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The days when the first furniture was still on display in the room at the silver wedding anniversary are long gone. Modern people want to move with the times and follow the latest trends. But what are those trends? Richelle den Hartog, interior designer at Luxaflex® Netherlands, reviews the most important home and lifestyle trends for 2022. To ensure that everyone who wants to can keep up with the times.
The Flexa Color of the Year 2022 is Bright Skies™. This airy, light blue color brings a figurative breath of fresh air into your home and can be used in any season. It can easily be combined with other colors, as demonstrated by the four color palettes that Flexa has put together. “These palettes show that Bright Skies™ can be used in any desired interior style,” says Richelle den Hartog. “This color can be combined with both natural shades and light, pastel tones, which create a calming feeling. But it can also be combined with neutral, fresh shades for a balanced look and feel. Prefer something more eye-catching? Bright Skies™ can also be perfectly combined with cheerful, bright colors.”
Together, we are all trying to live more sustainably. It is good to know that Luxaflex® uses recycled raw materials as much as possible or takes the environment into account in other ways.
“Our aluminum blinds are a sustainable option for your home,” says Richelle den Hartog. “The slats are made from 98 percent recycled aluminum. In addition, the production process saves energy, resulting in 95 percent less CO2 emissions. Blinds also suit almost any interior style!”
“We also choose sustainability for our roller blinds. We have fabrics from Sea-Tex™, the world's first sun protection fabric made from recycled ocean plastic. The plastic that threatens and damages marine life is kept out of the ocean for this material, which is PVC-free and itself recyclable.’
“Nowadays, wood is becoming an increasingly popular choice, partly because of its warm and natural appearance. Wood is also a beautiful and natural raw material, but one that we must use very responsibly. Luxaflex® has therefore joined the Forest Stewardship Council® – the well-known FSC® – and many products in the Wooden Blinds collection carry the FSC® label. An FSC®-certified forest remains a forest. It is not converted into soy or oil palm plantations or mining sites, for example.”
“The Luxaflex® wood collection also includes bamboo, the most ecologically responsible ‘wood’ because bamboo is actually a type of grass. The bamboo we use comes from special plantations. Bamboo slats can be made thinner, giving blinds made from this material a sleeker look and a lower stack height.”
Milieu Centraal, the association for environmentally conscious consumers, is clear about this: some types of window coverings insulate better than others. That is, of course, a perfect selling point. With the right choice, the end customer can save on heating costs, which – on an annual basis – vary from €10 for an apartment with double glazing and (roller) blinds to as much as €220 per year (2021 price level) for a detached house with Luxaflex® Duette Shades. “It is therefore definitely worth pointing out the insulating effect of window coverings to customers during the sales conversation,” emphasizes Richelle den Hartog. “Especially in these times of rising energy prices, consumers can recoup their investment very quickly.”
“The fact that Luxaflex® Duette Shades make homes more sustainable was the starting point for the development of a new collection that was introduced at the end of 2021. It includes fabrics with even better heat dissipation and insulation, with some qualities having an A++ energy label.”
Richelle den Hartog also offers an insulation tip. “Combining window coverings with attractive curtains creates an extra insulating layer. In that case, make sure that the central heating radiators are not covered and can continue to emit their heat freely and unobstructed into the room.”
“The new collections of curtains and Roman blinds from Luxaflex® offer a wide range of supple fabrics. They are characterized by the use of contemporary colors and rich textures. The collection offers a wide choice of off-whites, naturals, and subtle warm gray colors. Gray tones ranging from light to dark and shiny metallic tones provide extensive combination possibilities, including with other types of window coverings.“
To stay healthy and refreshed, it is essential to have sufficient fresh air in your home! That is why we are seeing more and more tilt-and-turn windows. The great thing about a tilt-and-turn window is that it can be partially opened, allowing a constant flow of fresh air. However, not all traditional window coverings are suitable for the tilt position. But with TruFit and FrameFix profiles, Luxaflex® has the solution for these windows. Both systems are ideal for plastic and aluminum window frames and for tilt-and-turn windows.
Fresh air in the house is nice, but insects are usually less welcome indoors. “With Luxaflex® Insect Screens, you can keep insects out while still ventilating your home,” says Richelle den Hartog, offering the solution. “That makes living and working from home just that little bit more pleasant! Luxaflex® offers a solution for all types of windows and doors, including roof and tilt windows. So whatever room in the house you're in, whether for living or working, a solution for ventilation without the nuisance of insects and pollen can always be provided.”
