Latest interior design trends

The latest interior design trends feature eco-friendly products, natural materials and renewable technology – read on to find out how to redesign your home.

Natural and recycled
materials have become
popular in interior design

“Interior design trends are heavily influenced by socio-economic factors,” explains Lori Pinkerton-Rolet, Director of Park Grove Design in London. “Because of the recession everything has been quite grey.” Financial cutbacks and worries over the environment mean that home design has changed – focusing on eco-friendly products, renewable technology and low-budget designs. As Interior Designer Linda Barker points out: “There is a real trend towards reusing, recycling and designing your own home decor at the moment.”

So what are the latest interior design trends?

Eco-insulation – cutting edge sustainable housing developments such as celebrity designer Kevin McCloud’s project in Swindon, use airtight designs. “In the future we might be building houses which don’t even need heating because they’re so well insulated,” Kevin says, speaking at the Grand Designs Live exhibition in London.

Unfortunately, many existing homes still aren’t insulated well enough. To combat this, you can buy natural sheepswool or recycled plastic insulation, or even install a grass roof. Interior designer Kate Ainsley Williams of KAW Design in London says: “Green roofs are a lovely idea, great for insulation and reducing rainwater run-off, so if you live somewhere wet like Wales they’re brilliant.”

Natural flooring – natural flooring types are popular for 2010, ranging from expensive stone or wood to less extravagant options: “Lino is derived from a natural material and is cheap to buy,” points out Kate. The latest flooring trends unveiled at this year’s Grand Designs Live exhibition include Tirex carpet, which is made from recycled tyres, so it’s extremely hard-wearing.

Try using environmentally -
friendly natural paints

Low budget home decoration and eco-materials – “There has been a real trend towards knitting and homemade design because of the economic climate,” points out celebrity interior designer Linda Barker. Not only have people been making their own soft furnishings for the home, but new natural materials like Sting Fabric – made of nettles and wool – have sprung up. Extremely insulated blinds made of layers of fabric to trap heat, some in a unique honeycomb design, have also been developed.

Natural paints – “People are daring to paint their homes in bold colours at the moment, moving away from the neutral beige of the recession,” explains Linda. Whether you want to go for a new, bold look or something more modest, the type of paint you choose has become an important factor. Rather than use a solvent based paint which is harmful to the environment, especially if poured down the drain, try a natural alternative. Kate says: “Natural paints are better for your health and the environment; I use them in my own home. They last as long as synthetic paints but may just take longer to dry.”

New windows – double glazing and new window frames can make a big difference to the style and energy efficiency of your home. The latest design trends in windows are based around the idea of conserving heat and renewable technology, as Kate explains: “The Japanese have started putting solar PV in windows so you can plug your phone into it to charge and in Germany they have reversible windows and doors which keep heat in during winter and expel it during summer.”

Solar panels are now common
in home design

Renewable technology for the home – newly built sustainable homes have to include a certain amount of renewable technology like solar panels, heat pumps or turbines to satisfy building regulations. Rory Bergin, Head of Sustainability and Innovation at HTA Architects, points out that their eco-development, Hanham Hall, uses a mix of renewable technology. He says: “We have a central building which houses the biomass CHP energy generation, the heat and electricity is then pumped to homes through underground pipes.”

If you want to install heat pumps, solar panels or biomass heating in an existing home there are grants available, but you should consider what is most suitable for your home, as Kate emphasises: “You have to weigh up the pros and cons, if you have a nice south facing garden and no access to gas then solar and a heat pump will work for you. If you’re in a windy place like Scotland, a turbine might be good.”