• The growing trend towards individual style extends to floor design
• New concept: Competition for interior decorators addresses keynote theme

Hannover. The desire to be different, to express one's individuality at many levels is one of the big contemporary trends. This trend is particularly evident in interior design. Dr. Andreas Gruchow, member of the Board at Deutsche Messe AG, explains: "People pursue the aim of self-realization by creating their own individual style, and this is especially evident within their own homes. That is why we are calling the central theme of DOMOTEX 2012 Customized Living." The international floor covering sector will gather from 14 to 17 January 2012 to showcase design trends in carpets, home textiles, resilient floor coverings, parquet and laminates in an exciting display that embodies this keynote theme.

"Carpets and floor coverings offer almost unlimited design opportunities", says Gruchow. "Today, customers not only have a wide choice of materials, colours and designs - they can also find more companies offering customized products. The customer has a greater say in colour and design now, and this leads to the creation of unique flooring that matches the personal lifestyle and tastes of the client."

Customized Living is a concept that can be applied to every product segment represented at DOMOTEX. The design options are endless - silk or wool, traditional patterns or futuristic modern design, vibrant colours or subtle hues, modern carpets woven to customer specifications or carpets and carpet tiles arrayed in different colour combinations and shapes. It is easier than ever to achieve an individual, stylish effect. Laminate flooring, designer vinyls and other modern materials also lend themselves to a wide range of styles. Similarly, wood, stone, ceramic and cork floors are attractive and versatile. New materials and products open up a host of imaginative and daring solutions, while parquet flooring remains hugely popular and versatile. No wooden floor is identical - the wide choice of different woods, colours and types of wooden flooring allows for unusual combinations and designs that suit diverse styles and enable the realization of original, customized directions in interior design.

New concept: Interior decorator competition addresses the trade show's core theme

The European Trade Competition of Interior Decorators will take place in conjunction with DOMOTEX on 14-15 January 2012 in Hannover.

The content of the two-day event, which trade fair visitors are free to attend, focuses on design solutions for different rooms and areas of the home. The competition addresses the core theme of DOMOTEX. For the first time the task involves creating room settings that best reflect individual lifestyles. The gamut of styles ranges from stylish elegance to youthful chic. In addition to fulfilling the necessary technical skills, the competitors must also have a good instinct for design trends and style. It is therefore not surprising that the competition is turning into an important showplace for trends and originality. It poses a real challenge to the young participants, who must prove their creativity and professional skills under difficult circumstances, not only having to convince the judges but also having to perform under the scutiny of an audience of peers and professionals.

As in the past, the participants are the two best interior decorators of their year from Switzerland, Germany, Austria and South Tirol. The contestants must have completed their apprenticeship within the last year and not exceed the permitted age limit of 25 years.