Decorating Trends: What We Love Right Now

May 20, 2016
Ready to give your home an easy update? Start with one of the decorating trends we are in love with right now -- both the ones still going strong even though they've been around for awhile, and the up-and-coming ideas you'll want to embrace now to solidify your status as a trendy maven of decor.
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Blue, Blue, Blue

This classic hue is experiencing quite the renaissance, in shades ranging from sky to indigo to teal, and sometimes all in one space. Since it's timeless, you won't tire of it quickly and it plays well with other colors: coral, yellow, green. Need we say more?

 

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How to Approach Trends

Not so sure trends are for you?

Designer and color consultant Khristian A. Howell explains how to best approach trends if you're on the fence.

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Pop Art Prints

Make a statement with bold and beautiful pop art prints. Oversize polka dots, swirling abstract patterns, and simple squares create playful contemporary contrast in an otherwise serious space.

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Modern Pastels

Muted hues, whether periwinkle, soft pink, or powder blue, have ditched their cutesy connotation. Fashion a happy haven by mixing multiple pastels in furniture, accents, and artwork for a monochromatic effect.

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Global Influence

Worldly patterns, materials, and color schemes let you travel abroad without leaving your home. Fluffy boucherouite rugs, beautiful hand-dyed tapestries, and intricate chinoiserie fabrics fill today's international-inspired spaces.

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Cozy Copper

As metallic trends continue to evolve, copper has won fan favorite. The superstar finish features a warmer reddish hue than gold, making it a top choice for light fixtures, appliances, and accessories. Incorporate the metal in small doses with cabinetry hardware, or make a full-on sparkle statement with a shining pendant. 

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Quatrefoil

It seems there's a new chevron in town. When it comes to home patterns, quatrefoil reigns supreme. The cloverlike design easily incorporates into modern and traditional decor styles, plus it adds a punch of elegance that doesn't overwhelm.

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Black Trim

Windows and woodwork have never looked better. Highlight trim with black paint, rather than traditional white, to create bold contrast with light walls. Try a high-gloss finish for a fashionable focal point.

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Titans of Industry

Pullies, carts, bins, and big wheels, oh my! Industrial accents are everywhere and lend a vintage-urban feel to a space. And flea markets and antique stores aren't your only source for these goods. Plenty of home retailers are embracing the trend, so you're apt to find new-old items at your favorite haunts. 

 

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Edison Bulbs

Who knew Thomas Edison wouldn't only be revolutionizing the world with his incandesent bulbs, but that he'd be starting a design trend over a 130 years later? The throwback look of these lightbulbs plays well with the industrial and farmhouse trends. 

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Down on the Farm

Want a softer approach to yesteryear that's just as trendy as industrial? Go farmhouse. Now, if farmhouse conjures up images of chickens and geese, and that's not your thing, the new look of farmhouse offers something different. It's still rustic and charming, but with a little more flair: think displays of white enamelware and handsome harvest tables.

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Gallery Walls

What do we love best about this trend? How a wall of personally picked art, photos, and frames will make a space instantly feel like yours. Watch and see how to perfect the art of the gallery wall.

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Statement Rugs

Ceilings have long been called the "fifth wall", as in, "don't just paint me white, I'm important too!" And now, in the same way, floors are refusing to be ignored. Their eye-catching tactic? Attention-commanding statement rugs in fun colors and unique patterns. Might we be calling the floor the "sixth wall" in the future? No matter what your answer, statement rugs are still a worthy investment.

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Wood Grain

Go with the grain on this trend and embrace the natural look of wood. The design is popping up on everything from furniture to accessories, and sometimes the look is au naturel, and other times it leans more stylized, think faux bois. Bonus if the item has a textured grain, not just the design.

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Jewel Tones

Think of these as magenta and turquoise's older, more sophisticated sister. They pack the same visual vibrancy, but in a more elegant fashion. Pair one or two with an equally rich gray and you're on your way to the poshest of palettes. 

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Pour a Little Wine

In the same vein, splashy, bright color has elicited a "yes, please!" for quite some time. But you only have to look to Pantone's Color of the Year, Marsala, to see the beat turning to a more subdued rhythm. The beauty of this hue is its inherent ability to be two things at once: eye-catching, like its predecessors, Radiant Orchid and Emerald, while signaling a shift to warmer, sophisticated notes. And that's a tune we'll love to sing.

 

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Find Your Marbles

In the pattern department, marbleize motifs are joining the ranks of tribal prints, ikat, and wide stripes (more on those later). The flowing pattern is a softer alternative to hardline geometrics and often incorporates several colors, making it ideal for eye-catching artwork and fabrics.

 

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Watercolor

The airy, fluid feel of watercolor isn't limited to just paintings. You'll find the pattern on a variety of home decor staples -- from fabric to accessories. But you can also capture the look with your own hand. And you don't need to be a fine artist to do so. Watch and see how to create the look with this simple sponge painting technique. 

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Black & White

This duo is not brand new, in fact, you might even call it a classic. The tried-and-trues have a way of ebbing and flowing over time, and right now the current is strong for black-and-white. Making the pair look up-to-date is as easy as using assertive and large scale patterns. 

 

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Tribal Prints

Credit: DAVID TSAY PHOTOGRAPHY © 2015 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED NO REPRODUCTION WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT

Usually geometric in styling, tribal prints embrace angular motifs in a more traditional way. They often appear in muted, earthy tones. Try out the look on a rug, pillow, or tapestry in a traditional space.

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Dark Walls

Yes, it's strong, and yes, it can be a little intimidating. But dark walls are a challenge we accept. If you're with us, go to the next slide for fab tips on how to make dark walls sing.

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Dark Walls: Get It Right

Here's the inside scoop on how to decorate with dark walls.

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Terrariums & Indoor Gardens

Embrace nature indoors with a terrarium. Whether you have a green thumb or a black one (it's okay, gardening isn't for everyone), terrariums are a simple way to bring this trend to err...life.  

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Cut Wood Ends

If you want to steer clear of living plants, introduce nature a different way with cut log or branch ends (a variation on the wood grain trend). We love how this motif embellishes and elevates even the most basic of accessories. 

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Wide Stripes

Nodding to nautical influences, wide stripes are a pattern of substance. They can serve as a counterbalance to more delicate prints in rooms dressed in cottage or casual-traditional style with ease. Try the pattern on upholstery, pillows, curtains, walls, rugs, and more!

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Mixed-Materials Furniture

Sometimes one material isn't enough and it takes two to make a thing go right. Case in point: furniture pieces that are fabricated with multiple materials. These blends elevate the ordinary and give basic pieces an edge. We love the gold x-base and wood top of this handsome desk.

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Still Loving: Nailhead Trim

Yes, it's probably about as old as upholstered furniture iteslf, but we just can't get enough nailhead trim. It's making its mark in small and big ways (hello, statement oversized nailheads) and in simple applications to intricate patterns on drawer fronts. Plus, it's a trend you can DIY, which bring us to...

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Try It: Nailhead Trim

Bring a trendy edge to a piece of furniture you already own by adding nailhead trim. See how easy it is!

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Still Loving: Gray

Our love affair with gray shows no signs of cooling off. And if you haven't put away the notion that all grays are cold and give off a chill, we highly encourage you to do so! Warm grays -- those with yellow or reddish undertones -- are the neutral of the moment and are as versatile as they are trendy. If you have beige or tan walls, switching to warm gray walls is easy yet impactful. The shades are distant cousins, and finding a hue that works with your existing furnishings is a cinch.

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Still Loving: Gold and Brass