What's Hot & What's Not

In Home Decor

Though we are half way through the year of 2009, the decorating do's and don'ts remain a popular topic among many of our readers. Professional trend watchers do it to make a living, but most people just want to know what's hot, what's not, and the decorating do's and don'ts.

Number one on our list is taking more risk with interior colors. More color in richer tones, larger scaled art, mixing materials. We know these aren't new ideas, but with a little imagination you can make a statement in any room.

Eco-friendly products remain strong with today's consumers. Materials such as bamboo, grasses, subtle organic patterns of plants or water themes, cooler restful use of greens, blues, lavenders, along with the use of colored glass as an accent. Eco-friendly style isn't going anywhere but it will get more luxurious with high-end items getting the "green light."

Details - Patterns - A Mix. It seems we have been neutral for too long. The meshing of different styles, color, patterns and personal expression begins to enhance many homes. Using rich varieties of textures in fabrics, mixing wood grains, painted finishes, metal finishes have given us the freedom to break away from "matchy" - "match". Originality is back. A sense of modern meets tradition.

Better Use of Proportions in a Room. Playing up architectural features, varying heights of lamps and key furniture pieces. Instilling minimalist design with clean, yet warm, uncluttered and meaningful furnishings. Gone are the days where we believe more is better. Clients are focused on value and beauty with a flair of simplicity.

Dimensional art and framed objects. Wall decor remains a relatively low-cost way to change or refresh the look and feel of a space. Imagine replacing a dull, worn-out picture with a vibrant, exquisite framed piece of art ~ an instant face-lift to any room.

Hot Color Trends. Nature, the economy and fashion plays a role in what colors dictate the current trend for home decor. Today, we are seeing the use of:

• red, but not the bright fire engine red. Instead the hues are of rich brown-red paired with earthy tones of brown, green or gold.
• purple - but soft heather purples balanced with creamy off-whites.
• slate and coral - be bold with fiery coral, cooled by slate grey and arctic white; this scheme is as modern as they come.
• earthy shades such as browns, tobacco, taupe remain strong.
• greens are still in the palette. The hues of green are raw and nature-inspired.
• black & white - a timeless color scheme that many are turning to.

With all of these choices, just about anyone can find a trend that suits their personal style and way of living. Remember, home decor can be as individual as you are.