Page 19 - Decor and Lifestyle Issue 2 2025

Material honesty
In the past decade, design culture
has shifted away from gloss
and uniformity toward tactile
authenticity.

Timber, clay, rattan, and stone are
not nostalgic choices; they are
sustainable ones. They regulate
humidity, age gracefully, and
appeal to the human instinct for
texture. South African designers are
embracing local materials — think
clay tiles from the Karoo, woven
grass from KwaZulu-Natal, or raw
oak finishes from the Cape — not for
rustic charm, but for integrity.

When a material feels natural
under the hand, the brain registers
familiarity and comfort. It’s design
that literally grounds you.

Green, but with purpose
Indoor plants are still part of the
biophilic story — but the token
fiddle-leaf fig has given way to
strategic planting. Vertical gardens,
edible walls, and potted herbs
are now chosen as much for their
environmental benefits as their looks.

Species that purify air, control
humidity, or attract pollinators
are quietly reshaping interiors. In
apartment spaces, hydroponic
setups and compact balcony
gardens make the green connection
functional again.

The point isn’t decoration; it’s
ecosystem design.

Designing for longevity
Perhaps the most radical part of this
shift is philosophical. Biophilic design
rejects disposability.

Spaces that age, adapt, and repair
themselves echo the resilience of
nature. A floor that patinas, a wall
that catches light differently each
season, furniture built for repair
rather than replacement — all of it
reflects a quieter kind of luxury.

It’s less about trend, more about
continuity: building homes that feel
alive not because they’re filled with
plants, but because they respond to
the people who live in them.

17 | DÉCOR & LIFESTYLE Issue 2 2025