mainstay of many an allotment – the humble greenhouse. The trend is for furnishing your greenhouse with table and chairs and using the space for semi-alfresco dining. Eating outside but safe from showers. Genius.
7. Statement ceilings: Statement walls are so 2019. Next time you refresh a room, ditch the can of white paint and paint the ceiling in a contrasting colour to the walls. Conversely, in a smaller room paint the ceiling the same colour as the walls.  It works a treat at making the room feel bigger. If you do love a statement wall, paint company Farrow & Ball has worked with the Natural History Museum on a new range of 16 colours inspired by nature. Lake Red and Imperial Purple are strong shades that could feel too much for all four walls of a room, but make a great focal point when used on just one.
8. Dining rooms: Home entertaining was one of the trends identified last year in the John Lewis “Shop Live Look” report, with the formal dining room not only back in fashion but also something of a status symbol. For a stylish table setting, check out tablescaping ideas on Pinterest.
9. The media/audio room: To liberate sitting rooms from supersize screens which dominate the room, dedicated media rooms are set to become huge this year. If you’re more into vinyl than Netflix, why not create an audio room instead as a place to keep your equipment and store or display your record collection? Add a comfy sofa and a desk and the space can double as a study.
10. The coffee station: The solution to cluttered kitchen surfaces, the coffee station is a pantry-like space for hiding away the kettle, toaster and coffee machine. Time for the kitchen island to move aside, a dedicated breakfast area is the latest must-have requirement for high spec 2020 kitchens.

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