East Coast Radio House + Garden Show

Reflects 40 years of trends

From daring accent colours and the wallpaper craze to environmentally conscious or minimalist interiors – the last four decades have revolutionised our homes and gardens to a point where we have seen it all! This year, the East Coast Radio House + Garden Show is celebrating their 40th anniversary as the longest-running, biggest consumer home event in the country.

“For the past forty years, we have always strived to provide a platform for the home, outdoor and décor industry to present the latest offerings and trends to the public, and this year will be no different, with approximately 400 exhibitors due to be participating and an expected average attendance of 80 000. It’s always exciting to be at the cutting-edge of what the latest in design and trends are in the home and garden space, but it’s also been fun to reflect on the past four decades to remember what has come before – the good, the bad and different’,” shares Clive Shedlock, owner of H&G Expo.

Home and Décor Throwbacks

Like in fashion, home trends come and go, but according to the East Coast Radio House + Garden Show Director, Cairey Baxter-Bruce, there are always a few key elements that they have noticed returning. “Stainless steel and rose gold are being replaced with the 1980s favourite brass in hardware, taps and kitchen fittings which bring warmth into an interior space, especially the kitchen and bathroom. After the very minimalist trends of the last couple of years, maximalism is definitely making a comeback! Trinkets are coming out of the cupboards and being displayed instead of being hidden away,” shares Baxter-Bruce.

The Here and Now

The start of the 2020s saw a major shift in how we lived with the pandemic, inspiring a change in many home spaces. As one of the key exhibitors for this year’s East Coast Radio House + Garden Show, POP Interior Design Studio will be showcasing their design visions for 2022. “In certain times of change, the need for interior design becomes greater as our need to fit in and be one with our surrounding spaces becomes most important. Interior design has a great capacity to shape our lives, to restore, to bring together. Looking back over the last 40 years of design trends, you can see how interior design adapts to current times. The need to surround ourselves with an abundance of material objects and to fill a space during the wealth boom of the eighties has since been refined to a simpler aesthetic. Whilst the current design trend remains inspired by the bold organic forms and geometric patterns of the 1980s, the negative space in a room has become as important as the positive space. It’s all about creating balance,” explains Giselle Ferreira, co-Founder at POP Interior Design Studio (PDS).

The SA Property Trends market research conducted by Rainmaker Marketing in 2022 indicates that within the residential housing market in South Africaultifunctional home layouts will now supersede open plan living spaces. True to what Ferreira says about the need for people to adapt, COVID-19 has certainly impacted the current home layout trends. According to the latest Rainmaker Marketing study, in 2022 there is a continued appeal and demand for home offices and studies for kids, with broken plan layouts becoming increasingly popular that distinguish between living and working spaces. There is greater emphasis being placed on creating calming, well-ventilated and plant-filled environments while increasing connectivity to the natural environment using nature and incorporating organic materials and natural textures into home spaces.

“The need for flexibility and, in turn, flexible living has become highlighted during the lockdowns we have faced. We have been forced to look at the spaces we exist in, how these spaces promote healing, and how they encourage us to let go of, connect to, move through and hold close. We have gone back to basics – to shelter, to nourish, to gather. What’s become important is who we connect with, where we gather and how we bring this togetherness into our homes. It’s all about being present and celebrating the moment. It’s about authenticity, truth, compassion and humanity. This is our vision at POP Design Studio for the 2022 East Coast Radio House + Garden Show. Let’s gather,” shares Giselle.

Apart from the stand-out displays by top designers and landscapers being a favourite at the East Coast Radio House + Garden Show, over the years the event has also expanded its offerings from home goods, including furniture and appliances, to now hosting celebrities like Tanya Visser who share exclusive insight and knowledge into top trends for gardens and landscapes. There will be a myriad of competitions, delectable foods and craft bars for adults, while the kids can also enjoy a host of entertainment options. This iconic Durban tourist attraction brought to you by Durban Tourism will be held over the June-July holidays from 24 June to 3 July 2022 at the Durban Exhibition Centre and is one not to be missed!