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Livingetc’s SS27 Style Pulse report describes the “decorative gesture”: a single ornamental detail that adds contrast to a contemporary interior. Designers quoted in the report say that accents such as tassels, fringe or an ornate handle can make a room feel more personal and resolved, but the report presents these as design views, not measured outcomes.
Livingetc’s SS27 Style Pulse report identifies the “decorative gesture” as an interior design trend: adding one ornamental detail—such as a tassel, a fringe or a gilded frame—to a room with a contemporary, restrained look. The report says the small contrast can give a space more depth and personality, while designers quoted in it describe the effect as a way to make a room feel less uniform.
The examples in the report are deliberately limited in scale. A tassel attached to a light fitting, a standalone fringe on a sofa or an ornate brass handle against veined marble can introduce a traditional note without making the whole room look classically styled. Livingetc characterizes these touches as unexpected but harmonious, rather than as a call to fill rooms with ornament.
Los Angeles interior designer Ryan Saghian says he looks for a detail that challenges the elements around it. “I’ve always believed that the most interesting rooms have tension,” he says, adding that he does not want every piece to match or appear to come from the same decade. He describes the appeal as a contradiction that can make a room work.
Marisa Gutmacher, senior vice president of design at Samuel & Sons, frames the detail as a finishing element. She says a room can contain the right pieces yet still feel unresolved, and that a final flourish may add weight to an object or connect upholstery with its surroundings. The report also focuses on passementerie—decorative textile work including tassels, cords and braids—as one way to bring that detail into modern settings.
Small Details, Stronger Room Identity
The idea matters to readers who like contemporary interiors but find them too spare or visually uniform. The report suggests a single accent can create a point of contrast without requiring a full redesign or a move toward traditional furnishings. That could mean adding trim to an existing piece, choosing a distinctive light fitting or bringing in one object with a different period or material character.
It is also a case for personalization over matching. Saghian’s comments favor combinations that bring different eras and styles together, while Elizabeth Ashdown, a passementerie artist quoted in the report, says custom-made trim can be designed for a particular room. These are professional perspectives, not evidence that the approach will suit every space or raise a home’s value. The practical takeaway is more modest: a carefully chosen detail may help a room feel more individual.
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From Traditional Trim to Modern Rooms
Livingetc presents the trend in its Style Pulse for SS27, a biannual report on interior design trends for the upcoming season. Its framing responds to a broader design tension described in the article: renewed interest in traditional ornament can feel at odds with the preference some homeowners have for clean, contemporary rooms. The decorative gesture is offered as a middle ground rather than a rejection of either style.
The report’s focus on passementerie reflects that approach. Once associated mainly with traditional interiors, decorative trims are shown in more restrained applications, including a single tassel on a light or mirror. Ashdown says the craft carries centuries of skill and knowledge, and argues that its capacity for customization can give a home a personal touch. The article also cites Workstead’s Lantern Pyramid collection as an example of tassels set against minimalist forms.
““I’ve always believed that the most interesting rooms have tension.””
— Ryan Saghian, Los Angeles-based interior designer
How Widely the Look Will Catch On
The report presents a trend forecast and design examples, not survey data showing how many people are adopting the look. It does not provide sales figures, consumer research or a defined measure of the trend’s reach. The description of the style as a coming seasonal direction should therefore be understood as Livingetc’s editorial assessment.
It is also unclear which particular accents will become most common, or how well the approach will translate across different room sizes, budgets and existing furnishings. The source gives examples and expert opinions but no comparative testing showing that one decorative gesture consistently improves a room. The result will depend on the object, its placement and the rest of the interior.
Further SS27 Trend Coverage
Livingetc says the decorative-gesture feature is part of its broader SS27 Style Pulse report, which covers other design forecasts and examples. The source invites readers to explore the rest of that report; it does not announce a later launch date, event or formal industry measurement for the trend.
For now, the next step for readers interested in the approach is practical rather than scheduled: look at a room’s existing materials and furnishings, then decide whether one contrasting detail would feel intentional. The report’s examples point to small additions—trim, a tassel or an ornate fitting—rather than a full room makeover.
Key Questions
What does “decorative gesture” mean in interior design?
In Livingetc’s report, it means adding one ornamental or unexpected detail to a room that is otherwise contemporary or restrained, such as a tassel on a light or a gilded frame.
Does the trend require a traditional-style room?
No. The report describes the gesture as a way to bring ornamental detail into modern interiors without making the entire room traditional.
What is passementerie?
Passementerie is decorative textile work that includes tassels, cords, braids and trimmings. The report discusses it as one source of accents for contemporary spaces.
Is the trend proven to improve a room?
No such outcome is established in the source. The article offers designer opinions and examples, but provides no consumer study or measured comparison showing that the approach works in every room.
Source: livingetc.com
