Visual Merchandising: What’s Trending for 2017

2017 • Content

When it comes to visual merchandising, some looks are evergreen. Most are not. Here are nine not-to-be-missed trends for next year, plus ways to integrate them into your location without breaking the bank.

Tip: Incorporate touches of “Greenery,” Pantone Color Institute’s top color for 2017. This zesty yellow-green shade is being called “nature’s neutral.”

5the first 5’ of your location, known as the threshold area or decompression zone, is important in defining who you are.

ENGAGEMENT

Consumers are seeking experience-driven engagement…everywhere. In optical, we’ll see more labs brought into the open as part education, part entertainment that, according to TrendHunter.com, “speaks to the consumer’s pursuit of memorable, multi-faceted experiences, as well as the scientific, well-informed approach some consumers are seeking.”

METALS

Gold and brass have led the way in metallic treatments for several seasons. For 2017, look for metals in combination with rougher, more rustic materials—like copper with concrete or brass with quartz.

TEXTURE

It’s all about natural textures, and even display units are featuring texture behind the glass with wallpaper, lacquer, etc. Look for several fresh techniques to make things pop in 2017—like wire brushing to emphasize wood grain, for example.

FABRIC

Velvet is making a big return in 2017. No, you don’t have to recover everything. Simply add a few velvet toss pillows or even velvet ties to drapes. Taking that trend a step further, there will more of what’s called steampunk—a combination of Victorian elegance and industrial machinery looks.

SURFACES

Marble is definitely taking center stage, or rather center surface. Look for lots of gray and white tones of marble-like materials on everything from countertops to flooring and, of course, accent pieces. Exposed brick may even be washed in off-white, marble-friendly tones to lessen the drama and help it tie in better with furnishings.

COLORS

Pantone Color Institute just named Greenery the top color of 2017. The Institute refers to this zesty yellow-green shade as “nature’s neutral,” adding that “the more submerged people are in modern life, the greater their craving to immerse themselves in the physical beauty and inherent unity of the natural world.”

POPS

While gray remains the safe choice for interior designers, the experts also see more experimentation with pops of bright color in 2017. It’s all about individualizing space and making it more personal. You can add those pops in everything from fun pillows to painted picture frames.

ARTWORK

Say goodbye to wall-covering cliché phrases and word/quotation art. In keeping with Pantone’s “nature neutral” color of the year, businesses, retailers, and homeowners are moving more and more to artwork that reflects textures and colors found in nature.

ENTRY

The first 5’ of your location–known as threshold or decompression areas–are getting a lot of attention as the space that defines who you are. The challenge? How to make a strong statement without displaying product or signage that would likely be missed that close to the entry.

How do you handle your entry area? Does it tell consumers what to expect inside? If so, how do you deliver that message? Please share what changes you’ve made and join in the conversation on Facebook here.