eporta, the interiors marketplace, and trend service, WGSN, have launched the third Interiors Trend Report 2018/19 analysing the buying trends and insights from search data from eporta’s 10,000+ interior trade buyers across 85 countries.

Key trends
• Fastest rising colour is orange, followed by yellow
• Glamorous pendants are the new chandeliers
• The Mirror is the most popular search
• 400% increase in searches for velvet
• Ottomans, poufs and bar consoles on the rise
• Black up 93% in past six months with matt and powdery finishes
• Dark wood now more popular than lighter woods for furniture

Data from the 2016-2017 eporta trend report showed brass and marble were on rise but, in the past three months, copper and copper finishes are more popular across both residential and commercial spaces.  Glass and crystal have seen searches increase by 44% over the past 12 months, with coloured and opaque finishes on the rise.  Concrete, which was a key trend last year, with the material used in unexpected ways (as lamps, tables and softer furnishings) has now almost disappeared completely from search terms.

Wood remains one of the most popular materials on eporta but in darker hues; both in natural finishes, and oil rubbed or stained dark.  This is particularly evident in dining chairs.  Rattan is also a material to watch, showing a sharp rise in the past three months.  This may be seasonally led but with more brands utilizing this material it’s popular outdoor and indoor.

Velvet has increased by 400% across all searches in past six months.  WGSN noted this was likely linked to the ‘cocooning’ trend with a desire for tactility.  Suede is also on the increase.  Deep and bold colours also translate well in velvet and a need for feel and softness is important as a backlash to technology and the ordered world. Prints and patterns on walls and carpets using colour and repeats also remain popular particularly those that provide a modern take on classics such as art deco, mid-century and traditional.

Red is the most searched for colour ever on eporta, but the fastest growing colour search is orange, followed by yellow.  Orange as a colour search encompasses terracotta and warm clay tones.  Clashing pairings were seen in commercial and residential interiors and extending to art pieces. Beige and neutrals
are the least searched for tones on eporta, steadily declining from 2016-2018. Dramatic colours, and cocooning colours, are popular, with maroon, navy and matt black all seeing a big rise, with black searches up by 93% in the past three months.

eporta has seen ultra violet, the Pantone colour of the year, morph into lilac; a more sympathetic option for the commercial buyer.  Green remains popular but searches for Pink fell by 32% in last six months.

Ottomans and poufs appeared in the most popular search terms for first time, as did the Bar Console, continuing the trend of the home as a social space. The search for Benches fell by more than 50%, possibly as they are now seen as too harsh and uncomfortable.  The Mirror has become the most searched for product ever on eporta, with variations appearing as art and statement pieces.  The most popular brands and products on eporta are Eichholtz, Gubi, Mambo, Unlimited Ideas, Alter London, Vitra, Menu, Normann Copenhagen, Muuto, FLOS and Tala.  The full eporta trade trends report will be available on 6th June at https://www.eporta.com.

For more on the featured products use the following links: http://www.stokestiles.co.uk, https://somertile.com, http://www.urbatek.com/en, http://stnceramica.es or https://www.florim.com/en/florimstone

A new post by Joe Simpson, Diary of a Tile Addict, June 2018