Drawing inspiration from Mother Earth

From the classic use of marble to gleaming stone and organic wood, maybe it is a sign of the times, but the seemingly endless obsession with technology and urbanisation has sent designers searching for the calming territory of the natural world to give 2016 creative home decor trends a sense of authenticity and timelessness without being too ostentatious.

Bringing nature into the home was a strong trend emphasised at the recent hugely influential Maison et Objet lifestyle, decoration and design trade fair, which takes place bi-annually on the outskirts of Paris, observes Lianna Man Vice President of Womenswear, Home, and Jewellery, Lane Crawford.

For instance, Man says marble provides a distinguished and clean touch to any décor, making small rooms appear more open and adding light to dark, confined spaces.  She also notes how designers have updated their use of marble this season by playing with different colours, mainly greens, dark greys and deep blues that add glamour and a timeless appeal to any interior. Decorative accessories in various shapes and forms made from glossy stone and frequently used in combination with woods, cork, metals and other minerals added to small furniture pieces, also continues to be a popular trend.

By experimenting with the concept of space-saving solutions, designers have come up with innovative new design pieces that are as stylish as they are practical.  “From LSA’s vase trios, designed to either stack in a column or sit side by side, to Apparatu’s multi-functional ‘Pussel,’ a ceramic modular shape that can be stacked in different ways to create a lamp, vase and candleholder, each solves a space issue with a fresh perspective,’’ says Man the ‘’layering” trend incorporates “mixing materials” and displays in multiples. For instance, in the living room, Italian furniture brand Moroso’s has chosen to play with colours and material contrasts.

While bringing nature into the home is a key trend in 2016, next step technology is also being incorporated into home décor and household products. Man says Samsung’s “Transparent smart Window”, interactive display, which doubles as a window, featuring a transparent display that replaces an actual window with virtual blinds plus a fully functional touchscreen PC with access to a range of apps including Twitter, Microsoft Office, and pretty much anything available in an app store, is a good indication of the possibilities new concept design technology is creating.

When it comes to lighting the home, whether it is a soft, relaxing mood required, bright lights in the kitchen or easy-to-work in home office lighting, LED (light emitting diodes) provide designers with flexibility to flex their creative imagination. “ LED's can be used as a tiny source of light appearing no larger than a pinhead providing a brilliant sparkle or they can be placed in clusters or linearly in strips,’’ says Man who points out that LEDs  also offer environmental benefits because they consume considerably  less energy compared  to  traditional  forms of lighting. “This is a topic that homemakers are becoming more aware of  than they did in the past,’’ says Man.    

In keeping with 2016  nature inspired creative trends,  Man says Lane Crawford offers  a wide selection of products with matt finishing such as the ceramic centre pieces by internationally acclaimed designer  Benjamin Hubert for Bitossi, noted as an prime  example of Italian excellence. “ The colours are perfect for a fresh spring summer look,’’ suggests Man.

As Asia’s iconic luxury department store, Man says homemakers interested in brands, trends and home decoration can visit the company’s online editorial and also shop at lanecrawford.com, at anytime, and from anywhere.  “From lifestyle or home decor recommendations to special orders and requests our personal shoppers also take pride in being able to assist customers with their requests and enquires,’’ assures Man.