Interior Design in Turkey

Given Turkey's booming construction industry, this has also had a positive impact on design services.

Türkiye Interior Designers

The Turkish construction industry has recently experienced a huge boom. With more and more new buildings appearing every year, it has also had a positive impact on design services and has led to the emergence of innovative, original and creative interior designers across Turkey.

 When we think of traditional Turkish design, many people think of Ottoman era luxury furniture and ornate fabrics, full of exoticism. Over the years, the country's creative industries have not heeded their own traditional designs, instead looking to the West for inspiration.

But in recent years, Turkey has established itself and launched the careers of some up-and-coming stars in the interior design world.

Zeynep Fadillioglu of ZF Design is one of the leading interior designers in Turkey. In 2009, she became the first woman to design a mosque. While studying in London, she recognized her heritage of traditional Turkish textiles and objects, which she incorporated into her most contemporary designs.
Her work incorporates traditional materials, colours, textiles as well as texture and style, but with a contemporary twist, all while having a distinctly Turkish influence.

In addition to designing for many others, Fadillioglu has released a line of products for people to buy to add a touch of quality design to their own home. Her beautiful work has been featured in many prestigious international news publications including Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, The Sunday Times, Elle Décor and The New York Times.

Traditional Design

Turkey is world famous for its rugs, but now designers are finding ways to update this traditional favorite to appeal to increasingly discerning buyers. Umut Demirel Design Studio swapped the rug's somewhat dated and intricate patterns for more modern geometric patterns. Crafted from wool and dyed in a natural colour, these pieces are cut and then freely assembled from ten interchangeable pieces to create a modular design.

Turks love tea, which is an important part of everyday life and culture. Ceren Basgoze, co-founder of LaBtasarim Studio (LAB), has capitalized on this popular pastime to create modern coffee tables, many of which are reclaimed from antique materials. The LAB approach to design often uses a variety of materials, old and new, to create designs that resonate with people. LAB believes that every design should tell a story and integrate into our lives.

Many traditional Turkish designs use mosaic techniques. Industrial designer Sule Koc replaced traditional rectangular, square and round pieces with oval pieces, mostly made of natural stone, to create complex yet simple designs.

Cultural Influence

Many traditional homes feature wooden furniture with gold trim, but there are also many very modern homes that make extensive use of glass and more industrial materials.

But whether a home is traditional or modern, the way people live and interact with their families, as well as cultural influences, have a direct impact on home design.

Turks love to entertain and invite friends, so in many homes the sofa is a real feature for entertaining guests. A large table and chairs are also needed to entertain guests during dinner. When traveling to Turkey, it is common to receive many dinner invitations, and Turks do not think about preparing one dish after another for their guests. The Turks are the most hospitable people in the world and their homeland reflects this love of fun.

Future

A turning point in the history of Turkish design came in 2010 when Istanbul was named European Capital of Culture. It is dominated by young people and is the perfect environment for modern design to flourish.

There is a growing demand for high-quality interior design in Turkey, and the future of the industry seems to be in great demand. Autoban, one of the most influential design firms in recent years, was founded in 2003 by Seyhan Ozdemir and Sefer Caglar. Not only has Autoban been successful in Turkey, it has also designed an airport in Azerbaijan and three restaurants in London.

Autoban expects future design styles to be influenced by the large number of artisans and skilled artisans in and around Istanbul and other Turkish regions.

Using traditional materials and techniques, but in a very contemporary way, will appeal to the mostly young, fashion-conscious crowd enjoying Turkey's financial growth.

Interior Design Trends

Predictions from Turkish interior design company diseno:

Painted Walls - Transitions from light main colors to soft pastel colors and pastel shades of red, blue and pink.

National Identity – Designers incorporate traditional themes into their pieces to reflect the country’s heritage. This includes the generous use of materials such as copper, gold and intricate patterns on rugs or traditional tiles.

Ottoman-inspired design – While this design style is renowned in other parts of the world, it is not prevalent in its native Turkey. Predictions say this will change and become a megatrend.

Top Names in Design

Do you want designer pieces for your home? You don't have to look anywhere else but Turkey to find these inspiring design companies:

Office Furniture - Nurus prides itself on developing innovative and sustainable design solutions for a stylish home work environment.

Contemporary Furniture - Koleksiyon Designs headed by Faruk Malhan is able to produce a large number of furniture from its own fully automated production line. Here you will find furniture that combines modern technology with craftsmanship.

Glassware - For glassware with a contemporary twist of timeless beauty, check out the designs of Ilio, a small design team based in Istanbul.

Sustainability - Antrepo changes the way you think about design and challenges people's perceptions of the world around them. The company focuses on using recycled materials and creating sustainable pieces.

Product Design - Istanbul-based Zift takes everyday objects and furniture and transforms them to create fun, bright pieces with often surprising results. The firm also works on bespoke interior design projects.