Amthal Karim – Head of Design at Furniture And Choice – shares her monthly overview of on-trend styles and interior looks currently inspiring furniture buyers.
There’s a strong argument to say that biophilic is no longer a trend – it’s become a mainstay of the design and retail world. Biophilic-led design is influencing everything, and the most accessible way for customers to introduce this into their home is the colour green. Over and above it’s obvious connotations with nature, green is proving popular with interior experts and DIY amateurs alike – not least in the fashion world.
We’ve noticed a significant increase in demand for green upholstery and expect this to stay strong as we move into the new year. Some of this demand is led by the revival of retro style — olive green, moss green and the latest chartreuse tones certainly represent a strong seventies aesthetic and a perfect accent for dark wood which is also making a comeback. The rest is determined by the design flexibility of green in interiors.
The beauty of a green sofa or bed is that it can just as easily be used in a maximalist design setting as a minimal one — and a classic setting as much as a modern one. The ability of green to adapt to different looks comes from the vast array of tones on offer.
Choose a shade of green with brown undertones such as moss or forest to make your space feel timeless with fashionable hints of retro décor. Switch to a cooler setting such as emerald or teal and suddenly you have a pop of vibrant colour that looks stunning against a soft pink or peach room. In this instance, material really matters because a washed linen fabric in sage green emanates a classic aesthetic whilst a bold, emerald velvet is an utterly contemporary choice.
The seasonal transition into Autumn further showcases green for customers. Upholstery shades such as moss, forest and pine green become the perfect marketing tool for social media to evoke cosy nights in, log fires and woodland walks in fall. A green velvet dining chair offers the perfect accent for a teak or walnut wood dining table emphasising the desire to surround ourselves with references to nature in design.
Within furniture retail customers are more willing to experiment with colour than ever before. Neutrals are still the preferred choice but the shift from monotone to colour confident homes is ongoing – especially for Gen Z. At this stage, it would be no surprise if we started to consider green as the new neutral for 2025.