From metallics to minimalism – here are the top interior design trends of 2018

If you've got a house, you'll probably want it to have a decent interior.

And even if you don't have a house, are renting, or even still living at home, if you have a space to call your own, you'll want it to look and feel stunning. Sometimes though, the thought of re-doing a whole room can be daunting - where do you even begin, like? Lucky for us then that we've got a bit of inspiration for the year that's in it from award-winning interior designer and architect, Denise O'Connor. So, here are some of the top trends, colours, and concepts of 2018 - you're welcome. Green Green was the colour at interiors fairs in Paris and Cologne earlier this year. It featured in everything from upholstery to furniture and varied from rich emerald hues to soft sage tones. When working with green, pay no heed to the old adage, blue and green should never be seen; try combining bottle and emerald greens with navy and sapphire blues. If you prefer paler shades, such as sage, these work really well with darker greens and dusty coral tones, like in this attic space where we created a den for teenage kids. We chose a soft green paint colour on the walls and accessorised with different shades of green and blush tones. Black and White This timeless trend continues into 2018. The combination can sometimes be perceived as clinical or minimalist. The secret to softening this monochromatic palette is to work with texture and pattern. Here, pattern is introduced with mosaic tiles on the floor, the walls are kept white and the windows and kitchen contract sharply in an off-black colour. Nature provides the accent colour in the form of this striking green wall. Burnt Coral Millennial pink, or blush, which was so popular last year has been replaced by what I would describe as burnt coral. Still in the same colour family as blush, it is muted and a little more grown-up, with an almost autumnal quality to it. It pairs beautifully with burgundy and copper and, as shown in the living space above, works well with paler sandy tones and any shade of green. Heather Every year, Dulux gathers a panel of global experts from the worlds of architecture, design, technology and innovation to pinpoint emerging insights and trends to forecasts the colour palettes that best reflect the way we want to live and select a much-anticipated colour of the year. This year that colour is “Heart Wood”. Inspired by the warmth of natural woods, Heart Wood is a warm smoky cocoa neutral with a hint of heather. This kind of dusty heather shade was very evident at the shows in January and featured strongly in upholstery in particular. Layering of similar shades and tones was popular and texture was used to create contrast. Wallpaper Wallpaper is definitely making a comeback. Love it or hate it, it really is a wonderful way to add personality to a room and doesn't have to cost the earth. Florals and leaf prints featured heavily at the interior fairs and many of the prints were oversized. Plain patterns are also really popular for use instead of paint to bring texture to a room. Yellow Yellow is the accent colour of 2018 and the hue of choice was a soft egg yolk shade, almost pale amber in tone. We’ve used it in a fun way in this child’s bedroom, painting the walls to create a feature and picking up the same shade in accessories. Blues Blues are very popular again this year and any shade goes. From dark navy to dusty paler hues, you can take your pick. In this living room we painted the joinery in a dusty blue and selected a fabric in a slightly darker shade to upholster the armchair, We then introduced soft blush tones with accessories t create a relaxed and calm feel to this living space. Leather Leather hasn’t been very prominent in recent years but this year its back in force. At the interior fairs, we saw leather tables, flooring and occasional pieces as well as leather upholstered sofas and chairs. What was really lovely though was the array of beautiful shades that this gorgeous material was displayed in. There were powdery purples and pinks, dark earthy greens and natural tans and buff colours. Here we designed this panelled headboard using a soft tan leather. The metal table and black lamp give the room a slightly more masculine feel. Natural materials Many of the furniture pieces had an almost artisan feel to them. Natural finishes like timber and basket were popular and the tones were pale and the detailing exquisite. The use of natural materials as finishes is a lovely way to incorporate this trend into your home, here we used a polished concrete floor and introduced timber cladding to this reading nook to soften to look. Metallics They have been a big part of interior for a while now and this year they have evolved from stand-alone pieces to being used to enhance or embellish other furniture items. Adding bras or other metallic handles to existing pieces of furniture is a lovely way to bring this trend into your home. Here the brass wall lights and wardrobe handles bring an added layer of personality to this bedroom. So, there you go - absolutely no excuse to get your creative juices flowing now, lads.