“Interior design is quite a new field in Asia,” says Mercier, founder of the Insight School of Interior Design. “A lot of people are unsure of how to furnish their home, so if they see a trend in a publication, they think: ‘These people must know better than I do, therefore I’m going to believe them.’”

When Mercier first lived in Hong Kong 20 years ago, she felt that “nobody cared about interiors or design in general”. Living quarters were small, and people tended to go out to socialise. “When I came back seven years ago, to open the school, I could really see this was changing,” she says.

Now a small flat can be a decorating advantage, Mercier asserts. “The accent is on how to be practical, and clever, to maximise the space,” she says. “Practicality is important, but not an end in itself: you still need to make something that is beautiful on the eye and feels good by interacting with all five senses.”

So, how will Pantone’s colour of the year for 2020 – “classic blue”, which Pantone says is “meant to symbolise protection, stability, peace and confidence, as well as encourage deep thinking, open mindfulness and communication” – gel in Hong Kong homes?

Not very well, in Mercier’s opinion.

She understands its relevance. “In colour psychology, blue is associated with calm and balance,” she says. “With the whole world living in a hectic time, I don’t think that [choice] is a coincidence.” But the deep-cobalt classic blue is a strong primary colour, and “quite difficult to use” in residential interiors, she adds.

For those wishing to follow this trend, she recommends opting for “little touches”, or a variation of the shade. Mercier does not see classic blue being as popular as Pantone’s “living coral” was in 2019.

Aside from colour, Mercier thinks that three key themes – individuality, eclectic and back to nature – will shape interiors in 2020.

She sees a move away from the “safe” environment of a white or beige palette, to “something which is a bit risky, quirky and fun”.

“People are becoming more adventurous,” she says.

This trend morphs into the eclectic genre. In pursuit of the “perfect look”, people in Asia have shied away from anything second-hand, vintage or slightly distressed, but that, too, is changing. “I think this kind of shabby chic is definitely something that is growing here,” she says.

Back to nature is certainly not new, but enduring, she adds. House plants are a must – “according to feng shui principle, you have to have greenery inside” – and Mercier sees increasing demand for “healthy” interiors with eco-friendly finishes.

Alex Sheldon, founder of The Home Stylist, offers a few more tips.

The first is curves. “Influenced by the geometry and glamour of the 1970s, rounded edges are very in when it comes to furniture in 2020,” she says. To get the look, add a curvaceous statement chair and a retro circular side table to your living room.

Texture “in all its variety” will be a decor trend for the coming year and beyond, predicts Sheldon, and with this look, opposites attract.

“Metallics are still in for 2020 and the more mismatched, the better,” she says. “Mixing copper, brass, gold and wrought iron in your furniture, fixtures and fittings keeps things exciting and allows you to play around with your colour palette.”

The same applies to wood: contrasting dark and light wood in the home is a key look of the new decade.

“All woods go together [as they have] the same underlying tone,” Sheldon says.

She agrees that bringing nature in is another interior trend that is here to stay. “Think outside the box with terracotta, coral and plenty of plants.”