Recurring Motifs for 2016

Material, pattern and key colour trends

The following is a list of the motifs we saw at the Furniture and gift showsincluding the materials, surface treatments, patterns we saw for furniture and accessories that were noteworthy. There are also key colour trends that will have a significant influence this year and perhaps into 2017.

Recurring Motifs

• Wing back chairs that feel comfy and secure
• Sea creatures like whales, sharks, octopus and fish
• African and other prints and patterns from cultures around the world.
• Lodge look with horns, deer/moose inspired accessories and pictures
• Glass and metal lamps and pendants have a cosmic and other wordly look and feel
• Tufted furniture on sofa backs, seats and chair backs
• Birds- especially owls, eyeglasses, hats, crowns, shoes
• Geometric shapes: concentric circles, rectangles, squares, and hexagons, solid compressed cubes
• Graphic symbols mainly letters and stencil looks
• Folded effects that are origami-like create geometric patterning

Material, Surface, & Pattern

• Marble, granite, laminates, stone & cement surfaces on occasional tables, dining tables, clocks, shelving, plates etc
• Salvaged, recycled wood with antiquing, patina, saw marks, nail holes & natural stains are unique to each piece of furniture
• Honeycombs, perforations, mesh treatments, especially in metals
• Extremely large knit yarns that are cabled or with large loops
• Quilted surfaces abound in all fabrications
• Smoky & mat black finishes, ombre effects primarily in ceramics and textile
• Cork in creative usages especially furniture and giftware
• Oversized florals
• Tinted glass and resins in all colour ranges- from pale to deep jewel tones
• Copper, brass, titanium, rose gold, gunmetal stand out with gold, silver bronze still having a strong presence
• Bent and folded treatments, mostly in paper and metals
• Pairing of gloss and matte finishes for contemporary furniture
• Fur- real and faux in furniture etc

Colour Trends

• Leading in importance are the whites!***
• Reds rule in saturated tones mixing well with purples and pinks, pinks gain popularity
• Orange persists mostly in terra cotta, coral and peach tones
• Yellow is cheerful in soft, mid and amber tones
• Greens abound from yellow greens and teal shades to more smoky tones in every value
• Blue remaining popular from pastels to periwinkles
• Purples- rich and royal purples remain significant
• Browns are intense and strong whether infused with red undertones or in more natural beiges
• Greys and blacks are ever present
• Florescent “pops” in unexpected places are especially bold when used with neutrals

***See article on web site called White Painted Walls - Really?