Here’s what local design experts say to look for this year when it comes to hot home trends. Plus, learn how to add them to your décor.
1. Geo catching. Bold geometric patterns–they’re everywhere from fashion to furnishing accessories. “Let me start by saying that I love them,” exclaims David Lyall of David Lyall Home & Design (www.davidlyalldesign.com). “In fact, I love them so much that I almost did not include them on the list as a trend. However, when I decided to look at geometrics objectively, I realized that all good things come to an end at some point. Geometrics will likely be no exception. But for now, and in my opinion for many years to come, the addition of a graphic linear pattern is sort of a must-have for most spaces that want a current vibe.” The Style staff is crushing on this trend too, so it made the top of the list.
2. Go Indigo. “Another huge trend found at market is the color blue. Whether it's deep navy, indigo or sapphire, paint your walls, cover your sofa or add a grouping of lovely blue and white ginger jars to usher this trend into your home,” says Alison McIndoe of AK Interiors (alisonkinteriors.com).
"With dark navy to almost-black painted walls, this years colors will be bold and dramatic. These dark colored walls pair well with white ceilings and trim, fun bright accentscolors (like pink), and flashy blinging metals like brass, antique brass and tin,” says Kristine Whitham of Redesign by Indigo LLC (www.redesignbyindigo.com).
3. Mixed Up Metals. Just because gold is back doesn’t mean you have to toss all your other metallic pieces. Mixed metals are one of Jodie Landry’s top trends. “It's time to be daring and mix gold, silver and bronze without overthinking it. It's opulent, gorgeous and I never get enough of it," says the owner of Pieces in York.
McIndoe agrees, “One of our favorites this year is sparkly warm metallics. You'll find metallics used as finishes on furnishings, in textiles, wallcoverings and accessories.”
Michael D. Martin, president of Davids Furniture & Interiors (www.davidsfurniture.com), and Gracie Willoughby, vice president of sales and design, call it “Modern Luxe: It’s a blending of shimmer and metallics with classic sophistication,” adding, “Metallics continue to be a hot style in fashion and are now firmly planted in home furnishings.”
4. Going Gray. “’Grey is the new black’ still holds true,” according to Tina Eichelberger of INTERIORS HOME in Lancaster (www.interiors-furniture.com). “Many people are using it on their walls, then they can be a bit more bold with their upholstery and accents,” she notes.
Landry agrees, “Simple color schemes like black and white, as well as shades of gray and taupe, will continue to be popular wall and furniture colors, reserving other elements of decor like pillows, throws, flowers and small decor items for beautiful pops of color."
Building on this trend, designers are seeing a new element emerge: gray hardwood floors. Lyall advises, “As beautiful as they are and as much as I personally love the look, what’s in today may quickly be out tomorrow. For those of you who choose the beauty of a gray-toned hardwood floor, be sure the floor is solid hardwood versus engineered hardwood flooring. A decade from now you may want to enlist the services of a refinisher. Solid hardwood can be refinished and re-stained. Engineered hardwood typically is what it is until you replace it.”
5. Refresh. “Recycle, repurpose, reinvent and reuse are hitting top trends. Why spend more on new when you can re-create for less?” says Whitham. “Your neighbor’s trash, family and friends’ old hand-me-downs, flea markets, antique shops and used furniture stores are all great resources when looking for new treasures. Whether you’re recycling, re-purposing, reinventing or reusing, all home furniture and decór can have multiple purposes to meet your needs. Sometimes all a piece needs is a different room to shine in, a little freshening up or some paint to add a pop of color and bring it back to life,” advises Whitham.
Landry agrees; in fact, her whole business is refinishing vintage furniture. “Give me more farmhouse style!” she exclaims, adding, “I am loving weathered wood, vintage finds and rustic decor. It's exciting, non fussy and readily available in the area.” Another trend we can all agree upon, shopping local.
6. Room at the Table. “We are starting to see the comeback to dining rooms in a big way. By that I mean ‘oversized’ dining rooms. Many people are looking for dining tables at least 120 inches long. They want to seat 10 to 12 at the same table for dinner parties and family gatherings,” explains Eichelberger. We think it is a great thing for families to be gathering around their (bigger) tables.
7. Be dazzled. “Who doesn’t love a little bling?” says Lyall. “Right now, I find myself adding bedazzled accent pillows to nearly every interior project (when appropriate of course). This is a perfect example of a great way to dive into a trend. Even if in a year or two the popularity of jeweled accents may wane, all you need to do is simply remove the pillow. While the trend lasted, you enjoyed the look with minimal investment.”
8. Bring The Outdoors In. “Our natural resources are most beneficial to us and the awareness to this trend is bringing Mother Nature indoors. From clay potted houseplants to plants hanging in woven plant hangers, these greens will purify your indoor air," says Whitham.
McIndoe states, “Florals and plants are back.” They’re the perfect way to add a little softness to any vignette, she adds. “We have some real beauties here at the new AK Interiors Shoppe that make you look twice to see if they are real.”
9. Less is More. From tiny homes to simply smaller homes in general becoming more in vogue (not to mention sensible and environmentally friendly), the trend is less is more.
“I would describe it as youthful and fresh with a shot of nostalgia. In today’s world of ‘less is more,’ home design is continuing to become less cluttered and more meaningful, still holding strong to our life’s stories created there,” says Martin.
10. Curves to Love. While the new modern style had been straight lined furniture, Martin and Willoughby say they’re now seeing more curves in furniture. “Delightful and shapely art forms are showing up in current furniture design. Artisan touches are continuing to emerge, bringing comfortable, shapely art forms to home furnishings.”
And remember, timeless style never goes out. “Trends are best implemented in ways that can easily be changed,” advises Lyall. “Tread lightly, as some trends can last a decade or more; others may not make it to 2017,” he adds.
