imm cologne ushered in the new interiors year in January, and the sector was able to take away a real sense of optimism for spring. It seems like it was only yesterday that we were snuggling up under blankets on the sofa, and now we are getting the garden furniture out.

The outdoor living trend is, quite naturally, a source of inspiration in the garden sector, which will gather for spoga+gafa, its leading trade fair, in Cologne in the autumn. But outdoor living is also inspiring the development of new furniture concepts beyond the garden. Trend scouts at imm cologne met forward-thinking manufacturers who presented classic furniture in fresh colours and weatherproof materials for the season when everything moves outside.

It is not just in warm, Mediterranean Europe, the courtyards of Shanghai or the street cafés of San Francisco that the city would be unimaginable without street life and its tables, chairs, benches and stools – this is now just as true for German urban centres. But the positive mood in Cologne certainly does not depend on good weather.

The success of the latest edition of the trade fair duo imm cologne/LivingInteriors was not only further proof that the international interiors show has become the most important event for the entire sector in Europe – it also demonstrated the strength of its growing global connections, as can be seen in the profile of its visitors and the media attention it attracts. It has become an integral part of LivingKitchen to enjoy the experience with good food and performances by international chefs. As a result, an entire industry and the public, too, are waiting for their next chance to see the latest trends from the world of kitchens, which will be presented in Cologne in 2017.

But if one word sums up the Cologne event in recent years, it is "inspiration": the emerging trends and conceptual developments showcased here have a palpable influence on the design market across the world. imm cologne is increasingly establishing itself as an international platform for both business and cutting-edge design – a rare and highly attractive combination that is set to be highly influential in the long run.

Take a look at our e-magazine visions and discover design and product trends, new hues, innovative concepts and attractive interior design – coming soon to Cologne, if they are not here already.

Cosiness also remained very popular at imm cologne 2016. Everywhere in the halls, sofas and armchairs could be seen, where one just wanted to immediately snuggle up. And so could stands which had been decorated with loving attention to detail and which invited you to stay and linger awhile. This trend was also evident in an increased presence of mid-century-style retro chic with its velvety and decorative fabrics and – often modern – use of solid wood.

On the other hand, however, the urbanisation trend also spread. Furniture is becoming smaller, lighter, in fact almost floating. It is easy to transport and cuts a fine figure in every living environment, regardless of where the owner is drawn to.

The fact that flexibility and individuality are also in demand in the urbanisation trend was demonstrated very clearly by the exhibitors at Europe’s largest interior design fair. A free choice of colour is as standard as are multifunctionality and made-to-measure products. However, even reducing furniture to the bare essentials doesn’t mean that compromises in cosiness can be made. This desire for cosiness is addressed by small, harmoniously appointed accessories and the storage options provided for them.

For all planners, who are looking for new inspiration and experienced partners for their contract and interior projects, imm cologne offers a diverse range of services. Countless exhibitors will present ready-for-the-market novelties for furnishing hotels, spas, bars and restaurants, shops and other buildings. Specialised suppliers for high order quantities and tailor-made quality will present their competence and experience at the international interiors show. In addition to individual consultation, they offer innovative solutions and the development of holistic concepts. Furthermore, under the keyword "Customizing", products are adapted to meet specific usage demands or own drafts are realised by architects and interior designers.

Architects, interior designers, building furnishers and other planners are already granted an overview of the novelties and trends in the contract business in the run-up to the international furnishing trade fair: The news blog of imm cologne as well as the trend letter Architecture deliver up-to-date information and inspiration.

"Customizing is often decisive in the free forms planned by us. We are in contact with companies all year round in order to find the right products or to adapt our projects with special solutions and enhance these further with individual objects. imm cologne is an important element in this permanent exchange, because it allows a general overview of the current developments and ideally about their possible suitability for our concrete demands."

Jürgen Mayer H. J. MAYER H. und Partner (Germany)

"For us as designers, the openness of the manufacturing companies regarding the individual adaptations within a certain palette of products is without doubt one of the most interesting developments. This enables adaptability and intelligent interface solutions. We evaluate the existing offers at imm cologne with a view to the needs of planners very positively."

Graft (Germany, USA, China)

Wherever kitchen and living room become one, a clear design vocabulary is needed. And wherever puristic, straightforward design is sought, there should be no handles, because highlighting single elements interferes with an unobstructed look at the whole. Following on from the kitchen furniture companies, the appliance manufacturers have taken up this trend and are now presenting complete ensembles of appliances, which dispense with handles and so integrate, flush-mounted, into the furniture fronts.

