White Pine - Acme Brick - Perla Plant, Malvern, AR

As a new year comes around, it’s always fun to speculate on what trends - from clothes to food and especially home design - will be showing up on Pinterest and high-end magazines. While good taste never goes out of style, some interior design trends represent changes in how bigger issues such as the environment, technology and family time are perceived. This has never been truer than what can be expected in 2019.

Please continue reading for Acme Brick’s annual round-up of the hottest home design trends. 

#1 Sustainability is a Megatrend

According to several home design sources, including Domino magazine,Sustainability is a movement that is becoming more widespread than ever, especially as it pertains to design—and come 2019, it will be an overarching theme that will be all too present. The concept of living a more eco-conscious lifestyle has become ingrained in the methodology of many designers, especially when it relates to how they approach their craft.” 

“The more things change, the more they stay the same,” said Jacob Embry of Acme Brick.  “Home builders and architects have long realized that the ultimate sustainable material is brick.  It’s made from the natural clay in soil and can last for centuries. This trend towards sustainability will include more than reclaimed wood and fixtures.”

Design experts note that the idea of being more sustainable has grown to embody an all-encompassing approach to design, with many brands looking to alternate resources with which to build their basics. “We find that our approach to the things we surround ourselves with is shifting towards a longevity-focused one,” says Muuto’s design director, Christian Grosen, adding that this, in turn, is “prompting us to buy designs that will last for years into the future, both in their quality and aesthetic.” 

#2 Nordic is New...Again

Scandinavian design has been hot for several years and in 2019 it will be the same, only different. Designers suggest that this minimalistic, streamlined design will evolve into bold new details. Goodbye whitewashed. Hello dynamic tones.

“We are working a lot with earthier and tertiary pigments in our collection for a nice color mix that can fit into a multitude of environments, and pair with both simpler and more eclectic hues,” noted Grosen.

Well known Swedish retailer IKEA highlighted this trend. In its 2019 catalog. The IKEA catalog and many other design sources predict a patina explosion for home interiors. “All-white interiors are on their way out; the huge assortment of vividly colored spaces in the IKEA 2019 catalog proves it. The catalog emphasizes spaces filled with different shades of the same color or color family. The result is a lively, eye-popping collection of rooms that, hopefully, inspires you to take some colorful risks in your own space.” 

How accurate were the home design predictions made for 2018? Click here and see.

#3 Cooking Up Bold Kitchens in 2019  

The kitchen that is a whiter shade of pale, is becoming more colorful. The kitchens pinned on Pinterest and seen in publications such as the IKEA catalog are full of darker shades, distinctive accents, and backsplashes that move beyond subway tile.

“This trend will lend itself to brick accent walls and backsplashes,” said Embry. “HGTV has really popularized the idea of the open concept and, because of this, we have begun seeing large indoor kitchen areas that open into living rooms and dining rooms. Along those same lines, islands in the kitchen have become larger and more uniquely shaped than they were in the past. I expect to see the use of thin brick increase in these areas, especially for fireplaces, islands, and unique backsplashes.”

#4 Fire Features Will Be Hot

Whether they are found indoors or outdoors, fireplaces and fire features are a definite must-have for 2019, according to Housetrends magazine. These features can serve as a cozy nook or focal point for a large room or outside entertainment area. They can be composed of any fire-proof material, but brick has been the overwhelming choice for fireplaces for many centuries.

#5 Here Comes the Sunroom

A trend that began in mid-2018 will continue in the following year according to Freshome magazine. Sunrooms, featuring large windows and great views, are a very popular multipurpose rooms for any home. Natural building elements such as brick or stone for the floor can further enhance this room, especially if evergreen plants are included in the design mix.

#6 Rooms Composed of Mixed Textures Will Be Popular   

The new rule in the types and combinations of interior building materials is simple:  There is no rule. For proof, witness the 2019 trend of disparate textures creating individualized rooms. Combining rough-hewn wood with brick or stone for walls, along with slate floors and large, wooden beams on the ceiling are just some of the thousands of ways homeowners can make a bold statement.

“I have also noticed that builders are adding very tall fireplaces in living rooms,” said Embry. “These fireplaces are dramatic when constructed of brick and reclaimed wood.”

#7 Welcome Home to Your Office  

The trend of working from home or being self-employed has been prevalent for several years and it will continue to affect home design trends in 2019. According to this article, “The blurring of live-work boundaries and changing social needs are affecting the kinds of homes buyers want, especially as more and more people work remotely or are self-employed. This creates a need for work spaces in the home, whether it’s a home office space or a live-work unit. Added to that need is an increased desire for homes – or spaces within homes – that can be rented out as short-term rentals on websites such as Airbnb.”

“The loft look continues to be sought after for both inner city and suburban residents,” said Embry. “Exposed brick walls, industrial lighting and reclaimed wood all add to the charm of this home design.  

#8 Natural Finishes Give the Home Organic Appeal

“Brick, stone, reclaimed wood and even bamboo are being incorporated in more and more new homes because these elements give the room a warm and cozy feel,” Embry said. 

Freshome adds, “Whether it’s finishing the fireplace with smooth river rock or using real wood for a kitchen butcher block, it’s all about bringing the calm and serenity of the outdoors inside. Finishing decor off with plenty of greenery (think succulents and houseplants) brings balance to heavier materials.

#9 Living Rooms Are Going Unplugged

Technology - in the form of the internet, portable tablets, and interactive gadgets of all sorts and sizes - is being banished from the living room to another room in the house for “time out” in 2019. With family time being at a premium, the ubiquitous computers and screens will move to another area of the home while the living room goes unplugged.

#10 Bathroom Mirrors Will Make a Statement

The bathrooms of a home continue to evolve and Housetrends magazine predicts a change in the mirror above the lavatory. The publication notes, “It’s not just a rectangle. It’s the centerpiece of the room.”

“Using a pattern or mosaic of thin brick as a frame for the large bathroom mirror can be a showstopper for the entire space,” Embry said. “The texture of the brick is a great juxtaposition with the glass of the mirror. Plus, some mirrors are even digitally enabled.”

On the Other Hand, These Design Trends Are Ready for the Dustbin

For all of these 10 great design trends, there are a few have become stale and decidedly passé. Based on several sources, including this from Elle Decor, here are the 10 trends that should be put out of their misery.

  • Nautical motifs - Seashells, sailor’s rope and (especially) anchors, should be cast away. 
  • Edison light bulbs - This design shines for a while but it’s burned out now.
  • Tufted headboards - They were once “glam” but now design “spam.”
  • Tuscan kitchens - They were everywhere in the early 2000’s, but it’s time to say Arrivederci! 
  • Damask - Once hot for wallpaper and curtains, but it now looks extremely dated.
  • Matching window valances - It’s no longer cool to have curtains, valances and furniture that matches.
  • Mason jar mania - Put a lid on it and bring on the hand-crafted vases instead.
  • Wicker furniture - It’s so 80’s and 90’s. Time for a bright sofa instead.
  • Hollywood mirror lights - The popularity of these bright lights have dimmed.
  • Vertical blinds - RIP to this annoying relic. Invest in some curtains. They’re easier to open and close!   

As new design trends come and go, it’s interesting to note that the rich patina of brick is timeless and has been for centuries.

If you’re planning to build your dream home or upgrade an existing space, and want to incorporate timeless brick construction, contact us for more information.