In addition to the Milan furniture fair, the imm cologne is the trendsetter in the home of tomorrow. Every year in January, exhibitors and designers present what should not be missing in any home in the near future.
The imm cologne is also an integral part of the calendar for our sleep experts, in order to present you the new products and the most innovative products fresh from Cologne. In this article you will read which trends you cannot avoid in 2021 and how you can transform your four walls into a trendy living and sleeping oasis.
Consistency is the key: retro and vintage
Retro and vintage furniture has already been strongly represented at the Cologne fair in recent years. And in 2021, too, the designers are relying on the resurgence of past styles. In particular, influences from the 1970s and the entire mid-century period can be seen in many products. Materials such as cord and velvet, patterned wallpapers and high-pile textured carpets – all of them are currently allowed to move back into our home.
When it comes to ancillary furniture, things can be a little more subtle. Airy wire baskets with round wooden panels serve as side tables and bedside tables, retro bed benches inspire with a straight metal frame in which comfortable seat cushions with soft velor or velvet covers are embedded. In order not to overload living rooms and bedrooms, subtle and retro furniture should be combined harmoniously. When it comes to color, the following applies: Use strong colors in a targeted manner and underline them with natural, light shades.
This is what distinguishes the retro look:
- Fabrics such as velvet, velor and cord
- Material combinations of wood, glass and metal
- Pattern wallpapers
- Flokati and deep pile carpets
- Rounded shapes and filigree details
Cosiness meets minimalism: Japandi and Cozy Minimalism
Japandi and Cozy Minimalism are further trends that can increasingly be seen at imm cologne. After 2019, the year in which the Bauhaus movement celebrated its 100th anniversary, furniture will be simpler, clearer and less opulent again in 2021. Nevertheless, it is not quite as minimalistic, because the topic of cosiness must not be neglected in a modern, purist furnishing style.
Japandi is the combination of Japanese aesthetics and the Scandinavian hygge feeling of happiness. Simple, reduced constructions are enhanced with subtle accents in order to create cozy places to relax.
Those who cannot make friends with the Japanese furnishing style rely on modern cozy minimalism. The furniture in this line is reduced to the essentials without appearing cool. In the best case scenario, they merge with their surroundings to form a unit in order to create a calm, feel-good atmosphere. Both styles follow the motto “less is more”, which is why minimalist furniture attracts attention with its geometric, no-frills form. Furthermore, only a few materials are combined with one another.
How does Cozy Minimalism work?
Think of the furniture trend as a detox cure for your home: superfluous odds and ends and unnecessary decorations are mercilessly sorted out. What has no necessary function no longer belongs in the room.
If you use functional decorative objects such as mirrors and plants instead of playful porcelain figures and ornate vases, the room exudes calm and relaxation – exactly the effect that ensures cosiness without being overwhelming.
Summarized:
- Use straightforward, geometrically shaped furniture
- Use functional decorative objects such as mirrors and plants in a targeted manner
- Choose subtle colors
- Follow the motto “less is more”
Naturalness and sustainability
One of the central themes at this year’s imm cologne is sustainability. Thanks to Fridays for Future and the presence of climate change, sustainability has meanwhile also reached the younger generations, so that the throwaway society, which still strongly influenced the early 2000s, can hardly influence young adults anymore.
The careful use of limited resources is also reflected in a lifestyle that is as sustainable as possible. Not only organic food and GOTS-certified textiles, but also high-quality, durable furniture made from natural materials enjoy a high priority in all walks of life.
Certified wooden furniture
No wonder that sustainable furniture can therefore be discovered by many exhibitors and designers. Whether FSC®-certified wood with biological surface treatment or completely untreated and natural – the selection of sustainable beds, tables and wardrobes seems to be even larger this year than ever before.
In addition to classic woods such as beech and pine, furniture made of rustic oak and wild oak is increasingly on view. These are characterized by a particularly expressive grain with knots and cracks. In order for these natural properties to come into their own, the furniture is usually only treated with a colorless oil.
Handmade products: expression of individuality
What is new is that for many products, the focus is on the history of their origins. In addition to the origin of the materials, more and more consumers are asking about the entire manufacturing process in order to be able to understand whether ecological and social standards are being met. Anyone who knows the history of their piece of furniture and how much work has gone into it is now also prepared to dig a little deeper into their pockets.
