Every year we see a new twist in aesthetics and trends – in terms of color, furniture, accessories, lighting and more. A certain design element, a particular look or a throwback feature starts dominating over most interiors. It’s always fun to ride a new wave and stay on trend, isn’t it? We asked the top experts from the industry to share some of the hottest trends that will ride high all throughout 2018. Here are their thoughts.

Ayush Kasliwal
Product and interior designer,
Anantaya AKFD, Jaipur
The colors for interiors are directed by urban homes looking inwards, wanting a connection with nature and seeking an identity for the homeowner. Soft earthy hues, both warm and cold, would work well on the fixed surfaces (walls and floors), with richer hues in the transient items (furniture and textiles).

Rakeshh Jeswaani
Architect,
Rakeshh Jeswaani Interior Architects, Mumbai
2018 is going to see a revival in retro colors like bright yellow, bright red, paired with black and white. Shades of grey are also going to make it big. Furniture lines are going to be a bit softer than before but with clean lines and minimal embellishment. Also, I think that period-style pieces are going to get more appreciation and will be used across mainstream design. Organic textures like jute and linen, combined with plush fabrics like velvet and silk, will be a hot combination. Different and more interesting ways of using indirect lighting are going to be popular. Decorative lights are also going to be used more thoughtfully and to more dramatic effect.

Aamir Sharma
 Architect and interior designer,
 Aamir and Hameeda Associates, Hyderabad
I think neo-classical design with a hint of minimalism will be the next big thing in interiors this year. In terms of colors, there will be an increased popularity for bright and bold hues as we witnessed a growing interest in them towards the latter half of 2017; I am sure it will continue. Accessories are going to play a huge role as Indian art and artefacts are gaining more momentum all over the world. Lighting will be more decorative, to complement the world of varied accessories.

Vinayak Diwan
Architect and lighting designer,
Lightbook, New Delhi
2018 will showcase deep blue or royal blue as a main color, which can be paired with furniture in antique brass. Antique brass finish in metallic furniture is here to stay, as it is yet to be explored more, with either black or earthy hues in paint colors. We are expecting more technology-driven lighting ambiences in 2018, as it becomes more human-responsive. This means that we will be able to change the color temperature of any given lighting fixture from a warm white tone (3000K) to cool white (6500K), depending on the usage of the space and the lighting mood the users want to create for for themselves.