imm cologne 2019: Where tomorrow's interior design trends are shown for the first time

Trendsetters and creative newcomers will present the innovations for the coming year at imm cologne, the international interiors show. imm cologne shows exciting living ideas from new innovation drivers, market leaders and brands and provides new impulses for the furniture market.

Overview of the trends:

For visitors to imm cologne 2019, it might much of the new furniture may seem strangely familiar. Cool armchairs and light-footed sofas stand beside the currently ultra-popular sideboards; the few shelves (in the age of Twitter, YouTube and kindle, books are almost becoming exhibition pieces) hang on the wall like they used to, and we proudly present our treasures in display cases.

Retro is not an autonomous style, but rather a pervasive style element. Not only that classics of the modern period, of the mid-century and of pop culture are cult - their forms also turn up everywhere, but in new interpretations, with a new coat of paint or a new dress. The tried and trusted is coveted in this life dominated by change and appears surprisingly fresh in the new mix and new environment. Whether poppy, in the industrial look or staged in a dark and elegant Art Deco atmosphere, furniture soloists populate our living rooms, while kitchens or bedrooms tend to be more systematically orderly.

The gap between city and country, the lack of and the surplus of space, small and large furniture continues to grow. On the whole, the increasing flexibilisation of our life calls for new furniture: smaller, more modular, more multi-functional.

Patterns, exiled from the sofa and cultivated on wallpaper, are returning cautiously, sometimes in printed form, sometimes in 3D, to highlight furniture like the sideboard.

What will be the trend colours for living in 2019 and beyond?

In addition to the continuing trend of a light grey palette accompanied by nature or pastel shades, which, however, appears to be less inspired by Scandinavian features than by nature and ethno motifs, there are two important directions: colourful and dark-elegant.

The avant garde combines variants of the primary colours, like in a Mondrian painting, while the lifestyle faction likes it more poppy and cheeky and combines shades of orange not only with dark green, but also with yellow, turquoise, petrol or even mint.

Completely trendy are warm colours tending to dark that harmonise with reddish wood, and the dark blue and green shades of which allow an Art Deco feeling to arise through the combination with gold and bronze.

Which materials are in trend?

Wood is simply invincible. No wonder. It is not only sustainable, but also cosy, 2/4 healthy and versatile. It is presently staged as raw as possible: not coarse, but “unsmooth”.

Besides this, metal in particular is popular, usually in warm, high-quality colours and surfaces like gold and bronze - and not only as feet for sofas or tables, but also as decorative elements, for example, for lights, tables and wall elements. Glass is in the process of establishing itself as a third force among materials.

Basket and wickerwork are also popular, while natural stone turns up here and there as an exclusive companion. Leather is preferably used soft and luxurious, and as far as home textiles go, one classic fabric is really in the race with upholstery fabrics in puristic quality: velvet. Usually used in single colours, it reliably radiates a feeling of warmth, a soft texture and a feeling of luxury.

What are the areas of thematic focus of the trade fair?

imm cologne doesn’t present only an excerpt, but instead the entire world of interiors and living, starting with classic free standing cabinets through solutions for the greatest sleeping and seating comfort to the holistic living worlds of premium international brands and the highlights of the design editors from around the world. This is why, when you stroll through the Cologne trade fair, you also won’t only find new products and the latest trends for those interested in design, but also concrete solutions for all needs, as well as all kinds of suggestions, tips and lounges.

Is the “smart home” theme still relevant?

Yes, of course! imm cologne and LivingKitchen, which is taking place simultaneously, are showing special exhibitions dedicated to this theme, in which applications across solutions will be presented through the examples of a kitchen staging, a business apartment and a smart home. However, smart home technology will tend to establish itself less as a special solution and more as an integral element of home furnishing.

If yes, what new developments are there here?

One currently important theme is connectivity: this makes it possible to link various functions, such as air conditioning, security, light, kitchen and bath applications, and that also in a decidedly user-friendly way, like voice control. There is presently a lot of discussion going on of how this linking should take place in order to simultaneously ensure data security and a realm of intimacy.

In Cologne it will be shown how smart home technologies will in future primarily be used there where they make life easier for us, for example, to help us with better nutrition. Although most consumers are primarily interested in security and energy conservation applications, we will primarily encounter apps there where our everyday routine requires our attention, for example, in the kitchen. Thus, for example, curated food is one of the themes that will be explored with the new events of LivingKitchen. In halls 4.1, 4.2 and 5.2, the “Future Technology”, “Future Design” and “Future Foodstyles” events show us how our smart technologies simplify stocking or food planning or design cooking to be more mobile and more like an event.

What else is important?

The boundaries between the individual living areas are becoming increasingly fluid. Which is why it is all the more pleasant that the kitchen is once again playing a main role with many events and a food market at the LivingKitchen 2019 trade fair, which is taking place parallel with imm cologne. Impulses for the other living areas are also provided by the kitchen and even the bathroom, also represented at imm cologne.

While the need for the “clean desk” at home in the private environment is satisfied by storage space furniture that is integrated to the greatest extent possible, soloists are stealing the show everywhere: as designer pieces, vintage originals and inherited pieces, as small sofas, armchairs, sideboards, consoles and display cases.

imm cologne shows how interior design and the younger generation of designers are dealing with this development in, among other things, the walkable design event “Das Haus“, which is designed each year by another designer on around 180 m2. This year it can be found by Pure Editions in hall 3.1 and is being designed by the Rotterdam-based studio Truly Truly. Another highlight is the Future Kitchen from the doyen Alfredo Häberli; the Swiss designer is designing a holistic staging for the new LivingKitchen event “Future Design” (hall 4.2), in which he imagines how the kitchen will look in the future - made visible for the visitor as augmented reality. Those looking for young, unconventional design will find it right beside “Das Haus” and the “The Stage” lecture forum, which is waiting with furnishing tips, at the popular exhibition of the designs of the Pure Talents Contest that have made it to the final selection.

Source: Koelnmesse
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