Noted Dutch trend forecaster Lidewij ‘Li’ Edelkoort was in Australia last month and presented a raft of her most recent predictions in her designEX talk on 28 May. The overall trend is a return to homeliness, according to Edelkoort, or “materials, objects, fashion and design that embrace, cuddle and make us feel happy and safe”. Colouring will be lighter, with accents on green, so the suggestion is to put as much green tinting into colours as possible.

This move towards the snug and comforting also extends, unsurprisingly, to bedrooms, which Edelkoort believes are becoming more important. She says that in the near future we will be spending more and more time in our bedrooms, making them places for sleeping, working, eating and entertaining. Concerns about crumbs between the sheets and dinner guests planted cross-legged across our doonas notwithstanding, the idea of a bedroom morphing into being more like a hotel room does have merit.

So expect to see lots of fur, velvet, and heaps of cushions – as well as bedding that isn’t so much fitted as thrown on, to facilitate versatility and cuddling up.

Here’s a brief summary of Edelkoort’s forecasts:

Embryon

New synthetics and tactile materials in very thin layers. Colours are like skin, veins and blood. All rounded and relaxed. In fashion expect to see large trousers, throws and blanket jackets.

Products will look like they are not completely finished. They’ll be made of very tactile materials as a balance for our lives in front of screens. There will be transparency in buildings – and the trend of buildings looking like bodies will continue.

Egg

Oval is the new shape, with rounded edges and pleats very important. Egg colours will feature, especially white and yolk together. In pattern, look for spotted/mottled like an egg. Oval shapes in kitchen and bathrooms. The egg also creates privacy, so furniture that forms a beautiful shield will proliferate.

Cocoon

Nourishing from within – expect to see protective outer layers in natural fibres and synthetic inner layers. Leather will be very important in hard goods. There will be perforated materials for all surfaces (as seen in Milan). Food trends will also trend towards cocoon with food inside food.

Onion

Layering of materials and pleating in everything from fashion to architecture. Organic and meandering feeling to design. Colours are like onionskin in naturals, tans and whites/creams.

Container

Boxed shapes and fashion looking like a vessel will feature. Calm and soothing ceramic colours. Expect garments that embrace and hold the wearer. In homewares a revival in ceramics will continue. More baking of materials. Ceramic quality is rough and unfinished – almost amateur. More ceramic tiles and ceramic appearance in architecture.

Kangaroo

Look out for the comeback of the kangaroo pocket of the 70s. Fur neutral colours of the red, grey and brown kangaroo. In architecture, ‘pockets’ being created attached to houses – flats for the teens to live in, then when they grow up and have a family the parents move into the flat.

Cuddle

Colourful furs and cute pets. The teddy bear is important. Colours, textures and design that serves as a cuddle toy.

Capsule

Space suits and moon boots. Coated materials and metallic finishes. This is not a new trend, but a continuing trend. Look out for iridescent materials in homewares and architecture. Lights hanging in multiplicity.

Cloud

Ultra light sky blues and white. Felted materials and billowing design. In fashion this may manifest as large sweat shirts on pleated skirts. Everything is fluffy and airy.

Weight

As an opposite to the above – heavy and dark materials. Coated materials with subtle shine or completely matt. Super heavy chairs and tables. Hammered metals. Lava materials. Oversized monumental pieces.

Amphora

A longer-term trend (summer 2016) will be for antique period pieces. Neo classical. Marble and stone very important – all collaged together. Plastics made to look like gritty stone. Pieces that look like they have been unearthed. Rough rather than polished.

Tubular

Tube necks and pencil skirts will be in fashion. In design, think about tubes of paint. Items will look as if they have been taken from a painter’s studio – paint residue and wear on items. Also a move towards abstract patterns and potential move away from florals.

Li Edelkoort at designEX

Cone

Cone shaped coats and fashion using tweeds and tinted neutrals. In homewares, felt and textured furniture. Lots of tweeds in upholstery. Wood looks like its chequered.

Basket

Basket weaving and basket looks in mats, carpets and rugs. Large building with basket like appearances using natural fibres.

Socks

Socks on everything – head, hands, feet and body. Super cosy and casual with overly long arms and legs. Rag doll looks – sloppy appearance. In homewares, knitted baskets and balls. In architecture, buildings that look like they’ve been knitted.

Pelote

Continued trend of home knitting, but even more homemade. Knits made out of leftover yarns. Colourful stripes – but not engineered. In homewares lots of wrapping with yarns.

Charentaise

Inspired by traditional French slippers often worn by old men.  Plaids and checks that are soft and rustic. Fabric and rubber with wool lining. Wool used in accessories such as backpacks, shoes and bags.

Cushioned

Warm, light, padded, comfy, pillow like design. Super cosy furnishings. Lots of quilting and contouring. Café latte colours. Trend to mix colours with milk, cream and butter to create this look.

Patisserie

Continued trend of food/patisserie colours of sweets and cakes. This will be used in small homewares items. Good for use in single speciality items, which are created in colour variations.

Ornament

Revival of baroque look in fashion and interiors. Three-dimensional treatments on walls and furniture. Lots of white on white. Scalloped edges, laser cutting and laces.

www.edelkoort.com