Rustic meets rebellious
Design trends of the supplier industry

It is the display window for the colour and design trends of tomorrow: ZOW Bad Salzuflen will showcase innovative surfaces, fittings, lighting solutions and many other supplier products from 6 to 9 February. This year’s designs presented at the trade fair centre Bad Salzuflen reflect the entire scope of creativity and innovative strength of the suppliers for the furniture industry and interior design.

The design trends for surfaces are characterised by strong contrasts. Rustic woods with distinguished textures are met by strong, rebellious colours, such as fuchsia, lemon, azure, blood orange and lilac. Real wood or emulated wooden designs – the new furniture surfaces convey an image of authenticity and high quality, which is perfectly expressed by the popular oak. A combination with intensely coloured high gloss fronts represents awakening, spring and rebellion – a new, modern living environment that reflects the current zeitgeist. Alongside, however, one is also able to find the sophisticated, elegant trend of 2012, combining light woods with glass or aluminum. Grey and beige are the signature shades of this style and predominately found in living and sleeping areas.          

The general rule is: anything appealing is accepted. Open living space is the contemporary key term: Kitchen and living room become one, while the bathroom becomes a new wellness oasis in the bedroom. This allows a varied mixture of colours and materials. Woods, gloss, glass, aluminum and stainless steel in vibrant colours or pastels are combined in many ways and leave much room for individual design ideas.

The range of colours and shapes is characterised by a large variety of fittings. Ergonomics, functionality and aesthetics go hand in hand. Generally, handles are made bigger, wider and with a more distinguished design and haptics, which means they must not only be pleasing to the eye, but also in terms of functionality. The key material used is stainless steel; however, in slightly darker shades than the light aluminum handles of the previous years. Champagne and bronze shades, which make a great impression on light surfaces, are also on the rise. Even stronger contrasts are achieved with handles made from nickel, which represent the popular used look with their dark, metallic colours. Lacquered handles in grey and black are the seasonal eye catchers. 

LED lights and their various areas of application are a key element of lighting solutions. This technology has progressed so immensely that LEDs are developing from mere decorative lighting elements into functional lighting solutions. A top topic of 2012 is the two-dimensional use of LEDs, which can be perfectly incorporated into furniture, thus creating new design worlds both in terms of functionality and emotion. There is also a trend toward miniaturisation. Even in drawers or swiveling kitchen cabinets, LEDs integrated into the furniture create optimum lighting. LEDs behind glass are another topic finding expression at ZOW. Due to their matt, two-dimensional effects, these design solutions impress users and costumers alike. ZOW reflects the trends of the new furniture season early on in the year – at the right place and the right time.