Surfaces in domestic and commercial design are an essential element of any project. Whether in relation to flooring, walls, worktops or countertops, the material chosen needs to be a good practical solution as well as visually pleasing. So what are the key functional elements that interior designers need to keep front of mind and how can the latest trends in surfaces enable them to tick all the boxes practically and aesthetically for their clients?

Our smart home assistants do more than play our favourite playlists and tell us the weather. In many ways, they are our life assistants, planning our days, telling us the news and controlling our home appliances. For years, homeowners have been able to customise the aspects of their home using their smart devices, so what’s next? Nico van der Merwe, VP of Home & Distribution at Schneider Electric, investigates.

When it comes to the design process, every client is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. This is certainly the case when we look at balancing the needs of companies who are beginning to navigate a return to the office following the coronavirus pandemic.

In December, when the COVID-19 outbreak started, we understood the seriousness of the situation, but none of us thought we were in this for the long haul.

A day in the office can have a very different feel to it these days, whether this means working remotely from home or working in an existing space but within smaller teams to adhere to social distancing guidelines. As our internal environment has never been more important to our physical and emotional wellbeing, Kathryn Lloyd, Colour Specialist from Crown Paints, takes a closer look at how the use of colour can have a profound effect on how we view and use the spaces in which we work.

Visitors to hospitals or care homes are unlikely to contemplate the type of flooring they are walking on, yet its design and practicalities have never been more important. Louisa Eyles, Commercial Marketing Manager at Amtico, explores the vital role flooring has to play in modern healthcare design.

The world has been on pause for over two months now, but finally, measures are now being taken to get us all back to work. The question now is not when it will happen, but how.

Does ‘COVID-secure’ mean sterile and soulless? Or is there a way for creativity, style and elegance in interiors to also play their part in keeping us safer from this and future threats? These are key questions for designers looking to specify beautiful new materials with health and hygiene also in mind.

The housing market is being challenged to think differently when it comes to designing homes, with a variety of social and economic trends driving a new approach. Here, Natalie Davenport, Head of Marketing at Häfele, looks at some of the changes.

Here, Inex talks to Eden Goode, Researcher & Writer at Oliver Heath Design, about our increasing reliance on biophilia within the built environment, and – following the COVID-19 pandemic – how we’re seeking indoor spaces that follow biophilic design principles more than ever before.