Trend Focus: Global
By Amy Kilvington
From warm Moroccan colour palettes to folkish Scandi prints, from eclectic carnival influences to Mediterranean patio style, this season, it’s all about capturing the essence of all four corners of the globe.
Global interiors are a celebration of the colours, patterns and textures from around the world. As we travel further afield and discover new places, we absorb the design concepts of different countries and cultures. This encourages us to reflect them within our own homes, paying homage to our favourite holiday destination, or even nodding towards a country that we’re yet to visit
Just as we like to eat ‘around the globe’ with a variety of cuisines, we are now looking to introduce global interiors into our homes. It’s no longer just our plates that are filled with Mediterranean, Indian and East Asian influences, but our houses and gardens.
Global interiors tend to embrace the handcrafted and the artisanal, favouring rich, earthy tones and diverse textures to create an authentic and eclectic look. From pottery and pom-poms to mosaics and macrame wall hangings, there’s always something of interest creating an effortless and imperfect style.
Tactile textures, exotic patterns and natural materials all work together in harmony, while your own collection of carefully curated treasures will offer a hint of faraway lands and exploration. The overall look might include bright Aztec prints, bold geometrics, zig zags, Moroccan trellis and tribal designs, along with imagery of animals, insects and birds. You could also introduce vintage furniture, with a particular focus on rattan and bamboo pieces.
Ready to transform your space with a global feel? Create your global moodboard and start looking for inspiration. Consider your favourite places and the ones you’d love to visit, whether that’s the South American rainforests, the Scandinavian fjords or the sandy shores of Indian Ocean islands. Take a look at the different global styles below and don’t be afraid to mix and match for an even more exciting look…
Different global styles
Scandinavian
For Scandi and Nordic vibes, consider plain fabrics or pieces with very subtle prints, often in cool mineral and pastel shades. Natural woods and recycled items are a must, along with maintaining that fresh, bright feeling that’s so synonymous with the likes of Danish, Norwegian and Finnish homes.
Italian
Meanwhile, over in Italy, grand fabrics in rich colours will transform your space into a renaissance masterpiece. Look for velvets, rich woods and baroque patterns. Metallics will also create an Italian palatial feeling, along with terrazzo, tiles and terracotta. For more rustic Tuscan vibes, choose bare or painted woods and linens.
French
For a French feeling, choose between creams, silks and metallics for a Parisian look, or soft linens, toile prints and stripes for a more French countryside style. French interiors are always effortless, whether they’re on the sumptuous or pastoral end of the scale. Shades of white will always provide a versatile base for this trend, along with versatile tones of duck egg and blue.
Moroccan
Moroccan inspired interiors are a firm favourite, with many home decorators choosing their rich colours, plush cushions and intricate rug designs. Look for deep indigos and saturated teals, combined with natural tones of stone, sand and terracotta. Curved doorways and arches play a big role in traditional Moroccan culture, so fabrics emulating these shapes are a great choice.
African
Embrace African style with saturated and sunny shades of orange, yellow, red and tan, along with mixes of vibrant green and blue. Both animal print and traditional geometrics are popular pattern choices, creating eye-catching statements whilst remaining accessible in their small and medium scales.
South American
6,000 miles across the South Atlantic, South American style has inspired us to welcome tropical patterns and ultra-vibrant colours into our homes. Playful prints like alpacas, parrots and feathers add extra personality, while bright shades of green, purple, pink, red, orange and blue bring excitement into your space. For extra detail, consider pom-poms and embroidery.
Eastern European
The style of Eastern Europe focuses around high quality, natural wooden pieces, teamed with beautiful and classic soft fabrics that are adorned with florals and embroidery. Linen and hemp are popular fabrics, often selected with a white or neutral base with interest added through shades of green and red.
Far Eastern
We can observe the influence of the far East in patterns such as cherry blossoms, bamboo, cranes, pagodas and koi carps, often depicted on soft cotton blends. The colour palette focuses around Chinese red, raspberry pink and honey, with a few hints of sea foam and alabaster for good measure.
Colonial
Create a Colonial Indian-inspired space with an eclectic mix of tropical and folkish prints. Look for leafy tones of green and hot pinks and mustards mixed with high quality, natural woods, which bring a feeling of exploration. Inject a little excitement into your design with quirky touches, such as golden pineapples and fun animal prints. For an authentic Indian feeling, choose intricate geometrics and elephant designs.
Explore world culture and create a warm and inviting space with the global trend. Discover our full range of products at Blinds Direct, and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team – we’re always happy to help.
