Surface Trends Spotted at Surface Design 2020

Trend-Monitor highlights six important surface trends from this year’s Surface Design Show.

This year more than 170 exhibitors showcased their surface and architectural lighting designs at the Surface Design Show at London’s Business Design Centre from 11th – 13th February. The show attracted an estimated 5,000 architects, designers and specifiers all keen to keep up with the latest innovations in the sector.

A focus of the exhibition was the theme ‘Close to Home… Locally Sourced’, which looked into the impact that manufacturers have on the environment. The Light School section was co-located within the show, to emphasise the link between lighting and surfaces.

Trend-Monitor was at the show to spot the key trends.

Surface Trend #1: All About Acoustics

The way in which sound travels across barrier-free spaces can be hugely disruptive, especially in a working environment, so a host of products that help to combat the negative side effects of the trend for open-plan designs in commercial and residential settings were again a significant presence at the show.

Surface Trend #1: All about Acoustics – New products that help to combat the negative side effects of the trend for open-plan living and working@surfacethinking#surfacetrends Click To Tweet

Design studio Anne Kyyrö Quinn was back with its contemporary creations that look more like works of art than bespoke acoustic wall coverings.

Also at the show was Soundtect, who was launching its new Timba range at the show. The new wood-effect collection is a lightweight acoustic solution that chimes with the current trend for creating natural-looking environments.

Surface Trend #2: Act Natural

Biophilic touches were everywhere, but perhaps in a bid to provide a solution for situations where a living wall just isn’t possible, the trend for incorporating botanical designs into surfaces was continuing.

Surface Trend #2: Act Natural – Biophilic touches are everywhere as the trend for incorporating botanical designs into surfaces continues @surfacethinking #surfacetrends Click To Tweet

Blueprint Ceramics was showcasing vibrant botanical designs, while Viuva Lamego was displaying its new Sereia Green 20 x 20cm tile range by Bela Silva.

Also mimicking nature, albeit in a different way, was the new Carbonised Silver Birch wallpaper from Maya Romanoff’s Natural Elements range on the Altfield stand. This printed and embossed textured paper is a convincing wood lookalike, and also a durable alternative to Type II vinyl.

Surface Trend #3: Bright Ideas

Colour was evident throughout the show as exhibitors demonstrated the eye-catching ways in which different materials can render vibrant tones.

Surface Trend #3: Bright Ideas – Using different materials to create vibrant colours in a variety of eye-catching tones @surfacethinking #surfacetrends Click To Tweet

The Esmaltes glazed tile collection from Ceramica Elias on the Tile of Spain stand is a series of jewel-like brilliant brick tiles that comes in a total of 21 colours.

Surface Matter had created a material sweet shop on its stand to highlight the capabilities of materials like Richlite, which it had made into chocolate bars, and Bencore, which it had fashioned into honeycomb lollipops.

Surface Trend #4: No More Walls

As the trend for broken-plan living takes over from open-plan style, ways of creating visual barriers without building solid walls were in evidence.

Surface Trend #4: No More Walls – Creating visual barriers without building solid walls as the trend for broken-plan takes over from open-plan @surfacethinking #surfacetrends Click To Tweet

Cobo London was showcasing its hollow ceramic glazed bricks, which offer a decorative way of breaking up internal spaces while still allowing light in.

Also trending was a variety of decorative glass screens, with products from French brand Verretuoses, and Form3D Glass’s handcrafted patterned sheet glass leading the way.

Surface Trend #5: To the Max

There was also plenty for fans of the maximalist trend to enjoy.London-based applied arts workshop Sterling Studios was exhibiting a collection of work illustrating a variety of decorative techniques for custom-made finishes.

Surface Trend #5: To the Max – Fans of maximalism have plenty of decorative techniques and custom-made finishes to keep this trend growing @surfacethinking #surfacetrends Click To Tweet

The Artisions stand featured an exciting mix of work from three Latvian-based design factories specialising in glass, woodworking and metal finishes, shown here.

Surface Trend #6: Light and Shade

The latest interior trend for volumetric designs, which play on the visual juxtaposition between light and shadow, was also present on several stands.

Surface Trend #6: Light and Shade – Volumetric designs, which play on the visual juxtaposition between light and shadow Click To Tweet

Jungle by Wonderwall Studios is made from tree roots and features raised elements to create an almost pixellated effect, while the company’s Blades decorative panelling is crafted from salvaged Ukrainian walnut offcuts, with evenly cut triangles assembled in an intriguing uneven laying pattern to create slim shadows.