To bouclè or not the bouclè? Fads, trends and everything
in between.
With so many retailers joining the ever-growing furniture and styling industry, your home looking “Instagram ready” has never been more prevalent.
You see it on your social media, TV shows and now your local Kmart has made updating your home so accessible.
So do you join the masses and DIY, hire an Interior Designer or do nothing and live with what you have?
We sat down with our Interior Designer, Tahnee Kramer, to discuss what’s in, what’s out and where to invest your dollars.
What is the difference between a fad and a trend?
The main difference between a fad and a trend is that a trend lasts for a longer period of time. Trends generally have a slower start, but they are something that last for months or even years, whereas fads come and go very quickly.
If you think about clothing retailers and seasonal colours, prints and styles, these are fads, they are in for a season and then can be seen in the sale section three months later.
That isn’t to say you can’t buy that item, love it and wear it for years to come, it just won’t remain a staple in the store.
Should we be steering away from fads?
When selecting finishes, fixtures and furniture for our clients, we tend not to select fads as our aim is to create a contemporary and timeless look. We select pieces that are functional, look fabulous (of course!) and will last for years to come.
Where is an example of where we can add a fad in to our home?
A fun fad that I am seeing at the moment is the check print. Grab yourself a cushion, throw or even quilt cover. This way, if you change your mind in months to come, it is an easy and affordable item to replace or store away for the future use.
What fabrics do you like working with and where can we shop on a budget?
TEXTURE, TEXTURE, TEXTURE. I love working with different textures, for example a fabric with a large weave that is two toned—gorgeous! It can really help to lift a space. You can have a really plain floor rug, place a sofa with a great texture on it, add some scatter cushions and voila! If you are wanting to shop on a budget, I suggest looking at Freedom, Temple and Webster and West Elm. They have a good pricing range, great promotions and you can find everything from trend, fad and timeless pieces.
When it comes to furniture, what are you seeing out there?
I’m seeing a lot of 1970’s inspired furniture and am absolutely loving it! Muted colours like olive, pale blue and honey/ browns, lots of curved edges and lots of larger textures and weaves. Fabulous curved modular sofas with low backs and a simple one or two cushions.
What do you think we should be investing our dollars in?
We always say invest in a good sofa as it is one of the big ticket items in your home. It is a key piece that you will get a lot of use out of, especially during those chilly Melbourne winter days and nights when you just want to stay inside.
By investing in the right sofa you will get more bang for your buck and not have to replace it in a few years time.
The minimalist look and aesthetics are so popular on social media. Where do you see this trend evolving and why do you think it is so popular?
The minimalist look is so popular because it is an effortless but chic way of living. Something that I like about minimalism is that it allows furniture pieces to speak for themselves. For example you can have a fabulous feature armchair with nothing on it allowing the armchair to be the hero. Something we often say to our clients when they are wanting to achieve a minimalist look is less is more and that there can’t be too many hero pieces in a space.
If you were only looking to update one space, which would be your pick?
It would have to be the living room. You spend so much time here and your friends and family also get to enjoy this space. If you are looking for an affordable update, you can replace scatter cushions, artwork, coffee table books, add flowers or a plant, a new table or floor lamp.
If you are happy to invest in some new furniture pieces, a fresh floor rug, coffee table or entertainment unit can breathe new life into the space. By changing up your timber colouring, or adding a pop of colour you can totally transform the look and feel of your living room
What is the benefit of seeking out an Interior Designer, rather than DIY?
An Interior Designer can not only bring your ideas to life, they can invite you into a world of fabrics, colours and design that you hadn’t even considered. Not only that, but they have access to a wide range of trade only retailers to provide your home with bespoke and well thought out spaces.
And finally, to bouclè or not to bouclè….that is the question?
I LOVE bouclé! It is my absolute go to because there is something for everyone. There are larger and finer bouclé textures, a magnitude of colours and it is a very durable fabric.
You can also find bouclé in a large range of furniture items. From angular sofas, feature armchairs and curved bench seats.
This fabric has really hit it’s stride over the past couple of years and we are finding more and more retailers jumping on the trend and creating affordable pieces in a large range of colours.
If you are only wanting to add a hint of this fabric to your home, try a cushion or an ottoman and if you are committing to a larger piece, try a bedhead, sofa or armchair.
I believe this beautiful trend fabric will be around for years to come, so enjoy!
