Five Top Décor Trends for 2013:
Spring is the time for making things new again, and our home décor is no exception. As you think about how to change the look of a room, a list of this spring's five hottest design trends.
#1 - Carrying over from last year, that bold graphic prints are still extremely popular. "This can be done in both classic or contemporary looks, with pops of colour intermixed with crisp palettes and more 'weighted' colour tones," .
The palates this spring come in the forms of strong earthy colours such as burnt orange and grass green, and the influence of jewel tones such as emeralds and sapphires. The bright hues are offset by greyed out tones and charcoals, and balanced with the basics of white, navy and black. play with those colours and make them even more interesting by layering patterns and colours, particularly with your accent pieces. "Bring prints and solids into your space in varying textures and use them in your soft finishes, like throws, pillows, wallpaper or window dressings. Fabrics play a large role in adding visual (diversity) interest to your room."
#2 - Metallics are number two on the list of spring trends. "Metallics give the option for a lot of influences in many different fashions." She adds that the industrial, or "steampunk" influenced looks are big this spring, as are the more tailored coppers, golds and silvers. "These stem from the influence of jewellery, and pair well with jewel toned accents,"
You can add metallics to your space through a wide variety of options, including lighting, hardware, furniture, accessories and tile. And while stresses the importance of not over-doing metallics, and keeping them as an accent, also add that different metals mix well together for a more eclectic look.
#3 - The next trend is the use of one-of-a-kind and unique pieces. "These pieces add a bit of your own personal style and flair to a room. For this trend, we see people selecting handmade and interesting pieces that they love, and then styling their rooms around that piece."
Organic looking items such as handmade wooden chairs, original canvas-mounted artwork, and iron and blown glass pendant light fixtures are popular, and are leading the movement away from more generic designs. Stores like Metric support local artisans by seeking out interesting items and displaying them whenever possible. They also showcase artisan pieces from all over the world.
#4 - Large scale feature areas in a space are also a trend this spring, and texture plays a big part in this idea. Bowman says that she is seeing a lot of people take one or two wall sections in their rooms and turn them into a feature area by inserting dimension, texture or colour.
This can be accomplished through the use of bulkheads, wood panels, large scale tiles or patterned wallpaper. She adds that wallpaper has made a huge comeback as the technology behind it has greatly changed and it is now much easier to remove. It comes in "such a wide assortment of styles and designs. It has long replaced the faux finishes of last decade."
As well, that wall tile is a huge trend in Saskatoon right now, and that people are opting for tile with not only texture, but also with shape and movement to it.
#5 - Lastly, "bringing the outside in, and adding natural elements to your inside surroundings" as another trend to think about this spring. This can be as easy as adding driftwood, hides, glass, or metals to your room, or using natural fabrics like cotton and linen in a less tailored way. These natural elements create texture, add softness and make the room warmer and more inviting."
The trend of adding a "living wall" to your space - a wall filled with plants.
"This has become quite popular in commercial and residential spaces as it has many benefits. Not only is it beautiful, you gain the advantage of getting to breathe the air they've just purified for you."
If you are on a tight budget and can only make one change, changing your lighting is the way to go. "People often ignore lighting, but it can make a huge impact. It is often referred to as the jewellery of a space - it makes the space more dramatic and interesting, and changes the way we look at it. Proper lighting also allows existing pieces within the room to look better."
However, if you plan on making an investment in any level of project, we strongly urge you to contact a professional designer, and adds that "the biggest mistake I see people make is that they didn't ask for help soon enough, and they've already spent a significant amount of money on something that ends up not working for them in the end."
A professional designer can bring their experience, knowledge of furniture and finishes, and a critical eye to help you decide how you will get you the greatest positive impact for your space, and not only what is going to look good now, but "what is going to work for you and your family over time."