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The choice of colour sets the mood and style for your home, so it’s imperative you get it right. Do you want a cool and calm look with blues, marble and steel, or a warm and rustic feel, with timbers, rustic reds and matte metallics? To help you figure out your style, and perhaps even inspire a new look, here are just some of the trends in textures and tones we’re seeing come through our builds:

Rustic red

Brass has been making a comeback over the last few years, but we expect this to amp up in 2018, as it becomes the preferred material over traditional metallics like silver. Earthy tones such as terracotta and rust reds are also here to stay, sitting pretty against the ubiquitous millennial pink.

Purple reign

Instead of bold greens and blues, purple has now become the feature colour of choice, adding a regal feel to your home. So far, we’ve seen it appear as a centerpiece in furniture and on the walls, as well as scattered more subtly throughout with accessories and fixtures.

Texture and terrazzo

Marble is once again on the return, appearing in numerous kitchens, bathrooms and laundries. However, terrazzo is also on the rise. With a large variety of colours and textures, it is incredibly versatile and can be used as a subtle material or a daring design statement. Its increased availability in residential design makes it easier than ever to incorporate.

It’s mahogany darling!

While the Scandi style of light timbers and white space has dominated design over the last few years, dark timber is now making a comeback, with mahogany, oak and walnut all appearing. These shades form the perfect complement to earthy tones and provide yet another textural point of difference.

Wabi Sabi

Less a colour trend and more an approach to life, Wabi Sabi is a Japanese term that relates to products and objects that become more beautiful over time. It encapsulates the idea of finding beauty in things that are imperfect or incomplete, and when applied to home design, refers to living in a non-constructed way. Embracing the wear and tear of everyday for what it is – a sign of people living – is becoming more mainstream and influencing what materials are used in common living spaces.

Colour and texture play a huge role in your home’s overall look and feel, but it doesn’t need to cost you the world. If renovating on a budget, start with accessories to accentuate the theme, like throws, cushions, paintings/wall art and vases. These can also be easily updated when your mood changes.

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The kitchen is no doubt the hub of the home ­– it’s where amazing meals are created, stories are shared and drinks are consumed! Therefore, no matter your style preferences, getting the design of your kitchen right is of the upmost importance.

Not sure where to start? Here are just some of the trends we think will be turning up over the next 12 months.

Stone benchtops

The ubiquitous stone benchtops are here to stay, remaining a strong choice of material. However, we expect to see the texture mixed with natural timbers to create an earthy feel, appearing across flooring, furniture and fixtures. In some cases, designers have gone one step further, creating a dual benchtop of stone and timber.

Matte black cabinetry

Black is the new black. The dark tone is appearing on cabinets across Australia, creating a sleek and sophisticated feel. We’ve even noticed some black sinks making appearances! To create contrast and break up the aesthetic, brass fittings and furnishings have also made a comeback, appearing as taps, light fittings and handles.

Customised handles

Handles also offer a way to add a personal touch to your kitchen. The style of the oft-forgotten element is branching beyond metallic to elongated timber, adding a left-of-centre look to kitchens. In some cases, handles are also being custom-designed, ensuring the kitchen is as unique as can be.

Homemade highlights

2018 won’t just be about a sleek and contemporary aesthetic. Homemade décor is slowly creeping back into the fold, with elements like woven baskets and lampshades and terrarium plants all appearing. They each contribute to a sense of homeliness, softening up the space.

Simple lighting

What’s a kitchen without the proper lighting? While downlights still dominate the general space, pendant lighting is going through a change, with a move away from dome and oversized pieces to simpler designs.

Texture and colour

Splashbacks are having their moment and are being recognised as a fantastic way to introduce texture and pattern. As such, we expect glass to be slowly phased out and interesting tiling to dominate. In the same way, the minimalist colour palette is slowly making way for warm and earthy colours, complementing the introduction of timber, as noted above.

Creating a Happy Home to live in

The way we design a home, decorate and live, can shape a happy home. This can be by the choice of colours, the shapes of furniture or the design of a room. These factors can give you a sense of peace.

Furnishing with round objects conveys a sense of warmth in the room, as naturally we love the look of curves; a round coffee table, dining table or mirror could be some items to consider. You might choose to have a curved wall, which can be a design feature of your home.

The display of sentimental photos and objects can also give you a feeling of peace.  A wall of collage photos can be a warming way to display memories and an alternative way to subtly incorporate colour into your home.

The choice of colours can provide a mood within your home, with green or yellow being associated with positive feelings and experiences. You can achieve this by painting a wall but if you don’t want to be so bold, the placement of plants can add a touch of greenery, or have ‘splashes’ of these warming colours by throws, cushions, rugs and display items, that will still create a vibe of happiness.

Every now and then we need to retreat from our busy lives, so setting up a quiet nook, which can be as simple as placing some cushions, can be a place to read a book or a watch a movie on your personal device.