It’s been a long year and our homes have been our refuge during these uncertain times. With spring just around the corner, now is the perfect time to start thinking about switching up your space for the new season.
From fresh, new colour combinations to the cosiness of Cottagecore or the neutrality of the Japandi trend there's sure to be a style to suit your home.
1. Grey & yellow
Pantone have named both illuminating yellow and ultimate grey as their colours of the year. This was an unusual move as typically Pantone choose just one colour. Pantone explained their reason for this choice as being that ‘The selection of two independent colours highlight how different elements come together to express a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting, conveying the idea that it’s not about one colour or one person, it’s about more than one.’
The combination of soft grey with a bright yellow creates a strong positive vibe. Yellow is also well known as the colour of happiness and of course, daffodils giving it a particularly spring-like vibe. Grey is extremely versatile and a contemporary neutral. When paired together, yellow and grey are the perfect match and work in harmony to bring your home on trend.
One of the best ways to incorporate these colours into your home is through the use of a statement yellow piece of furniture such as a sofa, set against the background of a grey wall with a combination of grey throws and cushions to cuddle up with on the colder evenings. This bold approach is perfect for those who really want to change things up!
If you’d rather a more subtle nod to the trend then consider diluted shades of yellow and grey featured in your soft furnishings and paint colours mixed with neutrals such as crisp white. Be sure to layer up tones of the same shade to add depth to this diluted approach.
2. Cottagecore
Cottagecore is one of the biggest trends to come out of 2020 and is set to remain hugely popular as we venture into spring. The Cottagecore aesthetic is simply defined as ‘a romanticised interpretation of rural life.’ This trend sees us returning to days gone by and an idealistic rural life regardless of the location of our home!
It goes beyond a home style trend and has been hailed a cultural movement as it idolises the idea of a simple, self-sufficient lifestyle. It fulfills our desire to escape to a rural, idyllic life and is shaping many home interior decisions.
Cottagecore is more than just flowery prints, gingham and windowsill herb gardens. It has quickly become a global phenomenon seemingly originating on Instagram and sees both young and old looking to add a rustic, countryside feel to their homes.
Although Cottagecore started out as being very simplistic it can also be mixed with more elegant pieces to add glamour and create a more luxe traditional style. Adding gold accessories and vintage style cutlery and dishes will glam up the look while the touches of more traditional British countryside living will keep the look grounded and cosy.
Our co-founder and CEO Deirdre McGettrick alongside interior designer Audrey Whelan discussed the trend of Cottagecore in their most recent podcast episode which can be found here.
3. Au naturale
Introducing natural materials such as rattan as well as introducing plants into our homes is set to be huge this spring. There are a number of ways that we can incorporate nature and the natural world into our homes.
Introducing greenery is an instant mood booster and regardless of whether they’re real or faux they will add a sense of calm and add a point of interest to any room. Choose a mixture of succulents and cacti for more easy to maintain plants. If you don’t mind a little more maintenance then opt a majesty palm which will add a touch of the tropics to your home.
Pampas grass either in its real or faux form is a gorgeous addition to your home. The introduction of a large bushel to any vase will provide an on-trend textured look to the room and will make it perfectly Insta-worthy!
If you’d rather add natural materials to your home then there are some excellent choices. The team here at ufurnish.com are loving rattan. Rattan is a well-known garden furniture material but over the years this plant-based furniture has become commonplace in homes where its light, natural vibes bring the outside world indoors. Add a statement rattan chair to boldly introduce this trend or opt for smaller rattan pieces such as lampshades and baskets to add an element of the natural to your space.
If you’d like to learn more about bringing the outdoors in then check out our blog here.
Our co-founder and CEO Deirdre McGettrick alongside interior designer Audrey Whelan discussed choosing plants for your home with Jane Perrone, freelance journalist, presenter and producer of indoor gardening podcast On The Ledge. This can be listened to here.
4. Japandi
Japandi refers to a combination of Japanese minimalism and Scandi style. It may not seem like Japan and Scandinavia have a lot in common but when it comes to home design their focus on a pared-back aesthetic and use of welcoming, comforting colours and textures makes them more similar than you’d first think.
The use of rattan and natural wood paired with muted colours and simple shapes is exactly what this trend calls for. Stoneware and ceramics are also important for this look in plain colours and with a homely feel.
The idea of functional, minimalistic rooms is at the heart of Japandi with a minimum amount of essential elements being far more important than a large number of decorative objects. Although the idea of Japandi can seem less than homely at first glance, by incorporating a mixture of warm colours and textures you’ll be able to add a homely feel while having a smaller number of items.
The Japandi style also emphasises sustainability with its use of natural materials, simple designs and focus on less is more when it comes to possessions. With more and more of us looking to make eco conscious decisions when decorating our homes, Japandi’s popularity is not a surprise.
5. Maximalism
Maximalism is pretty much what it suggests - the exact opposite of minimalism and focuses very much on surrounding yourself with all the things you love in terms of prints, patterns and pieces of furniture.
It is closely linked to cottagecore and the idea of personalisation of your home. Begin with gathering together your most loved pieces and shape your home around these. This loud style is not to everyone's taste but after the events of 2020 I think we can all agree that having the things we love most around us, helps to instantly lift our mood. Whether it's a framed photograph of a great memory, an old blanket or an heirloom passed down to you, begin with the pieces you love and this will guide your own take on maximalism. Maximalism is highly personalised and the use of personal items, prints which express your personality and a range of accessories is key to the look.
Use your space in a bold way and fill it with the things that bring you the most joy.
To learn more about Maximalism check out our blog from the fantastic Abigail Ahern here.
Whichever spring trend appeals to you the most, we hope we have inspired you to freshen up your home this season.
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