What the Trend Bible says: Feeling blue in March

We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with home interior trend forecasters Trend Bible. They will be guest blogging for us each month, bringing the latest trends as they unravel, and we’ll tell you how you can shop the look.

Working with retailers and brands in the UK and USA, they help retailers develop product ranges that tap into the key seasonal colour and design trends. They work two years ahead of the season and meet with selected experts to define future trends – so they’ve certainly done their homework.

“We know the mydeco audience have a real appreciation of trends and spotting what’s coming next. It’s always interesting to see why a particular colour or print design is popular and hopefully this blog will give you an insight into how we go about predicting the next big thing,” explains Joanna Feeley, Director of Trend Bible.

It’s safe to say the recession has been the biggest single influence on trends over the past four years, and still it shapes our purchasing decisions, choices and tastes. We’ve been researching what we call post-recessional behaviour – which sounds rather dull, but in fact many design trends for 2011 stem from this new-found sensibility.

It’s no surprise that as consumers we want products to stand the test of time when finances are tight, and it’s this new mood that’s started to influence the type of colours and designs we’re drawn to. This is why we think there’s been a resurgence in the colour blue for spring/summer 2011. We published our trend forecast for this spring back in September 2009, and are now seeing the key trends begin to unfold.

Modern Classics

We love these examples of reworked classics like Delft blue tableware, the ever-stylish Willow Pattern and Cornish blue pottery.

Image credits, clockwise from top right: Drip plate by Cat Merrick; ceramics by Andrew Tanner; sofa from Trend Bible archive; plate by Supernice; Cornish blue butter dish by TG Green

Hard Lines

Try using blue in modern prints and designs to bring this classic shade bang up to date. We love anything with a linear, geometric or grid patterns across cushions and soft furnishings.

Image credits, clockwise from top right: cushion and napkins by Ferm Living; wallpaper by MissPrint

It’s been a long time since this classic shade has actually been fashionable, but for some reason all of a sudden it looks fresh and modern again. Don’t just take our word for it – check out the trend area in Selfridges for their take on mixing the blue and grey trend, and the Something Blue pop-up shop by Lorna Syson and co at Clerkenwell Design Week (26 April-1 May 2011).

Grey and Blue

For a more subtle take on blue, mix it with powdery grey to add a relaxing vibe to the sitting room and bedroom.

Image credits, clockwise from top right: rug from SCP; Lovechair from Deadgood; graduated cushion by Margarete Haeusler; candle holder, cushion and basket by Ferm Living

Last but not least, we expect there to be a devotion to royal blue with THE wedding coming up in April, when we expect everyone to show their patriotism in a riot of red, white and blue.

Royal Blue

We’ve been bombarded with everything from Union Jack cushions to postage stamp print motifs, but the trend for all things British is about to step up a gear as the UK goes royal wedding crazy!

Image credits, clockwise from top right: Stamp rug by Isabel Ballardie Interiors; wallpaper by Lizzie Allen; gate image from Trend Bible archive