This year, home decor promises elegance, expression and excitement. Art trends include rainbow brights, monochrome photography and dark wall opulence. Whatever your interior style, be inspired by the hottest art trends to refresh your walls this year.
1. Midnight - opulent jewel tones
Dramatic dark walls take centre stage with large indigo and gold accent art. You can create a luxurious feel with opulent, dark and moody jewel tones in both abstract and figurative art.
2. Essential - honest line drawings
The ‘Essential’ trend celebrates simplicity. Beautiful forms are created with seemingly simple sketches. Influences include line drawings by Picasso and Matisse and illustrations from the RHS archives.
3. Escapism - deep rainbow wanderlust
This year’s ‘Escapism’ interior trend brings wanderlust to your home. Imagine a contrasting rainbow palette mixed with pictures of far-flung destinations (see our Eclectic Home collection for inspiration). In art, there’s a thirst for nostalgic travel posters, ocean photography and abstract modern art.
4. Wabi Sabi - rustic natural imperfection
2017 was all about the Scandi look. This year interior design turns its attention to the Japanese philosophy, Wabi Sabi. The philosophy celebrates the beauty of imperfections in natural materials like wood, paper and metal. Embrace black and white photography, asymmetrical florals and textures that imitate natural materials in hand-crafted frames.
5. The female voice - inspiring female imagery
2017 was the year of the silence breakers. Women around the world spoke up about their rights. This year, female empowerment will be expressed through the art on your walls. The trend spotlights inspiring, sensual and strong women, both the artists and the subjects.
6. Kinship - warm earth tones
The ‘Kinship’ trend is earthy, eclectic and rustic. Terracotta, sage, off-white and dark colours create a warm, cosy feeling. Blend muted natural colours with folklore-style art to achieve the ‘Kinship’ look.
7. Urban culture - design meets graffiti
Graphic design and graffiti art are big in 2018 with artists like Basquiat, Teis Albers, Sunil Pawar and Neil Stevens in the spotlight. Expect to see inverted silhouettes, street art style and geometric repeat patterns.
8. Monochromatic - timeless snapshot moments
Black and white photography is timeless. This year, stylish homes will feature statement monochrome portraits. Check out Vogue photographers and Terry O’Neill for inspiration.
9. Muted florals - subtle natural impressions
Inspired by Fashioned from Nature at the V&A this year, art of landscapes and flora makes a revival. Violet greys and brooding purples are popular as Pantone’s ‘Ultra Violet’ became the colour of the year. For inspiration, look at florals by Doug Chinnery and Georgia O’Keefe and landscapes by Monet and Cézanne.
10. Crayola brights - sixties pastel revival
Millennial pink was the defining colour of 2017 (see our palm springs gallery wall story). This year pastels grow up. Think bolder, vintage shades of candy coloured ice cream sorbet (see the New Retro collection). Pair crayola brights with abstract florals, uneven stripes and sixties imagery.
