2016 Home decor trend checklist

I can’t believe that December whizzed by without much thought to home decor  blogging.  The holiday season always puts things on hold. I have to make up for that with a good summary of what 2016 holds in design trends for the home.

 How do I know what to write about trends? A good question for sure. Knowledge comes from a lot of reading and looking and being a good synthesizer.

  A trend is never  for one year;  all I have to do is look back at what I wrote last year to realize that everything still holds true.  When I write about trends I  like to write about broader patterns I notice in  home decor  that I feel have some staying power.

There’s nothing earth shattering to report for 2016, but there’s usually not major shifts.

Plants  and plant motifs bring the outside in  

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You can also see the use of blue, wire furniture, and natural woods carried over from last year. 

Pastels are still creeping in usually mixed with soft whites

Pantone’s 2016 colour of the year duo supports this.  I’m not saying I love this look but I do like the softness of the colours., there’s just too much baggage attached to pink and blue.  Take either separately and I am fine, especially that periwinkle blue.  

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 Here we see the nude pink with mint green (hello 1980’s) and blue accents.   Notice the plant!

Adding texture using organic materials 

 It could be fur, woven textiles from natural fibres,  wicker,  rushes, or plant life.  All add that exciting layer of texture that every room needs for interest and excitement.

Censationalgirl 

Hope you noticed the liberal use of greenery in this space too, and the white walls and furniture. White is the perfect backdrop for showing off textures. 

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Warm metals in  accessories, fixtures and lighting 

I know I’ve been saying this for three years, but each year the presence of warm metals becomes more noticeable.  Also consider burnished brass, copper and rose gold.  

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This is a totally trendy room,  nude pink undertones, lots of texture, warm metals, natural fibres, plant life and light walls. And the opposite is also trendy….

Dramatic walls and rooms

This is in direct opposition to the white/light look for walls and furniture.  But drama can be embraced.  It’s not for me at all, but it is a look that appeals to many people.  Navy walls are particularly fashionable as are black and rich greens.  

 

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These are trends from 2013 -2015 that are still going strong:

• geometric patterning 
• nature inspired motifs especially florals 
• reclaimed/eco-friendly material
• wire framed furniture and lighting 
• use of mixed materials in furniture  ( marble and wood, metal and wood etc. ) 
• global inclusiveness  ( products from different cultures)
• highly patterned tile
• artisan products ( hand made) 
• nude pink and deeper blues.  

And there you have it.  Lots of things to consider and choose from or just go on your merry way doing what makes you happy in decor.  

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Blue- A home decor trend to watch

 It seems like only yesterday I  wrote my  2013  home decor trends  post,  and I’ve already looked at Pantone’s Colour of the year, Radiant Orchid, and suggested  ways to integrate this vibrant colour into your decor. What else can we expect in the coming year?

While Radiant Orchid is Pantone’s colour of the year, I think it will be the blues that will take over the stage in 2014.  Joan Mitchell had this all figured out in her 1972 painting!  She painted the best blues ever and these are the ones you’ll be seeing more of in 2014.

Joan Mitchell, “Blue Territory,” 1972

 And here’s a modern interpretation of the darker side of blue…

A range of blues for 2014

This year the popular blues are much deeper leaning toward cobalt and navy.  But what can you put with so much blue? 

Add yellow as an accent in 2014

Gold accents work well  with navy blue and cobalt

And don’t forget vibrant oranges or greens with dark blues.  The sky is the limit with this colour.  I thought the art work in the mood board above gives lots of accent choices. 

Versatile green blue looks great with white and radiant orchid

And never forget that blue has a green side that mixes with all sorts of colours especially the pinkish purples like Radiant Orchid. That way you can bet two trends for the price of one.  Think turquoise, aqua and any blue you may see on a Caribbean holiday.

 

Benjamin Moore highlighted the lighter side of blue for their 2014 Colour of the year. It is reminiscent of summer breezes blowing lightly under a pale sky. Cool and inviting and perfect for a summer house or a spa retreat.

 

It seems all versions of blue are hot this year. Is there blue in your future? 

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Antlers: Trend or timeless?

Looking at a variety of  recent design sources supports the view that antlers are a huge style statement.    While always part of rustic country design, antlers and antler motifs seem to have crossed all design boundaries to the point where you see them everywhere. 

Spectacular lighting from Yellow Goat Custom Lighting

Right now I have reached the saturation point, and whenever I see
antlers my reaction is usually utter boredom. Hopefully I will recover 
because I love their sculptural  form and representation of  the passage of time and natural cycles.  I draw the line at their trophy history- no mounted heads for me.

 Moose antlers aging in the sun

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Several years ago my friend found a lovely pair of moose antlers in the woods near my summer house and dragged them home for me. They are still weathering to a lovely grayish white. While I was excited initially with this gift, I am reticent to jump on the antler bandwagon.  If I wait long enough the trend will pass, like all trends, and antlers will be new again. 

I guess you could say I am very fussy about how they are used in decor.  I think the trick is to mix them with other objects  in simple vignettes  with a natural focus where their sculptural qualities can shine and direct the collected composition. In this  understated way they will always be timeless. So here are my four ways to use antlers for a fresh look.

 As a sculptural element

White on white accentuates antlers sculptural quality

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These
antlers are the perfect shape to use with the other elements in this
vignette. They mimic  the branches and provide an interesting backdrop
for the cylindrical shapes. 

Simple arrangements  allow the form to show

What could be more interesting than branching shapes against a dark base?  Less is always more. 

