After the holiday craziness ends, New Year's resolution period takes over. And if one of those decisions is to finally unclutter your living space or to rejuvenate your home, beginning of the year is the exact time to start planing.
Trends in Interior design luckily don't change quick as a wink. At the end of a day, most home furnishings are an investment that should be able to withstand annual fads (decorations always being exception to any rule - they always reflect our personality and if changed from season to season they're an inexpensive way to update any space and bring some new trends in our homes).
But there are some materials, colors and layouts which look like they're here to stay. So where do I think we are moving this year in home decor and interior design?
Here are some predictions taken from leading Interior Designers at top 12 home decor and design directions for 2016.
1. The Mighty Grey - sophistication and elegance
It's all about Grey and it's 50 shades. Still. They're on the floors, walls, furniture, accessories,...They will never go out of style, and they are quite practical - when combined with other colors or even as a single choice, especially when the texture resembles concrete or stone. On a grey background even the plain decoration will stand out and look like 'million bucks' - nothing is more chic then a grey room with some accent colors.
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| My obsession: Antonio Mora Wall Mural |
2. Scandinavian
There is something sooooo cozy about Scandinavian style inspired places. No wonder why I had in the last year many clients who were seduced by it's mixture of textures and materials which make these rooms inviting and warm. It is a design movement characterized by simplicity, balance, minimalism and functionality. What appeals to me the most are Scandinavian inspired dinning rooms - I can imagine myself spending hours and hours of fun with family and friends over some nice food and wine. You won't find a lot of overwhelming colors in these spaces, but that's fine. They feel elegant and complete with their neutral palettes.
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| Besides minimalism, Eames chairs are the key to achieve a Scandinavian flair |
3. Pastels
Global color authority - Pantone announced Rose Quartz and Baby-blue Serenity as its top hues for 2016. The pale pink, especially has been embraced on home decor. It works incredibily good with bolder hues, including grey, navy and taupe and anything shimmery, including brass, copper, rose gold, chrome and pewter. I find colors to be spot on cause everything is more muted right now.
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| Rose Quartz and Baby-blue Serenity |
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| Antonio Mora Wall Mural |
4. Natural, raw and recycled materials
The home projects for 2016 are gonna be filled with natural materials like stone (marble is having a huge come back).Cork, wood in worn finish, iron, and raw concrete (concrete floors have been a love of mine for some time) are also here with their timeless presence.
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| Stone walls, concrete floor and wood furnishing in worn-out optic |
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| Concrete floors, steel barn doors, wood to bring warmth in. And a dash of glamour in crystal chandelier. Perfection. |
5. Clever Storage
Nowadays we are heading towards a minimalistic model, whose quiet aesthetic allows us to escape the rush of the hectic life. Functional and clever usage and arrangement of spaces is also extremely important for the everyday dynamic lifestyle.simple space saving ideas can make our homes more efficient and add certain charm. Sometimes the simplest things are the most extraordinary.A room can be, for example, completely hidden to open additional space for other purposes or to po-out when needed. Playing with optical illusion is perfect trick to gain space or to hide unwanted items.
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| Pocket doors - there when you want them to be. Fabulous solution for the ones who don't like open floorplans |
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| Keep your space clean and clutter free - sliding doors to cover your appliances and storage. Looks great open & closed |
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| IKEA Sliding Walls Might Be The Next Big Thing In Your Home |
6. Efficient floorplans
The great room concept isn't going anywhere. Families love floorplans that join a kitchen and dining area with an open living room. The news is that kitchen have tendency to look more like those rooms more posh and polished, less utilitarian.
7. Smart and functional furnishing for limited spaces
There is a move towards furniture that facilitates numerous different activities. Modern furniture design is focused on comfort and functionalism, adding modernistic approach to home decorating. Multifunctional design and versatile forms are suitable for many home decorating ideas and styles. Modern furniture design trends 2016 started to break away from old rules and offer innovative home decorating ideas for creating multifunctional living spaces which allow enjoying new experiences.
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| Numerous sitting positions - Modular Sofa UNIVERSAL by SOFTINE |
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| Dining table attached to kitchen island |
Alternate desk idea - Filip Janssens
8. Concern for the Future
The sustainability and eco-friendliness of the materials used in the design are not so much a preference but a norm these days. Recycled materials and handmade furniture designs that add rustic chic and relaxing feel to home decorating are one of the latest trends in home decorating - the dynamic and intriguing aging of metal (with its patina variations), wood (with its color changes). For designers like Phillipe Starck, the choice will go to plastic as a non-harming material. Recycled plastic according to his artistic arguments is much less harming the life and more eco-friendly than cutting a tree or skinning an animal for wood or leather.
The choice is yours.
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| Aging metal door frames and coffee table made of pallet |
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| Stylish Patina Interior Barn Doors |
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| So Chic! Not your everyday bathroom vanity. |
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| Phillipe Starck Uncle Jim Chair |
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| Phillipe Starck - Master chair in new metallic finishes |
9. Artisan accent pieces
Travel souvenirs, unique artisan pieces and flea market finds will take center stage in home design as more homeowners gravitate toward decorating with unique art pieces that tell a story.
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| Bold textiles, dynamic artwork and home accessories inspired by nomadic tribes of Africa |
10. Art Deco inspired patterns and shapes
Think Great Gatsby! For those of you who crave some glamour and luxury Art Deco will make a bold new comeback in 2016. Look for the style's trademark geometric patterns and honeycomb shapes to weave their way into everything from wallpaper to artwork, adding elegance and dimension to any space. In 2015, I have been so lucky to work with one visionary lady who wanted to integrate Art Deco elements into her home (sometimes the clients are more avant-garde than designers themselves!)
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| Great Gatsby inspired pendants |
My Project for the Art Deco styled Entryway and Living room
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| When it comes to adding visual interest to a room there is no easier way to make an impact than by adding a few geometric shapes |
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| Experts also predict gold statement lighting fixtures will become more popular given their ability to instantly bring a sophisticated and glamorous look to any space.
11. Metallic Wallpaper
A new year already has ushered in a muted paste color palette and a continuing obsession with shiny metallics. Elite designer Jennifer Greenhalgh explains it - it isn't your grandmother's wallpaper!
Metallic wallpaper reflect light and add statement to any space.
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| Callico Wallpaper's handmade metallic marbled wallpaper |
12. Bathrooms that feel more like living spaces
Graphic wallpaper, ornate chandeliers, cozy fireplaces and furniture-like pieces turn sterile spaces into ones that feel a lot more like home.
As an Interior Designer, I have always supported only trends if they have timeless quality (accessories being exception to that). The fact is. if you can incorporate them into your interiors and they will be there for at least 5 -10 years then they're worth the investment.
And keep in mind - some of these style flows will transfuse into the next year's trend - therefor implement them as decoration
Images source: Pinterest
