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Loud lacquer is the high-shine interior trend to try now
Presented in a rainbow of colours on everything from furniture to accessories, this is the easiest way to add some glossy glamour to a space
China is perhaps the country most associated with glossy lacquerware, with red (the colour traditionally symbolising good luck) designs known to have been made there as far back as the 5th millennium BC. Fire-engine hues are still popular, but there’s also an international shift towards a more exuberant palette. With brands like The Lacquer Company boosting this ancient technique’s popularity, and designers increasingly drawn to its joyful sheen, expect the rainbow experimentation to continue.
‘Kiss’ armchair, Monologue
Designed by Sebastien Bergne for Pierre Frey, this cosy chair’s soft mohair upholstery makes a striking contrast with its slick, lipstick-red lacquered side panels. £6,300, monologuelondon.com
‘Bobbin’ mirror, Glassette
Bertola Home Studio’s cheery ‘Bobbin’ mirror comes in a range of different shapes, sizes and colours, but we were drawn to this perfectly round crimson version. Glossy and highly tactile, it’s the perfect finishing touch for a hallway or bedroom. From £55, glassette.com
‘Explorer’ dining table, Mohd
With its smooth curves and liquid finish, Jaime Hayon’s sculptural dining table for BD Barcelona will command attention in any space. Balancing form and function beautifully, the lacquered surface has a delicate feel yet is surprisingly resilient. £5,206, mohd.it
‘Gustave’ table lamp, Skandium
Vincent Van Duysen’s famous table lamp for Flos is an easy way to inject some high-shine into a scheme. Portable and available in plenty of colours, this apple green version shows off the lacquered finish particularly well. £335, skandium.com
‘Ripple’ box, Jonathan Adler
Want an easy way to try the trend? Jonathan Adler’s series of high-gloss storage boxes is just the thing. The wavy edge and punchy two-tone palette will bring a pop of colour to a shelf, mantlepiece or coffee table - while keeping clutter nice and tidy. From £105, uk.jonathanadler.com
‘Jylia’ chair, Armani Casa
This elegantly curved dining chair comes in an almost infinite variety of material and colour combinations, but this punchy Klein blue is the perfect shade to show off the lacquered legs and base for maximum impact. £9,755, armani.com
‘Zig Zag’ stool, Made in Design
Known for her love of colour which is displayed in her Amsterdam home, actress Carice Van Houten designed this limited edition version of Pols Potten’s ‘Zig Zag’ stool. Each piece is crafted in Vietnam with 12 layers of lacquer applied by hand and individually polished to create a super high shine finish. £396, madeindesign.co.uk
‘Pilotis’ side table, Minotti
The solid, geometric form of Rodolfo Dordoni’s ‘Pilotis’ side table for Minotti takes its name from one of the architectural elements of Rationalism, referring to the sender columns on which buildings would rest. The table can be finished in Chestnut- or Malachite-coloured lacquer. £1,674, minotti.com
‘Mildred’ candlestick, Pooky
With its polished lacquer finish and angular profile, Pooky’s ‘Mildred’ candlestick is just the thing for pepping up a quiet corner. From £35, pooky.com
‘Rainbow’ tray, Matilda Goad
The perfect tool for capturing coffee table clutter or serving cocktails, Matilda Goad’s cheerful handcrafted rainbow wheel tray will brighten up any scheme. From £300, matildagoad.com
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