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If a home bar won't fit, the space-challenged can impress with a drinks cart.

Five interior design trends it's time to revive right now

Whether a by-product of socioeconomics, pop culture or fashion, interior design trends can suddenly be so yesterday ... and, just as suddenly, be so contemporary again

There is a famous scene from cult fashion flick that highlights why trends come and go. If you haven't seen it, google "blue sweater scene" and witness Meryl Streep's cutting delivery of how a colour trend (it's cerulean, not blue!) started by Oscar de la Renta filtered down through department stores, winding up filling the discount bins of mass market retailers. Whether a by-product of socioeconomics, pop culture or fashion, interior design trends evolve in much the same way. Here are five.

Removable wall decals such as bow ties are an option for renters.

There is no better way to inject personality into your space than with a feature wall. Renowned for boundary-pushing design and for her work with Viceroy Hotels and Resorts, Kelly Wearstler makes hand-painted wallpaper that epitomises the statement wall. Follow her lead by choosing bold, artful prints in metallic finishes, or boasting hand-painted techniques and geometric lines in peach, blue or black.

If you are renting, opt for removable wall decals, such as cute bow ties from Urban Walls. Easy to apply and remove, these vinyl stickers allow you to create playful fuss-free walls in no time.

If you're a fan of the television series or , you'll have noticed how often the characters make a beeline for the decanter (usually a classy glass number) at home or in the office to pour themselves a stiff drink. Thanks to Don Draper and Harvey Specter, the trend is making a return.

In the 1950s and '60s, home bars were a part of American culture. When disco took hold in the late '70s and '80s, groovers ventured out and home bars became redundant. The revival of the home bar is more about creating a quiet space for conversations. You don't need a huge space to do it - a stylish bar cart is enough to impress.

Moroccan patterns have re-emerged in fashion and interior design. Carolina Herrera's spring 2015 collection weaves together classic and modern style. As evidenced by design blogs and Pinterest boards, consumers in the West are moving away from mass-manufactured products, towards hand-crafted wares they find on their globetrotting adventures. You, too, can seamlessly tie a modern room together by mixing ancient prints with white walls, accented with any mid-century designed chair in leather or wood.

Munna's velvet Ferdinand sofa

Its high cost of production and history of usage as ecclesiastical vestments make velvet synonymous with luxury. The end of austerity in some parts of Europe and the US has caused fashion and furniture designers to take the textile back to catwalks and design fairs. Witness the sumptuous handcrafted collection by Munna from Portugal, recently unveiled at Maison & Objet Asia.

With its unusual softness and depth of dye colour not offered by other textiles, velvet will wow your guests. Make your velvet sofa or armchair the star of the room by selecting a daring colour such as deep green, turquoise or navy, and keep everything else white and crisp.

Pretty in Pink by Bloomingville.

Subtle yet glamorous, playful but discerning - these are some reasons designers are reviving pastels, despite the hues falling out of favour in recent decades.

Pastels work best in a palette of natural tones and marbled greys, a good example being the living room of Danish interior designer Mette Helena Rasmussen. She offers a restrained approach, with parquetry flooring and a collage of monochrome wall art to help soften her pink walls. Make your statement with a vase, coloured shelf or cushions but avoid sickly sweet shades.

Skandi brand Bloomingville has just introduced a furniture range dominated by pastels, with doses of grey and gold mixed in for good measure.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Revival of the finesse
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