The energy of a new year resonates with us in many ways, from our personal goals to work-related resolutions. The same goes for the spaces we inhabit, whether it be our homes or our favorite restaurants and hotels. If this year’s design trends are any indication, 2019 will be unapologetically bold. Don’t just take our word for it. We tapped some of the top designers and industry leaders for their insights on the design trends to get ahead of this year.
Trend: Statement walls and ceilings
From hotels to F&B and mixology spaces, hospitality design is getting an overhead makeover in the form of statement ceilings. “We are finding that the focal points in hospitality spaces are large design moves,” says Sarah A. Abdallah, CEO/Owner of Functional Creative Design, a Global Design Firm with headquarters in NYC. “In the past we’ve seen this trend in the form of a detailed reception desk or overly designed bar that really draws you in. The big movement now is over-the-top ceiling designs.” 
Aloette Restaurant Toronto
In the home, Lauren Urband, Founder & President of The Consultancy PR, expects to see moody and textured statement walls. “A moody and/or textured wallcovering adds just the right amount of drama to a room. Dark, bold, matte, patterned, textured—the possibilities are endless!” she shares. “From textured wallpaper to dark-hued or specialty-finish paints, the walls become a part of the space and incorporated into the design, rather than just serving as a backdrop.”
Studio Gild, Scotch Room; Wallpaper by Flat Vernacular
Trend: The return of black in design
A resurgence of black is back in design for 2019. Conveying elegance and depth, the chic aesthetic is versatile. Designer Vanessa Deleon explains that, “From textural, to glossy and matte blacks, and even black paired with metal inlays, it’s impressive to note the varying and distinctive looks a designer can achieve with the application or addition of this one color.”
Architect Wayne Turett stands behind the return of black, specifically in kitchens. “For many years, stainless steel has been the go-to choice, but in addition to the issues of finger smudges, people are ready to bring back warmth,” he says. "The kitchen is just an extension of the living room with appliances. Unlike using a 'real' color, black is always sharp and not prone to going out of style--it is classic and sophisticated, can be dressed up or down.” His advice for how to best use black is as an accent color, opting for matte black appliances and tile borders as opposed to a black counter. 
True Residential
As for combining black with other shades, Vanessa forsees the “onslaught of lighter shaded hues such as millennial pink to be overpowered by stronger shaded colors such as Pantone’s Color of the Year, Living Coral.” Wayne reminds us you can’t go wrong pairing black with a gray or off white, and almost anything other than stark white.
Trend: Combining color and textures
Running parallel to the reemergence of black in design is a move towards color, color, color. “Regarding materials and finishes, we have moved away from industrial and bare to texture and color,” says Jeffrey Beers, architect and founder of Jeffrey Beers International (JBI). “For example, instead of sanded oak we will see polished walnut, instead of subway tiles we will see mosaic tiling or marble, and instead of linen we see velvet.” 
Jeffrey Beers International x AKDO, Immersion
Designers agree on the shift away from neutrals and towards bold color. As Nancy Epstein, Founder & Creative Director of Artistic Tile predicts, “You’re going to see color coming into cabinetry, details and definitely into backsplashes.”
“It’s all about color — often pink or turquoise — and we easily oblige,” adds Lara Bohinc, the furniture and jewelry designer who heads London’s Bohinc Studio. “I especially love thickly painted, brightly colored glazes on ceramics and earthenware.” Ray Azoulay, the founder of Obsolete, L.A. design mecca and a 1stdibs dealer, calls this “The Gucci Effect: furniture and textiles with more pattern and pattern mixing that creates a whole new vocabulary.”
LA Designer Thomas Bina for SONDER living concludes that, “For 2019, it’s all about mixing elements. Textural wood furniture with metal, leather and even a saturated velvet that give a space an organic, laid back look while still keeping it refined all accented with graphic photography.”
Vanessa Olivia for SONDER
Trend: Rich and colorful upholstery
As such, expect to see a shift from all-white interiors to loud pops of color. “As someone who steers more simplistic, I love the idea of incorporating rich upholstery into a modern backdrop,” shared Homepolish designer Larisa Barton. “It is a fun way to dip your toe into the world of color while not fully committing. Jewel-toned fabrics always seem to catch my eye in any room.“
Claire Esparros for Homepolish
Trend: Maximalism
By now it’s not surprising to say that designers are on board with all things bold. “2019 will leave behind minimalism and instead pay homage to the more-is-more maximalism movement,” says interior designer Anne Hepfer. Lauren Urband agrees that maximalism is ready for its moment in the spotlight. “From decorative accessories to textiles and lighting, layer on the prints, a strong mix of textures and finishes and over-the-top accents.”
Chairish
Trend: The overlap of fun and function
“For urban dwellings and F&B spaces, we find multi-functional designs, so there is a better understanding of scale and utilizing spaces for multiple purposes,” says Sarah A. Abdallah. “A good example is the ever-popular stop in Williamsburg 'Sundays in Brooklyn;' they couple the bar for additional dining, like many of the newly-opened spaces on North Side, to accommodate the overflowing weekend crowd.
The very nature of highly functional design lends itself perfectly to children’s rooms. “kinder MODERN is a great example of a brand who is placing an emphasis on playful but functional design,” says Kim Phillips, Head of Public Relations + Events at Design Within Reach. “[We] recently partnered with kinder MODERN to create an installation in DWR’s 57th Street Studio that speaks to creating a space where children’s design is no longer something that is something that should be discreet, but something that can very well be integrated holistically with the rest of the home.”
Design Within Reach x kinder MODERN
