Top trends: Furnishing fabrics go nostalgic and earthy

This story is from the team at NZ House & Garden magazine.

Boucle is back – still

In the past couple of years, boucle has breezed back into our lives like it never left. Design legend has it that the fabric, which takes its name from the French word for curly, was first made for architect Eero Saarinen's Womb chair in 1948. It seemed to fall out of favour after the 1970s but is back with a bang, tying into the trend for heavily textured environments.

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"From a construction perspective, the dimensional weave and tactility of boucle have taken it into the realm of ‘always in’, much like classic textiles such as linen or linen-look sheers and velvet," explains Lucy Ovenden from James Dunlop Textiles.

Boucle is the perfect match for curvaceous furniture forms and now comes in more shades than classic cream. There are even outdoor upholstery boucles, such as Sole Boucle by Mokum, so you can take the lovely, nubbly fabric alfresco.

Pulling at the heart strings

The granny chic movement – blending old with new – may have come and gone in the blink of an eye but there's still value to be found in nostalgia: the good old days when highly decorative florals adorned the front room and heavy velvet drapes were paired with net curtains.

In the 2020s a touch of Parisian sophistication is at the core of the evolving trend, says Hannah Irvine of Warwick Fabrics. It's tradition done with a twist. Soft, elegant velvet curtains in high or low sheen are teamed with light-as-air sheers while a touch of theatrical drama can be brought to a wooden-armed or wingback chair with upholstery fabric in a tapestry design.

Don't shy away from rich colours either; shades such as berry, navy and ochre look back at the past with newfound fondness. "In tandem with this trend, there is a growing and greater respect for craftsmanship that is put into the fabric makeup and detailing," says Hannah.

Dial up the earth

Toss away the grey and can the cool whites – the mood has moved to warm and earthy. Pigmented desert colours such as rust, pink clay and terracotta are heating up our living rooms and shades of spiced cinnamon, whisky and burnt orange are ripe for delicious exploration.

What with the perilous state of the world, tones that tie back to the land and the landscape make us feel safe and comforted. Soft sage is all the rage as nature's neutral but if you prefer punchy and upbeat, try fresh mint tones.

For a breezy coastal vibe, crisp blues channel the tropical seas and when the darker months roll around, retreat to a snug or library wrapped in fabrics with rich, deep brown tones "like a mug of creamy hot chocolate on a cold winter's day," says George Isles of IconRadford. Choose a patterned velvet in cocoa tones (such as Ikebana velvet from Designers Guild, and you’ve nailed two trends in one. '

Inside out

Transitional spaces, where a louvred roof can transform a room into a courtyard and vice versa, are becoming part of our architectural DNA, meaning fabrics are exposed to more UV light than before. No longer rough and plasticky, outdoor upholstery now has an enhanced hand-feel which amps up the comfort factor.

That's why savvy Kiwis are happily bringing outdoor fabrics across the threshold and into their homes. Using a material made for elemental extremes enhances the life span of sun-splashed furnishings.

Flying high

Birds of a feather are flocking into the fabric forest with parrots, peacocks and vibrant finches all part of a resplendent reverie that is on the rise.

While true maximalists remain in the minority on our shores, overseas designers of drapery and upholstery fabrics, for example the Swiss design house Christian Fischbacher or Christian Lacroix Maison, are keen on coaxing birdlife indoors.

Exotic plumage makes a statement that breaks free of cool conservatism. For those willing to make brave moves with decoration, these luscious botanical/bird patterns are a luxurious escape. If you prefer simpler more minimal looks, a cushion or an ottoman topped with a feathered flourish makes a good starting point.

If you’re not the birdy type, primitive prints will bring the animalia attitude home in a more subtle style.

Recycling goes broader

While fabrics have long been constructed from PET plastic bottles, wool and cotton textiles sourced from the fashion industry are now being recycled into drapery and upholstery. But there's more. "Experimental compositions using banana peels and seaweed are also being developed," says Lucy Ovenden from James Dunlop Textiles, "as well as fully biodegradable synthetic textiles which can be composted and returned to the earth at the end of their life."

Hannah Irvine from Warwick Fabrics says all fabric houses are looking closely at sustainability. She believes the focus locally should turn to basics such as transporting goods to the end user with minimal environmental impact and thinking about the end-of-life cycle.