Heimtextil 2012 trends

Heimtextil world exhibition is one of the largest home decor fairs in the world.  It is held every year in Frankfurt, Germany.  Home Decor manufacturers from all over the world gather together during the second week of January to show case their products, to get updated on the latest trends and to develop business relationships.  As per Heimtextil there were about 70 000 visitors.  We were represented this year as well and here is a trend report from Heimtextil 2012 world home decor exhibition.

Heimtextil defined 4 distinct 2012 home decor trends.  They are: Color Riot, Dark Lux, Craft Industry, Split Clarity.

Color Riot is the mix and match of intensive colors.  'In the new season, rich, fresh shades will act as channels for emotions', explains Claudia Herke of bora.herke.palmisano.  To represent this trend i picked the following image below.

Dark Lux is the mixture of rich dark shades with metallic accents as represented below.

Craft Industry is the presence of creative artisan accents and textures as represented below.

Split clarity trend is to play with different illusions of transparency in shapes as well as color effects to create optical illusions.

The Wallpaper section consisted of wall galleries represented by manufacturers from all over the world.  As per our V.P of Design his view on the wallpaper trends is : 'Specialty wallpapers such as raised tactile effects plus elements such as metallics, glitter were one of the main themes seen over and over again throughout the fair.  From our booth perspective a lot of positive comments came from the fresh tropical blue section.  Smaller scale designs were the most sought after designs.'  Both our V.P of Design and Heimtextil press release agreed that Wallpaper is back and going strong.

To view our Interior Designer AVL wallpaper selections please visit our website.

All images are the propriety of Mess Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH and are used with permission.

Color of the year 2012

It is official.  According to Pantone, the world's authority on color, color of the year 2012 is orange.

Orange is my top 3 favorit color.  I find that this color is often underestimated and dismissed as flamboyant.  Just take a look around.  Are there many people in the streets wearing orange? Are there any buildings with orange accents in your neighbourhood?  Most probably the answer was no and on my humble opinion what a shame.

Color plays an important role in our lives.  Even more than we realize.  Psychologically speaking, our brain triggers subconscious emotional reactions based on color.  Color is widely used in cinematography to convey feelings to the public.  There is no doubt color plays an important role in our lives.

There are three color families : cool, warm and monochrome or neutral.  Orange belongs to the warm family.  It is the color of energy, warmth, change, health.  In India orange is sacred (the color saffron).  In Japan it represents courage and love.  In western culture it is the color of autumn, of harvest and Halloween.  For me it is a happy color.

When it is dark, gray and gloomy outside orange or yellow hues can pick you up almost literally.  Please  follow this link for orange trend decorating ideas from HGTV : http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/color-trends-decorating-with-orange/pictures/index.html.

And here is how a modern condo house looks like with orange details.

And here is a room decorated with AVL orange wallpaper.

Whether you choose to add an orange scarf to your outfit or an orange vase to your decor, join the trend and add some happy emotion into your life in 2012.  I think i just created a new resolution.