Interior Decorating Trends

Remember the four basics of interior design – color, texture, proportion, and balance in your decorating.

Color Today’s interiors are moving away from reds, golds, and greens. They are moving into a softer palette. Browns are very popular, especially in coffee tones. There is a lot of cappuccino, latte, and espresso influence in today’s browns. Blues are also gaining in popularity. There is a move away from wedgewood blue to more of a Robin’s egg blue. Both blue and green tones are being influenced with shades of teal.

Texture Wallpaper is making a comeback in bathrooms. It adds more of a punch to a room than paint alone. Favorite wall textures include sand spray, orange peel, knockdown and skip trowel treatments. On floors, frieze is still a carpet in high demand. A tightly twisted higher pile makes this type of carpet very durable. Patterned carpets with tone on tone patterns have also claimed their own space in the home.

Proportion With soaring ceilings and walls of windows, how do you approach proportion in decorating? One way is with window treatments. Panels are very hot in window treatments because they draw the eye upward while at the same time anchoring the wall. Draw drapery is coming back, but it now rests on a decorative rod. Medallions are also being used in window treatments to hold curtain panels. Sleeker, scaled down furniture is also making it easier to bring proportion to wide open rooms.

Balance Decorating should not overwhelm a home – it should create balance. Especially in homes that have rooms open to one another, balance must be a priority.  In any home, there also needs to be a balance between what is popular in decorating and what helps to define the family. This is where accessories come into play. Accessories are still a big deal in decorating. Pictures and knick knacks bring a personal touch to the home. Items in display areas are often gifts the homeowner has received or items that the homeowner has picked out. When you incorporate personal photos into your decorating it brings family into your living and helps to define the home.

According to Bev Watson and Joy Allen, interior designers for Aspen Homes’ Parade model, the Brynwood Elevation B, architectural details in a home need to be emphasized instead of overlooked. If you pay extra to have a tray ceiling in your dining room, paint it so it pops. “Paint is your best and least expensive way to punch up a room.” said Allen, “A contrast of color can bring focus to an area, while a blending of colors will give you a warm and relaxed feel.”

When making decorating choices, be sure to let your personality shine through. Trends come and go, but a home that speaks to who you and your family are will be a welcoming place for years to come.

- 2005 -