FLANDERS Flooring Days, the capital of the Belgian and international flooring sector, will take place from 2-5 June 2025.

This fourth FFD will feature an exclusive keynote by trend analyst and zeitgeist expert Christine Boland. With 30 years’ experience in exploring what drives societal change and its influence on design, Christine has an inspiring tale to tell about how interiors and interior design evolve in a transforming world.

How does the spirit of the times impact interior design decisions? Christine has been studying this question for the last three decades. Using her analyses, she explains what drives consumer behaviour and trends and works with businesses to translate opportunities into concrete actions.

‘When you understand the zeitgeist, you can also understand the consumer’s design decisions,’ she explains. According to Christine, there are three timeless factors that drive us when it comes to making interior design decisions: a need for permanency, meaning, and belonging.

Need for permanency
We’re living through a chaotic era of crisis, confusion and conflict. Christine sees how interior design responds to this dynamic: ‘There is a growing need for comfort – for tactile, organic forms that give us a feeling of safety and security.’ She talks about ‘healing aesthetics’: an interior design is a healing force that offers permanency and creates a safe environment.

To put this into practice, and awaken these feelings for the consumer, Christine emphasises the importance of our senses. She notes the soaring popularity of warm, earthy colours such as terracotta and sand tints. And the tactile experience of our flooring is equally important – now more than ever.

Christine talks about the combination of hard and soft materials; for example, ceramic parquet with a wool floorcovering or soft rug. She also sees noise-absorbing materials being used more and more often, as a sort of balm for the senses. ‘These are subtle modifications that give people the balance and permanency that they are so thirsty for.’

In search of meaning
The search for meaning has long been a universal driver for consumers. As a trend expert, Christine has observed we often find our meaning from brands and organisations that reflect our own values and convictions. Sustainability is by far the strongest example for today’s world: ‘Companies that fail to pay attention to sustainability are missing the boat and losing their relevance,’ warns Christine. “It’s an issue that is just so important for public opinion.’

This shift can be clearly seen in the flooring sector, where natural materials and traditional patterns are steadily growing in popularity. Recycled materials are particularly of interest, since not only are they environmentally friendly: they can also be used to create unique designs and patterns. By contrast, attempts to replicate nature are no longer acceptable to today’s discerning consumer – who recognises the difference between authenticity and imitation immediately, says Christine.

The search for belonging
The third fundamental need that drives us is the deep-seated desire to belong somewhere. People seek out light, airy elements as a counterbalance to the weight of the world. Christine encourages designers and manufacturers to translate this into feel-good designs.

She’s found small, playful details are all that’s needed. For example, a single blue thread standing out in a floorcovering or an unexpected speck in a tile to add a cheerful twist to the overall design.
Are you keen to learn more about how you can translate current trends and the zeitgeist in to concrete actions? Christine Boland will share her insights at the upcoming Flanders Flooring Days on Thursday 5 June, and her presentation is a must for anyone who wants to understand more about the future of interior design and the role of hard and soft flooring, textile floorcoverings, and other related products.
www.flandersflooringdays.com