South African Interior Design: Where Culture, Creativity, and Sustainability Shape Global Trends

Christopher de Bod Designs

Today we are talking ‘design trends’ with an expert in the field, Christopher de Bod. Christopher’s passion for beautiful design is fired by the joy he experiences with clients when they see the final results and for the past 20 years, that glint in their eye and broad smile continues to inspire him to go the extra mile. Let’s hear from Christopher himself…

“For years after I started working with interiors, I used to wonder what made South African Interior Design different to design in the rest of the world. Is there a difference or do we just follow trends that filter through from the rest of the world in a “copy paste” sort of style? This was a question I was not able to until I spent some time in the industry and started building my own design style and had the opportunity to engage clients, suppliers, and other designers.

As in all aspects of design like fashion, cars, et cetera, trends do emerge across the globe that influence interior design in South Africa, but as with all design industries, South Africans have an amazing ability to localise design and make it our own. We celebrate our rich heritage and culture and express this in our design.

While our peers in the UK and Americas are swooning over macrame wall hangings, we are doing beautifully woven grass baskets. Our response to bronze statuettes is hand-carved wooden figures. Bold patterns, colours and textures replace demure pallets and lines.

I am not suggesting that South African designers are always off on their own tangent, the trends do filter through. We do recognise them and they do influence our work, we simply understand our interesting market and the need that it has for the stimulation that comes from incorporating truly South African design into our interiors.

This is evident in the work of leading South African designers showcased in many design studios located in trendy design precincts, large development show houses and on display at the design expos throughout the year. Here one can view how items sourced from rural craft centers and traditional weaving and beading groups are incorporated with European-designed wallpaper and Norwegian influenced minimalistic furniture.

Sustainability is a thought that is on everyone’s minds at the moment and rightfully so. As South Africans we have an inherent characteristic to care for our communities and precious land. The IID is driving initiatives like recycling of architectural selvage from renovation projects by making used items like baths, basins, cabinetry, sanitary ware and even bricks and the like available to less fortunate communities to use in their own builds instead of it ending up on a dump somewhere.

The future of design in South Africa will continue to grow and develop and designers will continue to articulate our design language which has become increasingly louder and desired abroad. Our passion for comfort, style, creativity and interesting textures, colours and patterns continues to be followed and desired by international markets. As we continue localise and translate international trends to our market, we continue to influence international trends again.

The work of the IID is detrimental in the ongoing development of Interior Design in South Africa. Creating a platform for new and young designers to enter the market and benefit from the opportunities for growth and development afforded to them as members. The ability to be exposed to the work of established designers ensures that this authentic design language that we are so proud of is carried down to the next generations of designers for them to further develop and make their own and continue to influence the international design trends again.”