Temporary Elements Monday, August 31, 2009 The furniture for an event can make a huge impact on the look and feel of an environment. Furniture can be the focal point of an event from an aesthetic standpoint, and it serves as functional décor, helping direct layout and flow. Rental furniture specialists are on top of the latest trends, materials, and what’s next in this arena, so read on and see what’s hot in rentals, and what everyone will be talking about next year. Trends. Clean looks, versatility, and flexibility are the three big trends in rentals right now. Oftentimes the best solution for clients and designers is just keeping it simple. “The trend now is a very clean look. Nothing too funky or creative, just clean and crisp, very white. Everyone wants that clean, modern look, especially for corporate events,” says Vanessa Cancilla, general manager at RentQuest. Another popular move is bringing outdoor furniture inside, and vice versa. “In is out and out is in as a design concept. A lot of people are leveraging outdoor furniture indoors with natural organic materials like wicker. When you use it indoors it can become a theme—it adds an element of surprise, you’re not expecting it so you notice it,” says Awny Khashoggi, creative director at Unique Option. Khashoggi says 30 percent of Unique Options’ rentals this year have been for outdoor furniture for indoor use. Rental furnishings that are flexible and can be easily reconfigured (such as ottomans) are functional and chic, according to Cort director of product development Kevin Dana. “Ottomans are good value seating, and we are expanding our ottoman collection into different shapes and configurations, from serpentines to squares. People are looking for more value, and we’re focusing on products with functionality,” Dana says. Green. Rental companies are doing their best to keep green options on designers’ radar screens. “It’s something designers like to see because it’s very pricey to custom-build things,” Cancilla says. Materials like bamboo are very natural looking, while eco-friendly polyurethane can provide a more unique look and feel. “The little things really do matter, like the vegetable soy foam in our Marrakesh sofa and chairs. As we develop new products, we’re trying to do as much we can to include sustainable and recyclable materials,” Dana says. Up Ahead. Khashoggi says the event design world is heading toward the use of electronic graphic presentation as the main form of theme delivery, and furniture will reflect that. “You’ll see themes delivered electronically through plasmas and screens, while furniture becomes a functional complement to that theme. Media, furniture, and lighting are the tripod of the future of event design,” Khashoggi says. But using rental furnishings as another creative tool in your design arsenal is the best way to go. “It’s important to always be unique. There are so many events going on out there and everybody wants to be noticed, so it’s important to come up with your own ideas and make it your own,” Cancilla says.
Main Office: 10 Norden Place Norwalk, CT 06855 Tel. (203) 854-6730 Fax (203) 854-6735 © 2010 Red 7 Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Contact Us