Design Trend – Copper

After a bit of a lull, metal has found its way back into interior design.

It has often been used in one form or another, but the use of metal dropped somewhat during the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s when plastic and other such materials gained prominence.

But recently it has made a resurgence, beginning in minimalist design, which saw chrome utensils being used. Then it took another form in vintage design, which utilised turn of the century tools and decorations as design features. An offshoot of vintage evolved into industrial chic, which emphasised exposed beams and stripped back interiors using metal as a feature as opposed to decoration. Typically the colour palate of industrial design is quite muted. It uses pastel and ‘raw’ shades. Though this has evolved further, as design does, and has started to incorporate some colour, often in the form of Copper.

The bright orange of newly formed copper stands out starkly against the muted tones it is typically set in, and definitely draws the eye.

It also has a handmade air to it, harking back to tinkers, who used to repair copper pots on the side of the road.

One beautiful feature of copper is its ability to age. You can keep it in pristine condition by caring for it and cleaning it regularly. Or, you can let it become weathered, beaten and miscoloured. These marks and imperfections not only add to the beauty of copperware, but also its story.

The best ways to use copper in the home is in small quantities. If too much is used it becomes over powering and hard to take it. But when used properly in small amounts, such as small decorations or exposed pipework, it can become a wonderful feature.