Many of the ways we decorate our homes are based on timeless, classic standards of design, but we all know that it is also fun to keep up with the latest trends and refresh the looks of some of our rooms on an annual or even seasonal basis. Over the past few years people have spent more time in their homes, and we have changed the way we use some of our spaces, from adding in-home gyms to converting bedrooms to offices. With more time spent at home you may feel more inclined to change up the decor on a frequent basis. With that in mind, here are looks that are heading out of style, and others that are becoming more and more popular. Of course, we always recommend that you take these tips with a grain of salt and still stick with your own personal tastes and preferences. If you love it, that’s all that really matters!
A Different Shade of Neutrals
Some overly neutral spaces are on the way out according to many top designers. For a few years, all-white or all-gray color schemes throughout the home have been all the rage, and the all-white kitchen has been at the top of the popularity pile. White and gray shades are decreasing in popularity, especially when it comes to paint, cabinets and textiles. Does this mean that bright colors are taking their place? Not necessarily. Many people are still very attached to the trend of decorating with neutrals, but the color palette is evolving. Creams, tans and earthier colors are showing up more and more and are replacing those whites and grays.
Why the change? Some design experts believe this may be the result of all the time we are spending at home now. We are putting more wear and tear on our homes and all-white everything doesn’t hold up to the increased use and traffic, especially in homes with kids and pets. All the time spent at home may also make people feel more comfortable letting their personalities spill out into their surroundings more. We want our surroundings to feel cozier, while also being more durable. This feeling comes across better with warmer neutrals. Chocolate brown is taking the place of gray, and green is also showing up in more and more homes.
The End of Shiplap?
Many design experts are predicting that our obsession with shiplap may be close to running its course. Like many things that skyrocket in popularity, shiplap is starting to feel overdone. If you love it though, you may simply want to look for newer, more creative ways to use it. In some rooms this may mean choosing one wall to cover entirely in shiplap, up to the ceiling. Or it could mean going for a wider plank than the narrow slats we are accustomed to. These tips are great if you are just now in the midst of a renovation, but what about the shiplap you already have? Should you remove it completely if you are starting to get tired of it? That’s up to you, but know that there are ways to update the look without redoing the entire room. Sometimes painting your shiplap will shake up the appearance enough or you to feel like you’ve made a major update to your space.
Rethinking Accent Walls
Possibly a reaction to the all white and gray color schemes that have been popular for the last severals years, accent walls were seen as a way to add a pop of color and personality to an otherwise neutral, and some would say blah, room. It became common to paint one wall in a bright color, or coat it in a wallpaper with a vivid design, such as geometric patterns or florals. But as we stray away from the all-white look, an accent wall is no long needed according to many experts. To many people, an accent wall makes a room look unfinished. Maybe now is the time to consider wallpapering all of the walls in a room, or taking the brighter colored paint on your accent wall and finishing the remainder of the room with it. Believe it or not, some designers are even suggesting that you move from accent walls to accent ceilings, either by painting your ceiling in a bright or contracting color to the rest of the room, or using wallpaper.
Matching Furniture Sets
You can’t beat how easy it is to purchase all of the furnishings for a room as a package deal at one big box retailers. Designers are moving away from the look of all matching furniture lately though, opting instead to place a variety of pieces in a room. The good news is that many retailers that have previously sold these matching sets are now allowing customers to mix and match and “build their own” rooms so that they still receive a discount for purchasing multiple pieces. According to experts, this is an evolution of the furniture business, as they follow the trends.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that you shouldn’t have anything that matches in a room, or that every piece should be vastly different from the others. Perhaps you use a matching set of arm chairs alongside a sofa of a different color and style. Or in a bedroom, you might purchase matching nightstands but a completely different dresser and headboard. What’s important is that the pieces work well together so that the room still looks tied together.
The Return of the Dining Room
It’s possible that some of you didn’t realize dining rooms went away in the first place, but they did see a decrease in popularity over the last several years. Many people realized that they did not use the rooms as much as they felt they should in order to justify the unused space and expense of seldom used furniture. These rooms largely became flex spaces, with some converted to home offices, dens, playrooms, and anything else that a family might deem more necessary than a formal dining room.
The open floor plans that have been so popular for several decades often include a substantial eat-in area within the kitchen, and many people have embraced the trend toward large kitchen islands with bar stools that allow for expanded seating when guests arrive for dinner. But houses are now being built with more walls and closed off rooms again, and the formal dining room is now making a comeback. Builders are seeing requests for dining rooms to remain dining rooms rather than flex spaces, especially here in the South.
Bright Colors and Patterns
As more and more people reject the all-white and all-gray neutrals that are waning in popularity, they have to replace those colors with something. The tendency now is for people to turn to brighter colors, shades that might have been a little scary to commit to just a few years ago. The great thing about bringing bright colors into a room is that you don’t necessarily need to invest in a major paining project. Artwork and textiles such as curtains, blankets and pillows can be added to any neutral room, in bright an eye catching shades that turn a room from neutral and boring to interesting and exciting in just a few minutes. Bright yellow is one of the most popular colors people are turning to, but darker colors are also gaining popularity, such as vibrant blues, greens and even black. Patterns are also rising in popularity, and at the top of the list is plaid.
Wallpaper
Design experts have predicted the return of wallpaper for a few years now, and they appear to be right about the growing appeal. Some people were initially hesitant to commit to wallpaper instead of paint, but the newer varieties make it easy to choose paper. Today’s wallpaper usually employs a simple peel and stick method for installation, and it can be removed with much less effort than the wallpaper your parents grew up with. People use to look at wallpaper as a lifetime commitment, or at least a commitment that would last as long as they stayed in their current home. The patterns available in wallpaper these days are also updated and available in many exciting varieties. This goes hand in hand with the trend toward brighter patterns and colors. Small geometric designs are particularly popular with designers, and also the trend toward using wallpaper in unexpected locations. You might first think about trying wallpaper in a small room, like a powder room. However, interior designers are going ahead and using it in larger rooms like bedrooms and even common areas like kitchens and living rooms.