Pantone, a United States-based colour company which predicts the trendiest colour each year, has named Living Coral, a cheery peachy-orange shade, its Colour of the Year for 2019. But it seems Singaporeans still love their primary colours more.

While red, yellow and blue hues can be found in most homes, only one is generally used as the main colour in a space. But Free Space Intent design director Raymond Seow, 47, says more home owners are going for all three in one room as colourful homes are gaining traction among the adventurous.

On the blue spectrum, turquoise is set to steal the limelight next year as an accent wall shade paired with lighter-coloured accessories and white marble flooring, he adds.

The days of minimalism may be over as home owners are moving towards a bolder, more luxurious approach to home decor. The modern luxury theme, which takes inspiration from hotel lobbies and suites, is set to pick up next year, says Design 4 Space design manager Benjamin Lim, 42.

Living rooms are designed to mimic a posh hotel lobby, while bedrooms look like hotel suites with plush furnishing and bedding. Flashy hotel-style furniture such as leather sofas and gold-plated sinks combined with metallic accents in bronze, gold and rose gold are typical features. Warm cove lighting, a walk-in wardrobe and textured wallpaper complete the look.

However, do note that the modern luxury theme can cost a pretty penny. “Materials such as marble and other natural stones, and hotel-like furniture, such as an eye-catching chandelier, can be quite costly, so make sure to budget accordingly,” says Benjamin. Here are some tips on how to make your reno as painless as possible. 

The timeless Scandinavian style is shedding its typical white walls and furnishings for quirky colours and accents. Raymond predicts that geometric tiles and wallpaper are going to be more popular among home owners who want a clean Scandinavian-style look, but still keep it cosy.

As geometric tiles are more expensive, he recommends that their use be kept to a minimum. Do not go overboard filling an entire wall with the tiles.

“Placing the shapes in a random and unpredictable pattern on the walls makes it more interesting and fluid,” he says. To keep costs down, he suggests that home owners stencil shapes on the walls and paint them in soft pastel colours to avoid overwhelming the senses.

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Say goodbye to the days of handleless cabinet doors that have reigned for the past couple of years. Decorative handles are coming back in style, says Renee Lim, 34, co-founder of Lemonfridge Studio.

“Handles give the carpentry – and the home – more character, and doors look less flat and boring,” she explains.

Silver, gold and brass handles go well with the modern luxury-themed house, while Scandinavian-style home owners can consider flat leather handles. The feature is not limited to the kitchen. Quirky handles of different shapes and textures can be added all over the house, from shoe cabinets to wardrobes, for instant glamour.

Blending two design concepts in a home is about to get more commonplace as sticking to a single theme can be too restricting, says Space Sense Studio founder Kelvin Teo, 43.

Sometimes, fickle-mindedness is to blame for this mix in concepts. But Kelvin says it is about picking the appealing elements in each theme and finding a way to make them work together, whether through colour, texture or details.

He predicts that many will choose to pair the modern luxury theme with some natural elements, such as light-coloured wood, to lighten the overall vibe. Other possible combinations include industrial and futuristic, classic European and vintage.

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The indoor plant trend will continue to flourish in the upcoming year, says home renovation service e-portal Qanvast. Natural materials such as wood, rattan, clay and plant-based fabrics, along with an earthy palette of browns, off-whites and light pastels, are key to getting this style right.

Incorporating lots of greenery, in the form of hanging planters, giant monstera plants and small potted succulents, helps liven up the home with a rustic, tropical getaway vibe.

Qanvast marketing manager Madeline Chen, 31, says: “It’s a cosy and laidback look that works especially well in homes that enjoy plenty of natural sunlight.”

White interiors have been a longstanding trend and owners of smaller apartments can tap the full white-on-white style to make their living rooms look more spacious.

The trick to not having the look seem bland and boring is in the details, says Renee. To make a monochrome room look interesting, pick unique door trimmings and handles and experiment with different textures, such as marble and wood – both of which are available in white. Generally, white carpentry paired with white flooring allows decor pieces such as artworks to stand out.

An increasingly popular place to implement this style is the bathroom, where dark colours are typically favoured over lighter hues for practical purposes. But Renee notes that this high-maintenance style is not for the fussy as stains will be more noticeable.

The coming year may finally see the end of the reign of cold, steel industrial kitchens. Young home owners who like to throw dinner parties now hanker after a warm and cosy vibe for entertaining guests in their home.

Rezt & Relax Interior executive director Wilson Teh, 44, predicts that more will lean towards English-style kitchens as this classic style is easy to achieve and serves as a focal point for guests. It also works well with open-concept kitchens.

The most important feature to nailing this style is an arresting kitchen backsplash – subway tiles with chevron or herringbone patterns stay true to the theme, although Wilson thinks that some might opt for colourful geometric tiles, which are less traditional, for their own take on the style. He says it looks best paired with kitchen cabinets with trimmings and unusual handles.

Photo: Rezt & Relax Interior

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Text: Michelle Ng/The Straits Times