How to create 'wow' factor in your space with current interior trends

Interiors are experiencing a renaissance of colour. White walls and minimalist material palettes are making way for bold colour, neoclassical accents, contrasting patterns and interesting textures. Done well, these maximalist trends are a great way to create 'wow' factor in a space.

Safia Haythorne, general manager of soft furnishings at Guthrie Bowron, defines 'wow' factor as the element of a space that catches your eye. "What you aim for is a space with exceptional design and creativity, so when you walk into a room, it immediately captures your attention, injects energy and gives a sense of excitement."

As New Zealand's home decorating specialists for over 127 years, Guthrie Bowron has a finger on the pulse of trending materials and finishes in the world of interiors. Two such exclusive brands, ILIV Interior Textiles and Walls Beyond, boast vibrant patterns and prints that can be applied across walls, ceilings, curtains, and upholstery.

We caught up with Safia Haythorne to learn more about these trending materials and how to apply them to achieve that 'wow' moment in your space.

ArchiPro: Can you tell me a bit about the current trends you're seeing in interior design?

Safia Haythorne: We still have a strong push toward natural palettes, and I don't think that will ever leave our industry as they are versatile, timeless, and inspired by nature. They are a safe and reliable choice. But there has been an increased movement towards bold colour in print and textures. We are seeing brighter colours, such as orange, inky blues, and various green hues, in fabric collections and wall coverings.

We're also starting to see more patterns used on curtains and walls; people have neutral furniture or simple flooring and crave some colour and texture. Rather than an absolute change from natural to bold, it's more about blending the two, which is lovely to see.

AP: Can you tell me about the different patterns you're seeing in curtain and upholstery fabric?

SH: The current ILIV fabric collections feature stunning vivacious patterns and prints inspired by countries around the world. Rich tapestries, sumptuous velvets, embroideries, large-scale prints, small-scale lattice design, colourful print — all with a vibrancy that interjects personality and fun into a space. For example, the Siyuri Collection is inspired by heritage Oriental décor, and the Babooshka Collection embodies a modern twist on 60's & 70's pattern. From Moroccan to Batik, Ikat, and Botanical inspired designs, there is something available for every space. It's quite exciting, really.

AP: What kind of fabrics are they?

SH: There are a variety of fabrics available. ILIV use BCI cotton (Better Cotton Initiative), whose mission is to help cotton communities survive and thrive while protecting the environment. There are also sustainable fabrics incorporating recycled polyester blends, beautifully printed velvets, heavy woven textures, and some luxurious tapestries. Plus, we have a full blend of yarn and weighted fabrics available, so it's an excellent selection for people to choose from, depending on their intended application.

AP: What are the different ways the fabrics can be applied in a space?

SH: A high proportion of the ILIV fabrics are dual-purpose, which allows practicality and flexibility. The fabrics can be used in multiple applications, including curtains, upholstery, cushioning, and bedding. What we would suggest is to select your curtain fabrics first and then complement those with cushions. You may also choose to reupholster a chair in an accent fabric to create a focal point and transform your space.

One of the benefits of the ILIV sample books is they sample each collection in a range of colours. There will be a whole palette of oranges, or a stunning green hue, in up to ten coordinating designs. They also provide those 'hard to find' palettes in blush, grape, terracotta, and primary tones. Because they all coordinate, it makes it easy for the customer to get inspired about how they can use the fabrics.

AP: Can you tell me about the new Walls Beyond collection?

SH: Walls Beyond offers a wallpaper material choice like no other, manufacturing full-sized, seamless custom murals designed by various artists for interior spaces. All the designs offered can be adapted to suit the required space in size, proportion, composition, and colour gamma. It's as simple as sending a photo of the wall and the design selected. The design is then adapted to fit the wall. The company has a vast library of designs to choose from, and if you find a design that you absolutely love but the colour is not quite right, it’s also possible to change the colour.

Because the murals are custom items, we don't hold any stock. Instead, Guthrie Bowron stores have image libraries, catalogues, and samples of the different substrates that you can have the mural printed on, so please come into a store and talk through your options with our staff.

The murals are available on various beautiful bases — including linen, silk, and cotton panama. They are amazing and look so beautiful, offering their own spirit and radiance. It's basically a work of art on your wall that will be the envy of many.

AP: What is your advice for someone looking to create wow-factor in their space?

SH: I would start by thinking about what type of space you want to create, how it would be used and in what room you would like that wow factor. You want a talking piece that stands out, grabs immediate attention, and excites you. Whether it's a Walls Beyond mural or ILIV curtains or furnishings, you want to walk into the room, and it's just like, wow!

Learn more about Guthrie Bowron.