Throwbacks! Futurism! Neutrals! Purples! Don’t be confused, read Cityscape’s guide to incoming interior design trends and get your home and office up with the latest.

Conceptualise and minimalise

Minimalism has been in and out of the spotlight for years. It has now become the defining style of our era, to the point where ‘2020s design’ and ‘minimalist design’ are almost interchangeable terms. This philosophy covers everything from how we decorate our homes, to how we shop, to how we design logos. Look to create space, especially in places where there isn’t much room to go around. Think twice about having multiple small tables in one area. Choose few elegant forms rather than many bold ones. Use a splash of colour instead of a block or, better yet, choose natural and soft colours.

Several shades of grey

Your home can be your sanctuary, your zen space where you go to relax and unwind. We’ve been spending more time at home than ever before, and the overwhelming trend in interior colour is towards calming shades you might expect to see in a futuristic spa. This year’s walls, floors, furniture, appliances and ornamentation are coming out in whites, shades of grey, and blacks (the latter usually for emphasis rather than block colour).

Purple on the prowl

Purple is coming back on the scene in a big way. It can be deep and rich, light and playful and everything in between. It’s saturated in luxury, and shows off a little of the confident flamboyance that’s peeking through in many contemporary furnishing designs.

Healthy greens

Green is nature’s colour. It’s the colour of health, and it has a proven calming influence on the psyche. We’ve been seeing all shades of green make their way into interior design as well as fashion and art. Whether you’re after the minty fresh look, zesty lime highlights or a deep sea aesthetic, there’s a green to match your taste and design.

Eden at home

Forget about castles; your home is your garden. Plants are nature’s works of art and they bring a living, ever-changing element into a space. You may also get satisfaction out of nurturing plants, watching them flourish and even harvesting food from them. There’s a plant for every house, every room and every personality. Talk to your local florist or garden centre about plants for your indoor garden that suit the level of light in your home, the temperature you like to live at, and the vibe you’re going for.

Flexible and firm

What do bamboo and aluminium have in common? They’re light, strong, versatile, beautiful, and they’re about to be everywhere. Furniture and home designers are turning to these two supermaterials to make their dreams take form. And since bamboo is renewable and aluminium is 100% recyclable, they’re great materials for the earth-loving soul.

Forward to nature

The future has been revealed to us, and it does not lie in plastics and space-age composites, but rather in the deliberate use of nature’s gifts. For hard surfaces, look to stones like granite, schist and marble. For soft and warm areas likely to come into contact with hands, consider light-coloured timbers. Merino is a permanent fixture in Kiwi minimalist design, and rough woollen throws are making a comeback alongside traditional fabrics like cotton and linen which make for great curtains and upholstery. You can use natural materials in permanent fixtures, or reveal them by sanding back paint during renovations. They are also present in the trendiest of furniture, homeware and even toys. You can use natural textures instead of paint or wall coverings to accent a space.

Stones in glass houses

Another sustainable material that’s shining through in this year’s design is glass. Used in creative ways, glass can reveal, hide, increase the roominess of a space or add light. Thanks to double and triple glazing, we need not be afraid of losing heat to large windows, and massive panels that fold or slide can facilitate a flow from inside to outside. Many of this year’s award-winning architectural designs use skylights and raked windows to connect with the sky, while glass-based furniture, light fittings and sculptures are making appearances in the most stylish of interiors.

Function and form

Multi-functional space isn’t a compromise, it’s a dedication to using space to its maximum. It’s sustainable practice, and it’s good design. The modern home rarely has a separate dining room, living room and kitchen, and spare bedrooms that barely get used have found a dual life as home offices. The trick here is to pick furniture that is harmonious – styles that complement but don’t clash across a room’s multiple functions. Consider furniture and objects that fill multiple purposes or that can be stored in innovative ways like full-sized fold-away beds, and dining tables that can split and wheel around a room. Design or renovate spaces to facilitate multiple uses while looking and feeling great – think about movable walls and removable divisions, and use floor levels and furniture placement to create zones within the space.

Recreative spaces

Creating from home is arguably much more important than working from home. Recreation and creativity are hard to achieve, and it can help to create a space that naturally facilitates this process. Experiment with different arrangements. For some people, a recreative space might have your favourite books, creative devices, music and toys. For others, it might be a space devoid of all distractions where you can think and work on the things that are important to you. Either way, be careful selecting the elements of this space – it should be aesthetically pleasing and comfortable to be in.

Real work space

There comes a time when you have to admit that using the laptop on the couch or at the kitchen bench just isn’t cutting it for your productivity and health, and you need a solution that’s ergonomically designed for work. Making a great home office is often a simple task that just requires a little time and thought. Rearrange the furniture so everything work-related is together in a corner or its own space. Get a desk and chair that are comfortable, and look good with the rest of your home design. Consider installing simple floating shelves to prevent stationery piling up on work surfaces.

Smart furniture

There’s a trend towards furniture that’s more than just furniture. Items that serve a 21st Century function as well as being something to sit on, sleep on, eat at or store items in. Think about the technology in your home, and look for ways to incorporate it into other items to save space and minimise clutter. Some examples of smart furniture include side tables with seamlessly incorporated Bluetooth speakers, coffee tables with hidden refrigeration drawers, bed frames with soft lighting built in, and night stands that are also alarm clocks with smart-waking technology.

1970s: Postmodern

There’s a retro resurgence going on that will see more bold lines, defined curves, and pop art style coming into homes. If this style appeals to you, keep an eye out for soft couches and chairs with interesting arches, and rugs emblazoned with colours, stripes, curves and right angles. Take design into your own hands with masking tape and careful painting to create bold, overlapping shapes on your walls.

Not-so-teeny-weeny polka dots

This is one retro element making a massive comeback that is anything but subtle and minimalistic. If you love this iconic pattern, embrace it fully to make a statement, perhaps combined with colour or stripes. Whether it’s through wallpaper, furniture or objets d’art, polka dots will be making appearances in modern spaces near you.

Coming round

Hard edges and sharp corners are out and we’re returning to a world of curves. Embrace the soft lines of a circular table, and be embraced by the rounded arms of your chairs. We’re also seeing arches in architectural design, from doorways to windows, feature elements and even walls.

Velvet softness

Reupholstering or looking for new furniture that gives off the ultimate luxe vibe? Think velvet. Warm, smooth and sumptuous, velvet is making a comeback on the interior design scene. Go for rich, dark colours that’ll complement your red wine and chocolate aesthetic.

1990s: Urban

Grunge is back and better than ever. Since the earthquakes, street art has taken over the exterior of Christchurch and now it’s moving into our eateries, work spaces and even homes. Urban artists sell their work just like any other artists at places like Fiksate Studio & Gallery, to be framed and hung on the wall. You can also find urban art incorporated into sculptures, rugs and even furniture. While you’re in this design space, upcycled bricks make for a great urban decay aesthetic, and polished or brushed concrete is absolutely in vogue.