- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Interior design is moving into a more expressive era.
After years of cool greys, stripped-back minimalism and overly safe interiors, designers are leaning into warmth, texture, pattern and personality. The most exciting interiors now feel layered, tactile and collected. They are not trying to look perfect. They are trying to feel memorable.
Across luxury residential projects, boutique hotels, restaurants, members’ clubs and hospitality interiors, the focus is shifting towards atmosphere. A room no longer just needs to photograph well. It needs to feel inviting, comfortable and full of character.
At the centre of this shift is fabric.
Curtains, upholstery, wallcoverings, velvets, linens, bouclés, chenilles and decorative weaves are becoming more important than ever. Fabric is not just a finishing touch. In many schemes, it is the element that brings the whole interior to life.
Warm Colour Palettes Are Replacing Cold Minimalism
One of the clearest interior design trends is the move towards warmer, earthier colour palettes.
Chocolate, olive, rust, terracotta, caramel, ochre, clay and warm taupe are replacing the cooler neutrals that dominated for so long. These colours create a richer and more comfortable atmosphere, especially in restaurants, hotels and hospitality spaces where mood is everything.
The new neutral is not flat or cold. It is layered, soft and full of depth. Beige is still here, but it is being used in a much more sophisticated way, paired with natural woods, textured fabrics, aged metals, stone and warm lighting.
Texture Is the New Luxury
Texture has become one of the biggest signals of quality in modern interiors.
A simple room can feel incredibly high-end when the materials are right. Heavy linen, cotton velvet, wool blends, bouclé, chenille, jacquard, embroidery and woven wallcoverings all bring depth and softness to a space.
This is why fabric specification has become so important. Designers are no longer choosing fabrics purely by colour. They are thinking about handle, weight, drape, construction, durability and how the fabric will perform in the finished scheme.
A beautifully textured fabric can make a space feel warm, expensive and considered without needing to shout.
Pattern Is Back, But More Grown-Up
Pattern is returning in a confident but more refined way.
Instead of one feature cushion or a single patterned chair, designers are using pattern
more boldly across upholstery, curtains, walling, banquettes and decorative panels. Stripes, florals, embroideries, jacquards and statement weaves are helping interiors feel more individual and less formulaic.
This is especially powerful in hospitality interiors. A patterned banquette, dramatic curtain or upholstered wall can become part of the identity of a restaurant or hotel. It gives people something to remember.
The best patterned interiors still feel balanced. The key is layering pattern with texture, colour and good lighting so the room feels rich rather than chaotic.
Indoor and Outdoor Living Are Blending
The boundary between indoor and outdoor design continues to soften.
Garden rooms, terraces, conservatories, outdoor dining spaces and semi-outdoor hospitality areas are becoming more considered. These spaces are no longer treated as secondary. They are being designed with the same level of detail as the main interior.
This has increased demand for indoor and outdoor fabrics, performance upholstery, waterproof finishes, outdoor cushions and textiles that can cope with more demanding environments while still looking beautiful.
The challenge is that performance fabrics still need to feel luxurious. Designers want practical materials, but not at the expense of softness, colour or visual quality.
Heritage Details Are Being Reworked
Traditional interiors are also making a return, but in a fresher way.
Pleated curtains, skirted furniture, antique-inspired shapes, richer woods, decorative trims, stripes and classic upholstery details are being reworked for modern interiors. The result is not old-fashioned. It feels warmer, more comfortable and more personal.
This trend reflects a wider desire for interiors that feel permanent. Clients want spaces that look as though they have been built over time, not pulled from a single mood board.
The Best Interiors Feel Personal
Perhaps the biggest change is that interiors are becoming less generic.
People want spaces with identity. They want rooms that feel human, layered and full of atmosphere. This is true in private homes, but also in hospitality, where guests increasingly
remember how a space made them feel.
Fabric plays a huge role in this. The right upholstery, curtain or walling fabric can soften architecture, add warmth, improve acoustics and create a sense of intimacy.
In a world full of clean digital images, tactile interiors feel more important than ever.
A Practical Note on Fabric Compliance
As fabric becomes more central to interior design, the technical side matters too.
For UK commercial interiors, hospitality projects, restaurants, hotels, contract furniture, curtains, wallcoverings and upholstered seating, fabrics may need to meet specific fire retardant standards depending on their final end use.
Common requirements can include BS 5852 and Crib 5 for upholstery, EN 1021 cigarette and match testing, BS 5867 Part 2 Type B for curtains and drapery, EN 13773 for certain drapery applications, and EN 13501 for wallcoverings or surface applications.
This is where specialist FR finishing, flame retardant fabric treatment, Crib 5 treatment, curtain FR treatment, upholstery FR treatment, soil and stain protection, waterproof textile finishing and PFAS-free fabric protection can become an important part of the specification process.
Some fabrics are straightforward. Others, such as open weaves, acrylics, polypropylenes, velvets, silks, linens, bouclés, chenilles and embroidered fabrics, need more careful review to protect the appearance, handle and performance of the material.
If you are unsure what standard applies, whether a fabric can be treated, or which route is best for a UK commercial or hospitality project, at TEK were always happy to offer free advice before you commit to a specification.
