London Eye

It’s spring, and time to take off to London Design Week to see what’s new for all of us interior design enthusiasts.

The fabulous Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour hosted the annual London Design Week for five days of launches, talks, demonstrations, industry collaborations and breathtaking design installations.

We donned our most comfortable walking shoes to tread through the events, bringing back design news stories, top among them were the necessity of hiring professional interior design help, functional and affordable art, and integrating different materials, so expect the remainder of the year to be dominated by micro trends.

Interior designers - how they can finish your home

Expensive indulgence or a sage decision? We’ve already bought into the value of hiring an architect even if it’s just for an extension, and we probably have the influence of home renovation programmes to thank for that where we see the trained eye that hones in on and maximises natural and artificial light, views, and the functionality of spaces so all your needs and dreams, budget permitting, can be achieved.

The same goes for interior design, from space planning and colour consultations, to choosing furniture and accessories. A pro can make a world of difference, saving you time, money and stress in the process and minimising, even eliminating, the possibility of having to re-do costly mistakes, and it can be far more affordable than you think.

Get the trend: Our in-house interior designers are experts at everything from giving a single room a spruce-up to tackling the entire home. A consultation by video call is one option, the other is to book an in-store appointment for a face-to-face session, both lasting one hour for just £49. You get advice on furniture layouts, how to incorporate pieces you already have, a personalised product list and styling advice. Learn more here.

Old treasure - how to bring classic antique and vintage style to the modern home

The demand for vintage pieces has seen prices soar, especially from the mid-century decades of the ‘60s and ‘70s. London Design Week saw the emergence of newly made pieces echoing vintage designs with the huge advantage of not having the “smell of old” which has put off shoppers, especially when buying preloved wardrobes and chests of drawers where clothing needs to be stored.

2026 is less about faux, pastiche and the dreaded knock-off, and more about revival. Think ‘70s bell-bottom jeans and the iteration decades later of the boot leg. It’s the same inspiration but a different interpretation for a new generation

Get the trend: A perfect example is the Regency style of the Clementine 5ft king bed frame which has dispensed with heavy duty, highly polished rosewood and gilt looks for a finish in modern smoked oak with fewer embellishments to give it an up-to-date look.

The same goes for the Ashford Dosso fabric four-seater sofa. It cites Regency style with a castor foot, high back and distinctive arms finished in striped upholstery, but instead of being a Regency stripe it’s a thoroughly modern take. An armchair version goes a step further with an abstract chevon upholstery design.

Ashford Dosso Fabric 4 Seater Sofa

Affordable art - how to buy for longevity

The message is, you really can transform a room with art without causing serious damage to your wallet, but steer clear of matching it to your décor we’re being urged. Buying only to match a colour scheme means in five years you’ll be giving it away when you’re revamping your space, or selling it on Facebook Marketplace for a fraction of what you spent originally.

Sotheby’s, the world-famous art auction house, says buy because you love it which is a solid guiding principle as it will see you through a life-time of enjoyment and better value for money in the process.

Get the trend: Our art edit is curated to help you bring a finishing touch to your home. If you’re a traditionalist, something like the Map of Beginnings triptych with its sepia colourway is timeless, or the round Secret Garden has a vintage Edwardian botanical theme.

For a contemporary look, Earthly Serenity wall art goes full monochrome abstract, but at the contrasting end of contemporary art, the Gold Leaf wall art in midnight blue and gold is a conversation-prompting piece.

One of the many London Design Week talks focused on lighting as sculpture where one of the speakers was Irish interior designer Sara Cosgrove, ex RTE Home of the Year judge, presenting the idea of combining functional necessity and artistic statement, so something like the sculptural Magnus mid-century style floor lamp or the arty Fraser black and white table lamp cover both.

Earthly Serenity Wall Art & Fraser Table Lamp

Materiality - adding texture and finish

Fluting has burst onto the interior design scene and shows no signs of abating in every space from walls and kitchen islands to cabinetry and even tiles. It’s not new, though; the Greeks and Romans started it in their columns, then it had a revival in the early 19^th century and cropped up in Art Deco interiors in the early 20^th century.

Dusting the spaces between the fluting aside, it has the ability to transform what would otherwise be a flat surface, giving it textural quality and visual interest, but while you might not want to do an entire wall in timber fluting, introducing it in furniture cites the look.

Get the trend: The Fluting sideboard is all about materials, with a fluted mango wood finish, a marble top and sitting on brass legs. A matching dining table is the ultimate statement piece, standing on a low-level marble plinth, and definitely not one to have its style hidden under a tablecloth.