Over the years we've seen the rise and fall of plenty of remarkable interior design elements – we're sure you all remember popcorn ceilings and inflatable armchairs, for example! Yet the last decade has brought us an array of incredible decor trends that have stolen our hearts and taken over our abodes. From velvet sofas to Edison light bulbs, these design gems have dominated our interiors over the last 10 years! Let's see how many you've adopted...
While rag rolling and sponge effects are well and truly out, ombré is one decorative paint technique that we can get on board with! This highly popular interior design movement allows you to shift from one shade to another, using gradual fading. Playful and relatively easy to get right, the ombré look enables you to be a little more adventurous with colour. From furniture and cushions, to throws and artwork, ombré proves that when done right, paint effects can be utterly beautiful.
As French doors fell out of favour, the stylish bi-folding door stepped up to take its place. Perfect for maximising natural light while creating a seamless link between inside and out, bi-folding doors became popular with homeowners seeking a contemporary, open-plan space. Showing no signs of disappearing any time soon, this modern glazing trend is sure to be around for years to come!
Need ideas? Check out these amazing glazing projects to fill your house with light
If the Hygge design craze has passed you by, then where on earth have you been? A Danish and Norwegian word that personifies the feeling of cosiness and comfort, Hygge (pronounced hue-gah) has been big news over the last few years. To achieve a Hygge interior, opt for a neutral colour scheme, layer up with blankets, add candles and soft lighting for ambiance, and make sure there are plenty of lovely textures, such as wood and wool, dotted around the room.
If you were around in the 1970s, it's likely that everything from your interior decor to your handbag was created from string, cord or jute macramé! This intricate knotting technique can produce some very pretty results, so it's no wonder that the craft has found its way back into our hearts 1861 – and our homes. From statement wall art to handmade plant hangers, macramé can add a touch of simplistic elegance to any space.
Gone are the days of practical plastic shower heads with accompanying control panels... Over the last decade, the rainfall shower has taken over our bathrooms, adding some serious style to this essential space. Not only are modern rain showers an attractive design addition, but their power and size promises a far superior shower experience. We can't imagine going back now – and nor would we want to!
It's basically impossible to have missed the Edison light bulb craze. This homeware item has been huge for years and isn't showing any signs of slowing down. Designed to look like the first light bulb ever invented by Thomas Edison, back in 1879, these vintage-look fittings offer incandescent filament inside an attractive glass sphere. Usually found au naturale, these chic lights are set to go down in history as one of the biggest interior trends of all time.
Characterised by minimalism and functionality, Scandi decor has been big throughout the Nordic countries for more than 60 years. As our desire for simplistic, stripped-back styles grew, Scandinavian design principles quickly rose to fame across the world. Offering clean lines, neutral colour palettes and an abundance of raw materials, the Scandi look is both practical and beautiful.
For the past few years, house plants have become essential homeware items. While the cacti trend has seen a rise in tiny terrariums and succulent-inspired soft furnishings, companies such as Patch have made caring for indoor plants cool. While pretty pot plants add a natural Scandi vibe, macramé hangers are bang on trend. No matter how green fingered you are, there's an indoor plant to suit you and your lifestyle.
Once an iconic sight in tube stations the world over, metro tiles have found their way from the underground and into our homes. Available in a range of colours and finishes, metro tiles allow homeowners to achieve a classic yet contemporary look in their kitchens or bathrooms. With so many varieties available, you can blend shades to create a pattern, play with texture with bevelled or flat tiles, or toss it up between matte and gloss.
Feeling inspired? Look through these kitchen wall tile ideas for more options
Perfect for big families and those with limited space, the corner sofa has been a hot homeware item for years. Blending comfort with space optimisation, the corner sofa fits neatly into small pockets of living space, making entertaining friends or relaxing with family nice and simple. Stylish and highly practical, we can see the corner sofa sticking around for just a little while longer.
It might surprise you to learn that mirrored furniture dates back as far as the 18th century, yet it was the Art Deco period that elevated mirrored finishes to new heights. Over the last decade, this historic homeware has made its way back into our properties, adding instant 1920s glamour to any space.
It's hard to believe that at one time people had to rely on books and landline telephones to organise their lives, while these days, we're lucky enough to have smart home hubs. Here, to make life a little easier, smart home hubs allow us to set kitchen timers, tune into our favourite radio stations and even check the weather. Some products also provide energy monitoring, so we can see exactly how much electricity we've used in a single day.
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The mid-century modern movement developed between 1933 and 1965 and saw the invention of some of the most iconic pieces of furniture in history. From the Eames lounge chair to the Arco floor lamp, this inspiring period of design is truly enduring – so much so that there's been a recent rise in modern replicas, adding retro feels to contemporary homes.
