Winter is coming – and I’m not referring to the new season of Game of Thrones. I am referring to the actual season…winter!
Close your eyes and imagine this scenery: Imagine a cold, rough Nordic landscape. One that is undiscovered but yet accessible to your imagination, you feel a sense of escapism and a warm inner glow. You feel the desire to break from the conventional limits and to draw in the elusive, frosty air surrounding you. Your roaming through an emerald forest of fresh ferns… and wham a tree! Sorry I couldn’t resist! Are you feeling the sense of escapism yet? But with a touch of surprise? This is what you can expect with the trends for this upcoming winter.
Now these scenes are a little more difficult for us to imagine here on the sunny tip of Africa. Especially in Jozi, where winter days are warm and nights are cold. The trick is to find the midpoint between the two to create a crisp winter theme whilst still making the environment feel cosy and warm.
Let’s talk about the typical winter hues first. Imagine silvered branches, wisps of wood smoke and a frosty window pane. These will create your neutral winter pallet. Contrast these with darks and greys, such as pale wood ash or a smoky dash of soot. For a richer colour scheme consider midnight blue, indigo and ink colours.
The general theme to expect this winter seems to be the escapist inspiration from historical explorers and naturalists. Vintage globes and suitcases feature with hints of botany and entomology.
Bringing nature indoors has been a popular idea since last winter. What makes nature so perfect for this season is that it can provide a strong winter look without making the interior space too sterile. Some great choices revolve around woodland themes, such as timber furniture, pastel winter flora paired with rustic accessories. You can also add a splash of emerald or fern greens to create interest.
Incorporate some leather something dark or worn. The chocolate-brown colours add a sense of warmth to the scene and pair nicely with more neutral colour palettes. Plus, the universal nature of leather makes it a great investment for future seasonal design changes too.
Textured fabrics also work well and adds a sense of cosiness and warmth to a winter colour theme. The use of textures like knits are particularly popular, and add some extra softness to the environment when you’re snuggling up on the sofa. You will note an increasing amount of knitted cushions, throwns and wooly pouffes in stores. Knitted accessories are getting bolder, with huge chunky cable-knits.
The connection to the Craftsman is still trending and will for quite some time. Incorporate some handmade artifacts to express a clear sense of the “hand of the maker”. Especially have a look at some handmade ceramics and tiling, as well as authentic Moroccan and Indian weavings.
Again, metallic seem here to stay and dominating the accessories and décor scene. Bring in some of these reflected surfaces, especially wintery silvers or deep golds. This trend will still continue for quite a few more seasons it seems. Pair them with midnight blues, chocolate browns or deep burgundy hues.
Feel free to follow me on Piterest for some more “Winter is Coming” inspiration that might last for more seasons than Jon Snow…
🎧 For some more inspiration, I listened to the following song from The Head and the Heart