The trend for everything handmade is taking over London’s homes. And we don’t mean things your children make in design classes, but objects that have been made with an appreciation for their natural creation and form.
While before this, interior trends favoured clean lines and sleek materials, the handmade trend leans towards imperfectness and things with rustic appeal for an earthier aesthetic.
From handcrafted clay pottery, to knotted wood furniture, to hand woven rugs, anything that has a handmade look is key when accessorising your home in 2018.
"A handmade look is key when accessorising your home in 2018"
But why is this interior trend becoming so popular? Well with lifestyle trends such as Hygge (hoo-gah) originating from Denmark and lesser known Lagom (la-gum) – which means ‘just enough’ in Swedish – becoming everyday lifestyle choices, no longer are we so fixated on things being perfect and showing off what we can afford through our interior design style.
Granite and marble worktops have been a luxury staple in many homes for the past 20 years. But now, even in some of London’s most expensive properties, there’s been a shift towards using uncut wood with wavy edges as surfaces, which top handmade cabinets – giving a more welcoming, inviting feel, with the purpose of turning our properties into a home that’s cosy and relaxing.
This is also true of home furnishings. Tables and chairs have suddenly gone from being smooth and shiny, to embracing the lumps and bumps of natural wood. And sleek TV stands have now been replaced by chunky pieces with old-fashioned hinges or industrial metal cages with exposed soldering work.
A big part of this handmade aesthetic and something you’ll see when browsing most interior shops are woven objects. Woven baskets, wall decorations, rugs, cushions, chairs. You name it. Woven has become a trend that we can’t seem to live without.
Alongside this you’ll see tassels everywhere too – not just in interior accessories, but in clothing as well. Natural coloured rope and bright multi-coloured tassels are the order of the day, adorning sofa cushions, wall hangings and even lights.
But if you’re still a fan of contemporary aesthetics and not ready to turn your home into a ‘hygge’ heaven just yet, don’t worry, as combining sleek and rustic materials is super fashionable too. Exposed floorboards go perfectly with modern metal beds and handmade kitchen tiles look great next to light coloured polished stone worktops.
Although perhaps not to everyone’s taste, concrete is becoming ever more popular in the home too and it’s a versatile material with both a contemporary and industrial aesthetic for a trendy, unrefined feel.
