In recent years, interior decoration has increasingly focused on the value of personalisation. Private and commercial spaces (hotels, restaurants, offices, showrooms) have been changing their look regularly for some time, thanks to customised patterns and graphic design projects. The pandemic only increased this trend, especially in the home décor sector. This market is growing strongly on a global level: it is predicted to exceed 741 billions of dollars by 2023, approximately 623 billion of euros.

In the past, homes were a place to eat, sleep, and relax after long days spent elsewhere. Today, they have become “multitasking” refuges, where rooms are no longer strictly separated depending on their use and where we can socialise in ways we can’t outside the house in the current context.

In regards to this, Amanda Lauren spoke to Forbes about some of the trends in our ways of living in our home in 2021.

In contrast to minimalism, which was dominant in recent years, homes will go back to special effects and precious textures. Fluorescent colours (orange, pink, green and blue) will be another popular trend, inspired by the graphic design of the Seventies and Nineties. This search for colour is probably part of a subconscious strategy to face the ongoing emergency with more optimism and positivity.

The interest in sustainability hasn’t changed and users continue to prefer recycled, ecological and innovative materials. Textiles for interior decoration, in a variety of applications, are equally sought-after: textiles for upholstery, kitchens and bathrooms, bedding, curtains, rugs, carpets, and accessories. In this sector, cotton, linen, microfiber and mixed fibres are all widely used.

Architects and designer try to make decisions taking into consideration aesthetic needs as much as technical ones. Textiles used in the home are rub-resistant and can withstand frequent washing. Textiles for the bedroom and kitchen primarily use mixed fibres, which are printed on with dyes and pigment inks. High-end products use luxury materials like silk, frequently blended with linen or cotton. For curtains, polyester is the preferred option. In this segment, fabrics need to be light-resistant, withstand frequent washes and shrink as little as possible.

In the home textiles sector, digital printing solutions are an essential resource, which can push an established industry in this direction. Analogue printing is still the main technology used for large runs and for some special processes. The progressive evolution of inkjet printing processes and the development of innovative inks, which are high-performing and environmentally friendly have enabled the integration of analogue and digital technologies on a production level to increase.

On top of productivity, one of the main advantages of digital textile printing is the expansion of the range of possible applications, which now offers a series of new creative opportunities. Unlike analogue printing, digital printing isn’t limited in by masters. This has made possible unique designs, with complex details and special effects. Furthermore, digital printing has contributed to reducing time-to-market, guaranteeing increased flexibility and minimising the environmental impact of processes which are still highly polluting in the textile printing industry.

Epson’s offer of solutions for digital textile printing includes the Total Textile Solution system. This system offers printers and the entire supply chain significant benefits in terms of environmental sustainability, as it meets the requirements of stricter and stricter international environmental certifications and standards. In a comparison between a production cycle of the MonnaLisa cycle and one of a traditional printing process, inkjet technology performed better in terms of environmental impact and water consumption.