Here’s what the best dressed homes will be wearing in 2020

While we now have a stable government, we continue to live in unsettling and uncertain times. The economic impact of Brexit is still unknown while on the world stage, fires rage in Australia as ice sheets melt at a record rate and the US-Iran situation continues to cause concern.When the going gets tough, the tough seek sanctuary, which means our homes become more important than ever. Making them an attractive and comfortable haven is vitally important for well-being.If you are considering redecorating or making changes to your home our 2020 trends report is a guide to what the best dressed homes will be wearing. It’s not just frippery, far from it. One of the key trends is sustainability.We are seeing many more businesses and designers embrace this and there are now many more eco-friendly products on the shelves. Among them are alternatives to single use plastics.The Plastic Free Shop is a great online store dedicated to sourcing ethical and sustainable alternatives to help reduce the amount of plastic in our everyday lives. Products include bamboo utensils, beeswax wraps instead of cling film, stainless steel lunch boxes and organic cotton mesh produce bags designed for carrying fresh fruit or vegetables from the shop and for storing them at home.

Plus, let us not forget that Woods, the fine linen and interiors store in Harrogate, sells “the best dishcloth in the world” as an alternative to throwaway cloths and kitchen roll.Commissioned by William James Woods in the 1890s, the linen dishcloth is sold to customers worldwide. It’s more absorbent than cotton, long-lasting and can be washed at high temperatures.Here are more interiors trends:

Portobello sofa in classic blue from Heal's at Redbrick Mill in Batley

Colours: Its last big moment was in the 1980s and now classic blue is set to enjoy a revival after being named Pantone’s colour of the year for 2020.It teams beautifully with yellow, another colour taking centre stage this year. There’s nothing like honey, lemon or mustard to brighten up a room but use sparingly. Too much of it can jangle the nerves.Both the above signify a move towards bold colours as people become more daring when it comes to designing their living space. Take a look at Instagram and the rooms in the inspiration sections of the Farrow and Ball and the Little Greene website for ideas.

Deep Reddish Brown paint by Farrow and Ball

Motifs: We’ve had everything from cacti and pugs to flamingoes and Frida Kahlo. Now it is the turn of leopards and nudes, with bees still prevalent. Tasteful nudes include the Glass Menagerie Lady vase, £395, from Jonathan Adler and the bootylicious Love Handles vase by Anissa Kermiche, £340, from the Conran Shop.Fabrics: According to fabric designers Arley House we are stepping away from safe, muted tones to embrace graphic prints and rich colour palettes. Florals get moody with dark, heritage blooms that create a look of faded grandeur.Our love affair with velvet looks set to continue. It’s soft, cosy and glamourous.Veganism: This dietary and lifestyle choice is having an impact on interiors. Etsy has reported an increase in vegan-friendly goods on its site and luxury brand Alexander Joseph is using a vegan “leather” to create bespoke lampshades for its new limited-edition cordless lamps. Car maker Bentley has helped highlight biomaterials by offering its customers Vegea, a leather alternative made from leftovers from the wine industry.Lighting: Glass pendants and wall lights are becoming popular. Glow Lighting, based in Ripon, specialises in making and selling these and their ranges include vintage and contemporary designs.Following the trend for curves, Dowsing and Reynolds, which has a store in the Victoria Quarter, Leeds, has some gorgeous and curvaceous contemporary pendants.Matthew Currington of The Lighting Superstore says that 2020 will see more of us invest in smart lighting connected via wi-fi to an app.“You’ll be able to control a bulb’s brightness, change its colour, turn lights on with a simple voice command and create specific settings,” he says.

Art Deco style leopard lamp, £139.95 from www.audenza.com

Art Deco: This trend gained strength in 2019 and continues to captivate as it offers flashbacks to the decadence and glamour of the inter-war period. New Art Deco inspired furniture is generally on a smaller scale when compared to original pieces and so is more suited to modern homes, though the antiques are generally more robust and are a better investment.Accessories typify or allude to the era. Audenza.com has a good selection, including drinks trolleys, lamps and vases. Original deco ceramics are still remarkably inexpensive if you want the real “Gatsby”.

Juliet bed, £1,200, from Sofa.comThis softness is often complemented by velvet upholstery and the Juliet bed by sofa.com, pictured above, is a good example.

Curves: We’ll see more curved homeware. It is most apparent in furniture where undulating shapes, scalloped-edges and fan shapes abound. This softness is often complemented by velvet upholstery

Biophilia: Houseplants are a must in the most fashionable homes and they are good for our health. However, make sure you know what you are buying and how to care for it properly.

Handmade kitchen by Yorkshire-based Jeremy Wood

Provenance: More of us are questioning where our homeware is made, how those who make it are treated and how many miles it has travelled. It’s why investing in items made by British artists and makers is burgeoning. Yes, you will pay more but you will get far greater satisfaction and quality.

Vintage: This is the trend that keeps on getting stronger because those who value individuality and a sense of history range from teenagers to octogenarians.Compelling reasons to buy something old include sustainability and the likelihood that it should keep or increase its value. Yorkshire is a hotspot for vintage fairs and stores.