Design report
Three designers whose work embodies Playfulism in all its forms explain how to get the look – from curating a nostalgic colour palette to experimenting with materials
5 ways to embrace Playfulism
There’s a certain rose-tinted quality to many of the designer schemes that tap into Playfulism: blush pinks and mauves are key, but look also to yellow-toned neutrals (new magnolia, anyone?), hints of rust, burgundy and deep brown, forest greens and small touches of pale aqua.
A one-note scheme this is definitely not: the most successful looks involve schemes layered with rich, deep-toned woods, coloured stones, rattan and jute and a hit of glossiness through lacquered surfaces or zellige tiles.
Use traditional and folk-inspired prints on upholstery and fabrics, but don’t stop there: combine them with candy stripes, busy contemporary botanicals, chequerboard patterns and a small dose of animal print for a scheme that’s just the right amount of maximalist – and set it off with a pared-back base.
The slouchier the better when it comes to furniture: low-profile sofas feel relaxed and informal, so keep things close to the ground. The playfulness comes through in the pattern you choose to upholster with, but also in the shape: there’s a softness to the silhouettes in this trend that can lean towards the ultra organic.
The easiest way to introduce all of these elements into your scheme is through buildable accessories, which is why rugs, cushions and throws are key to the look. Layer flatweave rugs with high-pile textures, combine round and rectangular throw pillows in clashing patterns: as long as there’s a thread that holds them together, your scheme will still feel cohesive.
Shape shifting
INTERIOR DESIGNER MICHAEL HILAL ON THE CURVES AND LOW-SLUNG SHAPES THAT MAKE UP THIS TREND IN FURNITURE
The reintroduction of the curved sofa opened the floodgates to playful furniture shapes. Curved pieces have come in and out of style since the art deco era – but what people have done [now] is make curved seating more playful. That’s because we now have a better understanding of materiality, of how to frame a sofa like that. New materials have led to a new generation of furnituremakers, like Virgil Abloh, pushing the boundaries: they’re taking historical designs and riffing on them, reinterpreting the classics.
The way people live has also changed. Formality has gone out the window and so we’re apt to move into a new direction in how we think about seating, in particular – it can be a bit more interesting loo
