Leading local interior designers share colourful insights and tips

In early August 2023, three top local interior design studios joined forces with Plascon to create stunning roomsets for Decorex Joburg, the city’s annual leading design and decor exhibition. Tshepo Sealetsa Studio, Infinitude Design and Cocoa Bean Interior Design Studio each brought distinctly different interior design concepts to life, all conveying a common message: how the right paint colour choices can really pull a room together.

In the wake of this exciting display of local design, we spoke to Cocoa Bean Interior Design Studio and Tshepo Sealetsa Studio to find out what colour and decor trends are top of mind right now.

Tshepo Sealetsa, the designer behind the eponymous Pretoria-based studio, says that a trend that resonated with him deeply during Decorex Joburg, and has become one of his personal favourites, is the ‘infusion of vivid and dynamic colours into our daily living spaces’. ‘This evolving trend doesn’t only speak volumes about our collective yearning for uplifting aesthetics but underscores the transformative power of colour within our living environments,’ he says.

For Sealesta, his best advice to homeowners and decorators at the moment is to ‘let go of the fear of colour and choose colours that make you most happy’. The designer’s personal favourite colour combination is hues of sage, such as Plascon’s Light Sage (84), and pine greens, such as Juniper Forest (G1-D1-1), a combination he describes as offering a ‘holistic aesthetic experience’.

Cocoa Bean Interiors is a multidisciplinary design studio and creative consultancy founded by Deanne McBride in 2001. For this year’s show, McBride found herself working with a colour palette she would not generally gravitate towards, incorporating more vibrant colours rather than her usual muted neutrals. It was the combination of Plascon’s Safari Sun (O7-C1-1) and Bleached Baobab (Y2-C2-2) that inspired her to encourage decorators to ‘explore colour and don’t be afraid!’ ‘The beautiful richness of colour combined with the right balance of calm can elevate your space to another level,’ she says.

One particular colour trend that caught McBride’s eye is ‘brown is the new black’, which sees warmer brown hues, like rich chocolate brown and gentle caramels, replacing the cooler black and grey tones that have dominated minimalist design for years. Try this trend out for yourself with colours such as Coffee Shop (O2-D1-2), Baked Earth (O4-B1-1) and Harvest Time (O6-C1-3).

Both Sealesta and McBride found plenty of other decorative inspiration during their time at Decorex Joburg, with Sealetsa falling for the unique character of mosaic and terrazzo surfaces, and McBride honing in on textile designer Ronel Jordaan’s perfectly-imperfect shaggy couch.

Whether you’re a designer looking for inspiration or a homeowner wanting to invigorate your space, these invaluable tips are sure to spark a decorative fire!

For more information about the Plascon 2023 colour forecast or any other Plascon colours, contact the Plascon Colour Advice team via email: ColourAdvice@kansaiplascon.co.za. Visit plascon.com for more information.