In terms of colours also, the kitchen manufacturers place value on the picture as a whole and offer a colour palette to support the overall harmonious design of the home. Particularly sought after at present are subtle grey tones and materials such as silver oak and concrete.

The innovations in the field of the smart home can also be considered another key topic in the kitchen world. It is nowadays almost standard for the contents of a fridge to be displayed on a smartphone, for dishwashers to calculate which programme to use based on their content or for ovens to decide the ideal point at which the food is done.

The extent to which current trends in interior design in the different living areas and the kitchen complement each other can be very visibly witnessed at the trade fair duo of imm cologne and LivingKitchen in January 2017.

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LivingKitchen has established itself worldwide as the central meeting point for the kitchen industry. Every two years, national and international exhibitors capture the imagination at the trade fair for kitchens, appliances and accessories with the latest trends and exciting options for the kitchen as a living space. Together with imm cologne, LivingInteriors offers a comprehensive and innovatively staged picture of the various different segments of interior design.

LivingKitchen takes place co-located with imm cologne from 16–22 January 2017.

Further information: www.livingkitchen-cologne.com

Who would have thought that design could tell such amazing stories? In the Featured Editions special exhibition at imm cologne 2016, chairs became trapeze artists, objects for play, rolling around on the floor, and elements with a crystalline structure. The furniture staged at the exhibition reflected an openness to permanent change – changes to space, as well as in the use of furniture and how we perceive it. Still other installations invited us on a journey through the world, one in which furniture is still made by human hands.

Featured Editions was one of the highlights of the Pure Editions exhibition format (in Halls 3.2 and 2.2) at imm cologne 2016. With this expansion of the Pure design segment, imm cologne established a gallery-like platform for visionary interiors and furniture concepts from providers of state-of-the-art design. To complement their product and brand presentations within the open-stage format of Pure Editions, exhibitors had the opportunity to apply to the special exhibition, Featured Editions with their presentation concept. A condition of participation was the collaboration with a designer, architect, artist or graphic designer.

The best example of the principle of pleasure in staging was the submission from Italian manufacturer Pedrali, whose Nemea chair and armchair was staged by the designer trio Cazzaniga Mandelli Pagliarulo as protagonists in a circus arena: as an acrobat on a trapeze and as a marvelling spectator, the furniture reflected surprisingly human characteristics. The Kaleidoskop installation, which secured conmoto their place on the Featured Editions stage, was more of a play on human perception than on imagination: here, designer Pascal Bosetti placed a chair in the middle of six triangular, mirrored steles, thereby producing a kaleidoscopic effect. Through the reflections, the chair appeared fragmented, and details were accentuated or multiplied. This effect compelled visitors passing by to perceive the chair from ever-changing perspectives.

This year’s participants were Alias, with a design by Alfredo Häberli, Ames (design: Sebastian Herkner), Cappellini (Giulio Cappellini), conmoto (Pascal Bosetti), E15, Fatboy, Mitja (Redesign), Pedrali (Cazzaniga Mandelli Pagliarulo), Pulpo (Sebastian Herkner), Roomsafari (Christine Nogtev), Sankt Johanser (Hubert and Matthias Sanktjohanser), Vitra (Dieter Thiel), Zanat (Emir Salkic) and Zeitraum (Kaschkasch).

How do you turn a sofa into a fashionable eye-catching piece? What gives a room that special warmth? And what exactly do you need to be sitting on to get the cosiness levels just right? Textiles for furniture, upholstery, walls and windows are to living decor what clothes are to skin. They form the surfaces, create the contacts and appeal to all of our senses. That’s why every two years, at imm cologne, textiles have their own event to re-emphasise their importance within furnishing trend development.

With the individual presentation of textiles at the international furnishing fair in Cologne, the top editors at Pure Textile want to present strong and decorative elements and features. Once again in 2017, Pure Textile, an exceptional format for an exceptional selection, offers beautiful upholstery fabrics and exclusive textiles for all interior design requirements.

After its outstandingly successful introduction in 2011, the event, which takes place every two years, has become an integral part of imm cologne. It has found a permanent home in Hall 3.2. Here with its integration in the Pure segment, the complimentary range that is so important for the furniture industry finds precisely the exclusive neighbourhood that the fabric brands are looking for.

Together, on a generous surface in the Pure section, they represent the diversity of decorative fabrics, which are becoming increasingly more important for the interior design context of exclusive furniture. Within the sophisticated, harmonious fair architecture of Pure Textile, they will present their ranges and new products at individually designed stands in an engaging and attractive atmosphere.

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