 

As a design anchor

Antlers and candles in a vignette

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There’s no doubt that the branching quality of antlers makes them a perfect form to arrange objects along an interesting line.There are all sort of images online with candles interspersed among antlers. You could also use small groupings of wildflowers instead of candles.

As a pivot point

Adding interesting lines in a vignette

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Who knew that antlers can actually add a note of elegance when combined with equally elegant objects?  They are great for moving your eye around in different directions encouraging you to take in all elements of a vignette.

As functional objects 

Antler candleholders

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These are truly exquisite and would look good anywhere.

Add to planters

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Antlers would make a great natural additions to a planter when you have vines or other plants that will grow along a shape.

What’s  your take on antlers?  Do you have any in your decor?

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Design trend 2015: Move over Ikat and Suzani

It’s that time of year again. People are beginning to think about 2015 and what it will bring. When you’re a home decor blogger that always means checking out the hot new trends.

So here goes- my first trend snippet for 2015.

Sometimes even patterns we love can lose favour if they are overused.  Chevron comes to mind.  What was once a fantastic pattern that played well with other patterns because of simple, graphic lines has been overused to the point of -dare I say it- nausea.

Ikat                                     Suzani 

I fear that Ikat (chevron is a staple of this traditional Indonesian design) and  Persian Suzani (with it’s bold circular motifs ) are not far behind in the over used category.

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 There is chatter that Shibori (Japanese tie dyeing) is the next new pattern to take over in textiles. I can see the appeal of Shibori.  It is geometric (very hot right now), simple on a white background, has multiple patterns possibilities  depending on how it is produced, and has cultural references.  Then there’s that indigo blue which feeds into the resurgence of blues and navy in colour trends.

You many not be familiar with this age old Japanese technique. Shibori patterns are usually created on white silk by binding, clamping and wrapping around poles and then dipping into indigo dyes. If you are hankering for the 60’s again, or don’t remember them and are ready for a new DIY experince, check out this article 

Contemporary Bedding by Brooklyn Furniture & Accessories West Elm

Red was all over High Point Market this fall and just seeing the little hit of red in the lamp tells you traditional indigo shibori would look great with any amount of red. Certainly whites and other blues would also work and why not yellow?

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It is definitely a keeper when it comes to pillows.

Brooklyn Upholstery Rebecca Atwood Designs

This proves that it is possible to have subtle colour ranges using contemporary dyes

Spaces by Vancouver Furniture & Accessories Provide Home

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and different colours…

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used in  different ways .

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I am certainly liking it with very neutral schemes because it is fresh and interesting without too much fuss. 

Only time will tell if shibori will bethe next big thing. Do you think this pattern will have a place in your home?

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Trend predictions with staying power

In late 2012 I wrote a post about  2013 trends that I thought would have great staying power.  Several days ago I reread that post, and if I do say so myself I definitely hit the bullseye with my predictions.
These are still going strong:

• simple geometric patterning 
• nature inspired motifs (birds, feathers, florals, plants, etc. )
• lighter woods in furniture and  floors
• gold toned finishes 
• open walls in kitchens 
• backsplashes to the ceiling
• mixed colours in kitchen cabinets
• reclaimed/eco-friendly materials 

In addition it seems that there are variations of these trends that will also have great staying power.  
Consider:

More geometric patterning 

Not only will you see geometric patterning used on textiles and rugs, it has moved to furniture  and lighting as frameworks, overlays and inlays. 

Sculptural light fixtures

Yes,  still going strong and branching out a little from the  large scale, voluminous fixtures seen in 2014 to a whole new skeleton/wire look that will be big for 2015. This look is also strongly influenced by geometry.

The wire/ skeleton look also extends to furniture especially tables.  

Global inclusiveness  

No longer is travel the instigator of interest in the products of other cultures. As the world becomes a smaller place because  of technology, homeowners are exposed to a range of products and looks from different countries.  Access to these is as easy as a keystroke.  Rather than a themed look, think about integrating special pieces  with  what you already have.  

Any of these pieces could be easily added to any decor unless you are averse to yellow!

Patterned tiles

The geometric trend is popular in  wall and floor tiles as well as textiles. The new looks range from herringbone designs  to elegant parquets in one or two hues. 

 Even rugs have taken on a tiled look. 

Mixing up warm metals 

Yes we know that silver finishes are being overtaken by the golden tones of mellowed brass, but the orange glow of copper isn’t far behind.    Mixing metals is a trend that will be a safe bet for years to come.  Just think how long the silver tones have been popular, that will be the staying power of mixing things up for variety.  

Marble is hot 

One noticeable trend for this year is the the use of marble in everything from backsplashes and furniture  to lamp bases and accessories.   It isn’t only  white marbles either, think black, blue, golden and champagne. 

Mixing materials 

In furniture and accessories designers are playing with interesting combinations of materials.  Raw woods and lacquer, glass and concrete, metal and marble, wood and fur, resins and metal, glass and filagree metal, the list is long and the look is interesting. 

Statement art /walls 

Go big and bold in artwork, splurge on a hand painted mural or a whimsical wallpaper.  Think about a wall of texture.   Large and textured is definitely in. 

Focus on hand made and recycled

Anything that shows the hand of a creator is a sure bet for home decor.  It reads as unique, honours natural materials, and supports artists.  Such products are usually sought out, well considered and support local economy.  All good and very trendy right now-  if such sensible choices can be  trendy.
 Think about woven objects, hanging sculptural forms, pottery and ceramics, fibre art.


 If you are handy yourself consider the upcycling of objects.  There are enough  ideas on Pinterest to keep you going indefinitely. 


And there you have it, what’s trending for 2015 that will be a safe bet to invest in for the coming years.  What are your thoughts on buying into trends? 

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