A fantastic alternative to statement wallpaper, gallery walls have enabled modern homeowners to bring their own personalities into their living spaces. Quick to install and easy to change when the mood strikes, you can truly make your gallery wall your own. Fill frames with your favourite art, or showcase your precious family photos in true style.
Over the decades, numerous countries have influenced our interior design choices, from Danish Hygge to the Chinese art of Feng shui. In recent years, we've taken influence from the African continent, embracing the colourful rugs of Morocco, the graphic Mudcloth patterns of Mali, and the pretty weaved baskets of Kenya. A trend that's sure to remain popular for some time yet, these global styles can add real warmth and character to your interior.
Doors have always been an undervalued design element, but the right selection could really make or break your interior theme. Along with glazing, sliding barn doors have been the most popular option for homeowners over the last few years. Cool and unusual, these sliding alternatives serve both an aesthetic and practical purpose – plus, if you're short on space, then a barn door could be the perfect choice for you.
Available in an array of colours, patterns, and sizes, Berber rugs originate from Morocco and can add real texture to an interior. Whether you lay yours on the floor or hang it up on the wall, the Berber rug is ideal for both traditional, cosy homes and contemporary, minimalist spaces.
They say three's a crowd, but that could never be true for pendant lighting! Perfect for enhancing light in key work zones, such as the kitchen and dining area, hanging pendant lights are always better in numbers. There to create ambience and wow-factor, pendant lights come in every material, from brass to enamel, meaning there's an option to suit every interior theme.
Take a look at more bright ideas for lighting your home in our gallery
As our appreciation for indoor plants rose, so too did our love for decorative pots and pedestals! In fact, over the last few years we've become well and truly enamoured with them. Available in a range of styles, sizes, and materials, you can find large floor pedestals in rose gold, small shelf-friendly options in colourful porcelain, and even tiered alternatives for creating an entire plant display!
It's estimated that during your lifetime, you'll spend more than a staggering 17 years sitting down. If that's true, then it seems only right that we do so on the most comfortable and stylish seat possible – and that's where the velvet sofa comes in. Big in the 70s, this tactile fabric has undergone a rebirth in recent years, aided by our appreciation for retro furnishings. Available in a range of stunning shades, the velvet sofa is one trend we've welcomed back with open arms!
For a long time, homeowners avoided decorating their interior spaces in dark hues, instead opting for pastels or neutral tones. Yet in 2019, black has been well and truly back. Sultry, sophisticated and entirely dramatic, splashes of bright colour for a truly impressive finish.
In 2017, one colour took over our homes: millennial pink. This delicate blush shade was so popular that it could be found covering everything from our clothes to our walls. Gorgeous when paired with silver and bronze accessories, millennial pink works well as a complementary colour to a pale palette, or to liven up a darker scheme. A sleek and grown-up choice for homeowners.
Though synonymous with the Golden Age, fringing has been part of our lives since the Victorian era. Back in the day, tasselled trimmings could be found decorating everything from lamps to bedspreads, but currently the trend is far more conservative. From stylish light fixtures to fringed wall mirrors, fringing is bringing rich textures and subtle flare back to our homes.
Long after clunky wooden cabinetry and heavy-duty worktops decorated our cooking spaces, waterfall kitchen islands became the next big thing. From marble to concrete, this key design trend sees your selected counter material continue down the sides of the cabinets, creating a cascading effect akin to a waterfall. Perfect for open-plan rooms where entertaining is key, waterfall kitchen islands offer a sleek finish while gently breaking up an open-plan room.
Planning a revamp? These kitchen trends will never go out of style
Mustard has been huge with homeowners for many years now and, showing no signs of drifting away, is even set to be one of the biggest colours of 2020. From vibrant wallcoverings to bold scatter cushions, mustard has crept into every area of our homes over the last decade. Perfect when accompanied by light grey, mustard is the optimal choice for decorators seeking a fun and vibrant look.
Rose gold is a modern trend that seems unlikely to go away. Since 2012, we've seen this pretty shade dominate everything from our jewellery to our desk accessories! The delicate pinkish colour adds grown-up glamour to interior spaces and is a bold alternative to brass and silver fixtures.
From exposed concrete to plasterwork, wood, and stone, raw materials have found their way into our homes. Durable, inexpensive, and incredibly practical, raw materials can also look incredibly chic. Whether you're seeking an industrial finish, or you're wanting to let organic matters take centre stage, a utilitarian palette could truly transform your home.
The open-plan concept became big in the 1970s, after the innovative architect Frank Lloyd Wright made seamless living spaces cool. Over the last decade, the popularity of open layouts has skyrocketed, enabling homeowners to create large, flowing spaces that are perfect for entertaining. Of all the interior design trends of the last 10 years, we guarantee you that open-plan living spaces is the one that will never go out of fashion.
Read next: Essential design secrets for successful open-plan living