The new wave

It's proving to be an exciting year in furniture design. From shapes to textures to materials, these are the trends to watch - and the makers to follow - to stay ahead of the curve

- Ellen Finch

Furniture trends are always interesting to track because, like trends in colours and materials, they say something about the way we want to live in our homes. You can tell a lot from the shapes, sizes and silhouettes that are en vogue - whether popular pieces are cosseting and comfortable or formal and rigid says plenty about the mood their owners want to create through their use.

With that in mind, this deep dive into the now and the next in furniture tells us that we're feeling playful, restless, a little brave - but that underneath it all, we still want to feel supported by our furniture pieces. 'The predominant mood in furniture design right now leans towards softness - both in form and materiality,' says designer Greg Natale. 'Curves are a defining feature, appearing in everything from plush, sculptural seating to fluid, organic silhouettes in accessories and decor. There's a strong mid-century modern influence, but it's being reinterpreted with a contemporary sensibility - think rounded edges, tactile finishes and an emphasis on comfort.'

The playful aspect comes in through our new penchant for postmodernism - see over the page for more on that - and the bolder, surrealist-inspired pieces we've seen filter down from high design to high street. Unusual shapes are accentuated through materials - from chrome to lacquer to coloured glass - but you'll find familiar favourites like natural stone and bouclé continuing to be popular. And of course, with the rise of marquetry, there's never been a more exciting time to be a woodworker - we've noticed interesting things coming out of one part of the UK in particular, more of which on page 20. Read on to discover the materials, textures, shapes and makers to invest in and watch now - this is an exhilarating time in furniture design indeed.

1 THE MOOD: SOFTLY, SOFTLY