Trend watch 2016

The Stockholm Furniture Fair 2016 was another successful year with 40 000 visitors from

around the Globe!

Scandinavian influence continues to set the design trends and we see a increasing link

between fashion, domestic furniture and office products / environments. Our Scandinavian

designers are becoming increasingly more Global. The Milan Furniture Fair remains

popular and well attended and we continue to see that the top trends from Milan are most

likely also visible at The Stockholm Furniture fair the following year.

Right now furniture designs are simple and very much reduced to functional aspects. A

chair is a chair! Sofas with high backs and room in room solutions are absolutely present

but less dominating than previous years, thin dimensions are getting even thinner, soft

seating is getting softer, cubic storage is shown “when needed”, a huge amount of smaller

tables can be seen, 5-6 different materials on one product is acceptable and velvet fabric

brings the fashion trends into our offices…….

Mid-century-design, from 1940 to 1960 is back and the “most noticeable” design in future

trends. This mid-century-character also has an impact on the general proportions of

furniture. Within current trends furniture is tends to be smaller than in previous years.

Despite the same functions, materials are being economised…..less is more! In contrast to

the thin lines we see thick and over filled soft sofas supported by some very thin legs. And,

they are all very similar.

Colours and material mix

Colours

The office interior is becoming significantly more colourful, we freely combine colours and

designs within fabrics and painted surfaces.

Modern upholstery materials can be very smooth and soft, some have an uneven texture and

we can also see a mixture of all. Designers welcome this because it enables them to express

their individuality through the product.

Sitting Is Becoming More Comfortable!

Nowadays people occupy meeting areas long after the meeting has finished instead of

withdrawing to their workstations as before. The furniture industry is therefore showing a

particularly wide variety of chairs and sofas. Whether leather or fabric, the new generation of

chairs and sofas are impressive with their high levels of comfort. Leaning back against the

dynamic ergonomics of an office task chair is one possibility, however the same meeting with

colleagues could just as commonly be held on poufs around a project table. Moreover, the

chairs of 2016 often have a lounge feel about them and are upholstered in a wide variety of

complimentary fabrics.

Deep Dreams

Deep Dreams

Deep Dreams

Green Velvet

Natural leather

Rose, Beige and Grey

Tones of Beige and Grey

Sitting is Comfortable!

Blue tones

Grey tones

Colour Summery

Natural Materials

Wood, glass, stone and metal. Natural materials are particularly popular. In addition to the

large proportion of wood used in tops, chairs and frames, valuable natural stone is also still a

commonly used material in table tops and sofa tables. Popular varieties include the classic

marble.

We love retro, we see a colour pallet of mid-century modern golds, coppers and metallic

furnishings and accessories. Metals are still being used to create style and warmth in a room.

There is nothing precious about iron and blackened steel. Designers are blending it with

wood and glass, or sometimes even create entire pieces of matte black metal. Welders are

the new rock stars.

We see more luxury fabrics such as velvet, cashmere and silk. The colour trends are tightly

linked to fashion.

Wood

Outdoor furniture in the office

Materials

Materials

Shapes

Iron and steel structures

Iron and steel structures

Fabric design

Softer shapes

Retro look

Bringing the outside in

A popular trend that Scandinavian designers have embracing is to bring the great outside

inside your office. Think lots of greenery, open spaces and natural light pouring in from large

windows.

If you love the natural look but are useless when it comes to watering plants, choose bright

and bold foliage-inspired wallpaper or paint your wall green instead….perhaps introduce

some natural wood and add lots of green details.

70s plants are back!

Green plants have had a real breakthrough and are now important in trend picture. Decorate

your office with large palm trees and other species of green plants and in large quantities!

The plants from the 70s and 80s are what we want now. Plants with large leaves such as

Peace Lilies, Window Leaf and also with Palm. Even the Little Yucca palm is on trend!

Nature inspire

Bring the outside in

Bring the outside in

70s plants are back

Glade

Bar

Windbreak

Viewpoint

Stone to stone Meadow

EFG Stand Story 2016

Colours of the EFG stand SFF 2016

Thank You! See you next year at SFF 2017

www.efg.info