Trend Spotting at Imm Cologne 2019

January is interior tradeshow month with leading exhibitions across Europe unveiling the newest releases, the latest trend direction and ultimately the products available in showrooms and stores later this year.  I couldn’t attend this edition of Imm Cologne exhibition (14th-20th Jan) so I asked the talented blogger, Stacey Sheppard of The Design Sheppard to write a guest post all about trend spotting at Imm Cologne.

Usually when I go to the big design shows or trade fairs, finding out what the emerging trends are is no easy task. It involves walking the length of each individual hall, really putting in the miles, and observing what is being shown with a really critical eye. You almost need your mind to operate on two levels simultaneously. You’re looking to spot the stand out products that really leave an impression, but at the same time you’re also looking to spot patterns. Are there certain colours that keep cropping up, certain textures or shapes, certain materials or finishes? It’s a pretty exhausting endeavour. 

When I was researching the things I wanted to see at this year’s edition of Imm Cologne, the international furniture and interiors fair that takes place in Germany, I was really excited to see the preview of a new exhibit in Hall 11. Trend Atmospheres was an immersive presentation of the key trends that we will be seeing in interiors in 2019.Dick Spierenburg, Imm Cologne’s Creative Director, together with stylist Floor Knaapendesigned seven platforms featuring furniture, lighting, textiles and accessories, which reflect and concentrate the key trends of the trade fair.

This made my job infinitely easier as it meant I could visit one exhibit and get an overview of the trends that were dispersed throughout the rest of the show. Knowing that Spierenburg and Knappen had done the leg work for us meant that we, as visitors, were able to take a more relaxed approach to trend spotting at the show.

The way in which the seven platforms had been organised was actually really clever. Yes, they were organised by interior trends, but instead of simply explaining each trend and what it represented, Spierenburg had presented them by describing them in terms of the character that personified that particular trend.  

There was one trend that really spoke to me and that was The Materialist, but that’s not to say that there weren’t aspects of each trend that I could identify with. And I think that is what made Trend Atmospheres such an impressive exhibit. 

The trends on show weren’t random concepts that seemed well out of reach for average consumers. They were easy to identify with, and they were easy to recreate in our own homes. And they weren’t projections that were way off in the future. Unlike the other major exhibits ‘Das Haus’ and ‘Future Kitchen’, which were looking  forward to the year 2030, Trend Atmospheres looked no further than the current year.

So what can we expect to see trending in interiors in 2019 according to Imm Cologne?

The Materialist
The Materialist is a purist who often feels overwhelmed by the images and colours of the digital world we live in. So they prefer to take things back to basics. This person is inspired by nature and simplicity and likes to surround themselves with wood, leather, cork and paper. They are interested in reuse, circularity, smart thinking and finding solutions for materials. They like experimenting, research and originality.

The Minimalist
This person is inspired by the future and is always looking for new technology, gadgets and modern designs. As a minimalist, they love refined shapes, straight lines and graphic solutions, but they aren’t that keen on colour. When they get home after a long day at work they long for visual relaxation so less is definitely more. They get excited by materials like glass and stainless steel, mixed with marble and concrete.

The Nightrider
The Nightrider loves darkness and mysteries and living life on the edge. They are brave, full of confidence and always looking for challenges. They never sleep, preferring to dive into the night for glamour and drinks. They love moody atmospheres in both public spaces and at home. Their favourites are: blue steel, denim, graphite, navy tones and precious materials like silver, gold and crystals. 

The Nordic New
The New Nordic creates their own dream world which is harmonious, peaceful, fresh, positive and bright. They create a good life and relive the search for the sunny optimism of the 50s in times of crisis. They love soft shades, soft tones, soft shapes, soft materials, clear lines, clean finishes. The Nordic new is not afraid of the latest technologies such as 3D printing and candy coloured epoxy designs. 

The Romantic
For the Romantic, emotional experiences are the key to happiness. This person is a lover of feelings, sensuality and softness. They are a sensory person and a big fan of comfort and cosiness. They love to be surrounded by velvet, lots of cushions and feminine shapes. They like designs in shades of red and pink, combined in an exciting way. 

The Traveller
The traveller is a contemporary nomad who is always looking for adventure, loves meeting people and experiencing new interactions with other cultures. They are at one with flora and fauna and try to stay young and healthy as long as they can. The traveller loves natural shades and shapes, including tropical bright ones. Patterns often include birds, flowers, and jungle fever. No print is too crazy.

The Collector
An art lover and modernist, the collector is drawn to older designs and patterns. They take inspiration from the likes of Ettore Sottsass, Andy Warhol and Gerrit Rietveld. They like fixed shapes playful bright colour palettes, and long-lasting and timeless furniture. The Collector is always critical and searching for collector‘s items. 

So what do you think of these seven trends? Is there a particular trend that you personally identify with? I’d be really interested to know which is your favourite, so please leave a comment below.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post about trend spotting at Imm Cologne by Stacey. If you’d like to see more of Hello Peagreen’s tradeshow coverage take a look here. I’ll be back next week with a look at the January edition of Maison & Objet.

All images supplied by Imm Cologne. Photo: Koelnmesse