Page 29 - Blue Valley News February 2021

HOME FRONT
very bright colours in modernism, and playful
living to create excitement. The beauty of
bright reds combined with vibrant blues
harnesses the power of contrast to create
impact. By mixing and matching objects from
various decades, the impact is reminiscent of
art deco trends and style. The use of colour
will be about creating those experiences
and being very specific about how one adds
colour into the spaces. As a medium, colour is
extremely powerful, and Kim hopes that we
will see a lot more boldness, akin to what we
saw in the ’80s, in 2021.
The new world of work
In 2021 and beyond, a move towards self-
managed schedules, limited team meetings
and smaller offices makes it imperative that
we truly focus on the function we need
our spaces to fill, as well as the emotions
they induce. What is clear, is that people
are prioritising their happiness within a
from Europe in 2020. In general, designers minimalism is about choosing what to retain space, and that casual, playful, and flexible
are incorporating imperfection into their in a space which speaks to how important workspaces facilitate a sense of well-being,
designs as they embrace the beauty of hand- mindfulness is in this new style. creativity and therefore productivity. As we
crafted items, and this new appreciation go into 2021, comfort, happiness and fluidity
of imperfection has resulted in more use Maximalism are set to be our guiding factors as the lines
of handmade ceramic tiles. One’s need Ironically, in 2020 we also saw the emergence between our homes and our offices blur.
to connect on a human level with one’s of minimalism’s polar opposite, maximalism.
imperfections is more important now than Constructed around a ‘more is more’ Rethinking ownership
it has ever been, given the surge of artificial mentality, this style uses every element The new generation is not as materialistic as
intelligence across industries. of a space as an opportunity to make a the generations past and they are rethinking
statement, grab our attention, and entertain ownership. Kim predicts that we are no longer
New minimalism our mind’s eye so that every room becomes going to have a product-driven environment
At the beginning of the lockdown in 2020, an experience rather than just a room. It’s a but rather a service-driven one. This is likely
there was an intense decluttering process powerful style, full of colour, pattern and to become evident when it comes to design
many of us went through and our need to boldness, and it is certainly interesting that services, such as being able to rent furniture
have less stuff and more space in our spaces we have seen the simultaneous emergence and rotate it out as the seasons and styles
introduced minimalism into our everyday of both sides of the spectrum. Kim believes change, rather than having to buy and keep
lives again. Organic, highly tactile materials that this is because, as individuals, we are pieces. It will also be a way of embracing a
that encourage us to engage more with becoming more appreciative of our personal more sustainable recycling perspective.
specific objects in our homes made our spaces styles rather than simply following others’
enriching environments to be in. Minimalism choices. The importance of silence
is built on sustainable, intentional living and Another aspect of being in certain spaces is
an emotional relationship with the home. Colour that one becomes very aware of noise, given
However, new minimalism is not sparse like The importance of colour is hard to all the activity that happens within the context
its predecessor was. It’s rather about reducing understate. It will continue to play an of the home. For example, understanding the
the number of material things down to what important role as we become more mindful of impact of white noise in a work-from-home
is really needed. Where classical minimalism our colour selections. From very soft hues to model and how it affects one’s ability to
was about the absence of things, new create a sense of comfort and connection, to work and relax. Even in workspaces, as one
becomes more mindful, the need for silence
will play more of a role in the way spaces are
designed.

Looking back, the trends that stand out for
Kim in 2020 from a design perspective were
intertwined with our need to reconnect
with nature, and to find comfort, beauty and
engagement in our homes and workspaces,
given that we spent the year disconnected
from each other and the world.

As we launch into an uncertain 2021, our
spaces will need to be designed to provide
us with many different sensations, such as
relaxation, invigoration and connection,
while providing multi-faceted functionality at
the same time.

For more about Kim Williams and to sign-
up for her blog visit www.kimwilliams.co.za.
Follow Kim on Facebook and Instagram
@kim_williams_design. BV

Images courtesy of ItalianBark Soma and Kim
Williams Design
BLUE VALLEY NEWS • Issue 1 2021 • 27