It is the design season 2016 and one of the most anticipated interior design shows in London is Decorex International.
How can a show like this help you to define your home?
The answer is not as simple as you may think; many things will draw your attention.
How can you get a clear idea of what is being said in the show and how relevant or not it can be in the creation of your home?
I would suggest, firstly, understand these four points:
The look of the fair as a whole
The quality of design, the layout, the leisure space, the signage, the lighting, the uniformity of the stands, the quality of the materials used, etc.
All these elements will put you in the “mood” and will affect the way you take the information in.
The spirit of the fair
Fairs have a spirit, it is that “thing” that can be felt when there is a consensus that goes beyond the physicality of the objects exhibited: Is the fair predominantly elegant? Innovative? Repetitive? Tired? Luxurious? Decadent? Etc.
There are some shows that lack spirit, and will die if nothing is done to make them breathe and have a purpose beyond the renting of square meters.
This spirit can exist thanks to the work of an excellent curatorial team and thanks to the integrity, honesty, consistency and transparency of what is being said and delivered.
The design of the stands
This point is extremely important as it is not just going to give you a clear vision of how the creators and sales people understand, respect and introduce their products to you, but it is going to give you a good idea as well of how they, “experts in the field of design” see those products work in a given context, a context that should inspire you, and that context is the stand, what its design is saying.
The products
All the previous three points are going to prepare you to be able to see the products exhibited in a specific way, a way that hopefully will be aligned with the ideas, feelings and vision of what you want for your home.
All this information should help you to define the home you want.
Do you want it to be Elegant? Luxurious? Innovative? Kitsch? Playful? Casual?
For me whatever your choice your home should provide you with two things: Beauty and happiness.
Nothing expresses this better than these words, still for me as valid as ever, by William Morris
“Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful”
Definitely Decorex is not the best show of the season but certainly it should provide you with the right information if you know what to look at.
