Interior Design Trends 2016 – Part VI Fantastical Nature

To continue on with our recent blog series, highlighting the significant trends expected for 2016 and beyond, I want to introduce you to another theme. Fantastical Nature. Although, Fantastical Nature will  be seen in 2016, this trend  will mostly likely dominate interior design throughout 2017.

Source – NM Photo at Scarlet Opus Seminar at Decor and Design Melbourne 2015

Heavily influenced by both the sea and jungle., fantastical nature  embodies all that is wild urbanism.

The recently planned, highly publicised architectural project that have been planned recently, are based on floating architecture. The floating hotel in Norway, Krystall Hotel has a vision of being a 5-star floating hotel “in one of the most beautiful natural surroundings on earth.” The design for the Krystall is based on the shape of an ice crystal floating among the fjords. A view of a wall of windows at the forested, snow-dusted coast of Norway is expected, and perhaps even glimpse the Northern Lights.

Source – www.telegraph.co.uk

Below is an early render of the Krystall hotel, by Dutch floating architecture specialists Waterstudio (Image:

Source – Koen Olthuis/Dutch Docklands

Another key driver behind the Fantastical Nature theme is the release of the Avatar sequels in December 2017, 2018 and 2019. These movies are expected to be significant events that flow through into both fashion design and interior design. Disney are opening a new theme ride based on Avatar, called the Land of Avatar, in conjunction with the Director James Cameron at Florida Disney Animal Kingdom.

The key patterns that come through from this trend theme are ripples, waves and graduations of colour. Feathers and plumage also come through strongly.

Source – NM Photo at Decor and Design Melbourne 2015

The most prominent pattern technique coming through is Shibori.  Shibori is a Japanese term for methods of dyeing cloth by binding, stitching, folding, twisting, and compressing resulting in diagonal stripes that are reminiscent of storm driven rain.

Source – etsy.com

The most prominent pattern technique coming through is Shibori. Shibori is a Japanese term for methods of dyeing cloth by binding, stitching, folding, twisting, and compressing resulting in diagonal stripes that are reminiscent of storm driven rain.

The colour palette is dark and exotic, made up of lagoon blues, strong unisex pinks, lush greens, neons and pearlescence and opalescence finishes. The most predominant colour will be indigo. These colours work beautifully with the darker metallics such as bronze.

Source – NM Photo at Decor and Design Melbourne 2015

I have taken the colour palette for this trend provided by Scarlet Opus and translated it for the New Zealand market using Resene colours.

Key colour palette for the Fantastical Nature Trend Theme:

Resene Toledo

Resene Victoria

Resene Can Can

Resene Scooter

Resene Sassy

Resene Aviator

Resene Zuccini

Resene Amazon

Resene Blue Haze

Resene Christalle

Please note that the digital images aren’t completely true to colour, refer to physical Resene samples.

Source – Scarlet Opus seminar on 2016 Design and Colour Trends, Scarlet Opus 2016 Colour Book and the Décor and Design Trade Show Melbourne 2015.