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THE PTSB IDEAL Home Show in Dublin’s RDS is a must-visit for anyone with a passion for homes and interiors – whether that’s renters, homeowners, potential homeowners or those considering a renovation or upgrade this year. Hosted by journalist and sustainability advocate Jo Linehan, the DFS Interiors Theatre stage is the event hub for great conversations and advice on everything from DIY hacks to lighting, bathroom design to creating a child-friendly home on a budget.
Interior design architect Jackie Carton is Creative Director at Carton Interiors and the President of The Interiors Association. Jackie will be speaking at the PTSB Ideal Home Show about the value of hiring a designer when it comes to decorating or renovating your home. Here she speaks to Ruth O’Connor about five key trends she has her eye on for 2025.
Make it Personal
Jackie says that the desire to make our homes our sanctuaries has become more pronounced in recent years as global uncertainty continues to affect our daily lives. She says that more and more of us have become less concerned about following the crowd when it comes to aesthetics and more concerned about creating a space that promotes positive mental, emotional or physical wellbeing.
In uncertain times, our desire to create a peaceful place where we can feel safe and comfortable has come to the fore and one way that we can achieve this is by making our living spaces personal to us and by using intentional design choices to help mitigate stress by creating a calm place to retreat to from a turbulent world.
“What makes one person feel comfortable or provides a sense of comfort can look very different depending on the individual,” says Jackie. “Some people might find a streamlined, curated look and light and airy colours very relaxing whereas for other people it could be dark, moody colours that help them relax. They are two very different styles but it’s all about what makes you feel comfortable, what helps you relax.”
Jackie says that it has become more acceptable to have your own taste and to show it off in your home. Having a personality when it comes to your design choices is seen as a good thing – not least because of social media – but how do you manage to create a space that acts as a sanctuary if you live with a family or housemates and everyone has a different idea of what that looks like?
“That’s where personal space comes into it,” says Jackie. “Is it an office, is it a bedroom? If you have a space to yourself you can personalise it as much as possible and then try to make the common areas as relaxing for everyone as possible. Growing up I had a bunk bed in a single room; the top bunk and the area around it was mine to do with what I wanted so it doesn’t have to be a large space – it can be as simple as personalising your desk.”
Jackie says that “cosy” is the request most clients give her when they commission her for a job. “Most people say that they want their home to look ‘cosy’ but ‘cosy’ is a feeling so how do we create that feeling?” she says. “It’s about figuring out what makes them feel cosy. For some people that’s about colour but in a lot of cases it can be about lighting and transitioning a space that’s bright during the day into a totally different space in the evening through the use of different levels of lighting – table lamps, floor lamps, candlelight, recessed lighting in an alcove… all designed to produce that feeling of cosiness. Think of how ambiance is created at Christmas with light or how the addition of soft furnishings such as rugs and textiles for sound absorption can create a cosier feel.”
Colour Reflects Content
Jackie says that design trends don’t happen in a vacuum. “Designers and forecasters create trends in the context of what is happening in society from a social, political, economic and environmental context.”
She cites the fact that trends in wellness have been translated into product and colour trend forecasts, concerns about climate change and the natural world have led to a trend for natural materials and colour inspired by natural dyes and that trends related to diversity have resulted in consumers becoming more daring when it comes to choosing expressive shapes and colours in the home such bold accessories and quirky homewares and ornaments full of personality.
“It’s become more about making a statement in the home and not being afraid to do that and, of course, online shopping has opened up a whole world of choice to both consumers and interior designers. We are no longer restricted by geography,” she says.
“While we will always get ‘colours of the year’ from Pantone or from paint companies, the point is that colour doesn’t just click from one to another just because the year ends – the lifespan of colour trends is getting longer and longer – navy and dark greens are still incredibly popular for example. People are happy with what they’re doing and they don’t want to change their entire interior every year – again that goes back to choosing what you like in the first place.”
While cool tones like grey and white were popular in previous years there’s now a shift toward warm, earthy colours with terracotta, ochre tones, greens and rich browns taking centre stage: “These colours create a welcoming, cosy atmosphere and pair well with natural materials and textures.”
A Home for Connection
“I think the whole social distancing thing was so traumatic for people that we now really see the value of, and are placing emphasis on, the importance of creating spaces where we can gather and connect with others,” says Jackie of the legacy of the lockdown period.
An antithesis to the loneliness of the pandemic years, Jackie now sees more clients wanting to create convivial spaces in their homes prompting them to invest in larger dining areas, cosy living rooms and open-concept spaces where they can spend quality time with friends and family.
For those with small spaces Jackie advises looking at solutions such as folding, pull down and stackable furniture items. “Seating is one of the biggest problems people have when it comes to hosting a gathering in a space that not designed for large groups, so folding and stackable solutions can work well but it’s also important to remember that what’s important in those scenarios is that what happens in the moment is the important thing not how the room looks.”
A Strive for Simplicity
In a time of constant digital bombardment and information overload, many people are craving spaces that are minimalist and uncluttered. Homes are being designed with clean lines, neutral colours and intentional organisation. A calm, uncluttered space can help soothe the mind and reduce anxiety and minimalism doesn’t have to mean a space that’s devoid of personality – artwork, artisan pieces or personal items with meaning can still be included albeit in a curated fashion.
“A lot of clients aspire to be minimalists but in reality they’re not – it is a matter of personality type as well as taste,” laughs Jackie. “And even if you love the idea of being a minimalist it can be difficult to live in a house with nothing on display – minimalism is about having no clutter and realistically how many people have no clutter?”
However she says that people are looking for simplicity in their homes as a reaction to being bombarded by information and images. “We are seeing a lot about digital detoxing and having space to breathe and having a calm space can help you do that,” she says.
“People probably need to get rid of half the stuff they have and to have a place for whatever is left. Think of how well you might function in a holiday rental where there are just six cups, plates and glasses. It’s as simple as your kids being able to put their toys away more easily if they have a place to store them. We spend a lot of time figuring out storage solutions for people – sometimes that’s as simple as having a toy box and sometimes that could mean creating seamless full joinery walls of hidden storage.”
Eco-friendly Design
Sustainability continues to be a major focus when it comes to design with homeowners opting to buy less but buy better and sustainable materials such as reclaimed wood, recycled glass and bamboo becoming more readily available. There’s also a shift towards the use of energy-efficient appliances, low-VOC paints and natural fabrics such as organic cotton and linen.
Jackie Carton says that there is a growing emphasis on using recycled, renewable and low-impact materials in interior design – an approach which reduces environmental footprints, creates a healthier home environment and can also introduce unique textures and colours to our living spaces.
“Every big company has become so aware of their environmental credentials and they have to be. It’s almost a given nowadays. She mentions Cosentino as a company that springs to mind as well as vintage furniture sellers such as Acquired.
“As well as larger companies now striving to be more environmentally conscious, you also have smaller craftspeople making beautiful sustainable items as well as independent retailers who are selling vintage items thus helping to keep things in use for longer. We are seeing a lot of people become reticent about getting rid of items and more people wanting to reuse, upcycle or restore what they already have – we are doing more reupholstery for clients than we ever have.”
The Spring 2025 PTSB Ideal Home Show takes place at the RDS Simmonscourt Friday 11th April to Sunday 13th April. To keep up to date with exhibitor announcements, prizes and show-related blogs visit idealhome.ie.
Find out more about Carton Interiors at cartoninteriors.ie or on Instagram at @cartoninteriors.
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