All light and airy? Not anymore. Interior design trends may come and go, but now it’s your own lifestyle and sense of homeliness that really matter.
– Everything doesn’t have to be perfect; the important thing is to express your personality and feel at ease in your home, says Amina Djemili, editor-in-chief of Rum Hemma, who is taking part in the furniture industry’s major purchasing fair, Möbelmässan Gothenburg.
As you know, furniture comes in all kinds of materials, colours and designs. But what should you be thinking when you decorate your home?
This question will be addressed in an on-stage discussion at the furniture industry’s major purchasing fair, Möbelmässan Gothenburg, 16-18 September, where Amina Djemili from the monthly magazine Rum Hemma (“Room at Home”) will give her view on the matter:
– We write about what is happening at the time. But I definitely think it’s more important to be guided by your own feelings than by trends, she says.
Cherry-pick!
She says it’s easy to get it wrong if you let the prevailing trend determine which colour schemes, interior details and furniture you should invest in.
– Your home should feel cosy, inspired and wonderful, rather than “right”. That’s why you should start from your own lifestyle, decorating for yourself. It’s rarely a good idea to copy what others have done.
Nevertheless, much of Amina’s work is about showing contemporary examples of interiors and interior design styles.
– Of course it is. You can draw inspiration from there. But it’s more about cherry-picking, choosing what you like.
Seeing a link to the pandemic
Amina Djemili welcomes the increased emphasis on personalisation.
– We are not so anxious anymore. This may be partly due to the pandemic, I think.
– Back then, we spent a lot of time at home and perhaps began to see our homes differently, customising them more to our own needs.
So the current trend puts more emphasis on “this is how I want to live” rather than “this is how beautifully I live”.
– Of course you want it to be nice. But nice and perfect are two different things. It’s no fun to come home to someone who has everything perfect. You immediately feel uncomfortable and so stressed out you hardly dare sit on the sofa.
– Compare this to coming home to someone who has lit a fragrant candle and put some flowers in a vase. You’re not afraid to spoil the furniture. Then the overall feeling is welcoming.
The return of the bookshelf
Amina often finds the loveliest homes in Denmark.
– For some inexplicable reason, it’s like that: lots of personality, books, crafts, as little fast fashion as possible. Imperfect perfection, I would say.
She is keen to promote the bookshelf, which some people consider passé.
– In addition to books, a bookshelf can be filled with all kinds of gadgets. It becomes a work of art in itself. Bookshelves add life, colour and homeliness. They are also sound-absorbing, which adds to the cosy atmosphere.
Thoughtful updates
Amina Djemili is looking forward to the Möbelmässan Gothenburg, which she is attending for the first time. And she has a word of advice for exhibiting furniture companies:
– I understand that they want to present new things, but at the same time I hope that they have searched their own archives to make use of what they have and update in a thoughtful way. Above all, I want to see products that are made to last.
If sustainability can be considered a trend, she wants to see more of it:
– Actually, it is a sign of good health. We really need high-quality, durable furniture, created for use down the generations.
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