“Home decor: Wrap yourself in comfortable chic this year” |
| Home decor: Wrap yourself in comfortable chic this year Posted: 07 Feb 2011 03:36 PM PST Recession or not, we still want our living spaces to be comfortable and look good. "We are so used to our comfort ... even though we're trying to scale back," says Margi Kyle, president of the Interior Design Society in High Point, N.C. There's no doubt, though, that the economy has had an impact on interior design. Many people are getting away from the elaborate and ornate and opting for a more simplified, traditional look, says Beverly J. Thompson, an interior designer in Simpsonville, S.C. "And they are looking at what's important to them," Thompson says. That sentiment continues into the new year. Decorating trends for 2011 reflect a balance of comfort, style and simplicity. Furnishings travel along a well-established track toward multifunctional uses. In colors, you'll see a mix of earthy browns and feel-good accent colors such as purple and lime green. And outdoor living trends? Well, let's just say that the outdoors and the indoors are feeling more alike. Here's a look at what's coming this year. Indoor living » Multifunctional: Now more than ever, multifunctional furniture is a staple in home dicor. Pieces such as coffee tables with drawers, ottomans with concealed storage and side tables with built-in shelving offer stylish versatility and practical design solutions. "Some side tables can become coffee tables, depending on what they look like," Thompson says. "And console tables can go next to a sofa, behind a sofa, in-between chairs or against a wall to help anchor a piece of art." » Natural materials: "People are still going green, so to speak, and that trend will continue," Thompson says. You'll see sustainable fabrics such linen and cotton, for instance, on sofas, window treatments and pillows. Also look for wool rugs, bamboo flooring, even bamboo tabletops. These materials provide a relaxed neutral background while allowing you to accent with any color you want, Thompson says. Hardwood floors, in particular, add to that feel, Kyle says: "We're doing a lot of hardwood floors. When people go with the good hardwood floors, they just have to sand them down, re-stain them or just let them age beautifully." (2 of 3) » Ambient lighting: The goal here is to improve mood lighting in the kitchen or any other room of the house. Pendants and torch lamps, for instance, can achieve that effect while adding a level of elegance. "I think we got so into overhead lighting and track lighting that now it's given us a very harsh look, so we're trying to work more with different types of lighting for a wonderful feel," Kyle says. "You know when you think of lighting, it's energy." When you lower your lighting, even in the kitchen where you're cutting, cooking or reading, it definitely lowers your stress level, Kyle says. "A lot of torch lamps that will fit in the corner will push light up to the ceiling, but then it gracefully comes back down into the room so it's not just lighting from above," Kyle says. "It's very subtle and soft." Say it with color The color palette for 2011 aims to elevate and inspire with sophisticated shades of purple, along with nature-inspired blues and greens. Even punchy accent colors such as magenta, muted orange and lime green are making their own statement. "Personally, I'm seeing a lot of lime green in kitchens where black is the accent, and it's a really striking combination," Kyle says. Accent walls are ideal spaces to use bright pops of color to showcase your personality and individual style, says Jaclyn Pardini, a spokeswoman for Lowe's. "Experiment with bold hues in a kitchen or bathroom where there is limited wall space, so a bold color won't overwhelm the room," Pardini says. Whether it's a bedroom dressed in soft lavender or an accent wall done up in deep plum, purple is stylishly daring. "Purple gives you the ability to see new possibilities and ideas," Kyle says. "When you know the color language, you understand why some of the colors are popular right now." Earthy hues of brown are also very strong. Cream can be very cool, while brown adds a warm and rustic appeal -- whether it's in the kitchen or a family room. "Brown gives you the ability to live in the moment and accept things the way they are now, very practical," Kyle says. (3 of 3) Outdoor living With outdoor living, the "stay-cation" idea is still in full swing. While big-ticket items such as outdoor kitchens and fireplaces are not on the front burner for many due to the economy, people are still accessorizing and updating with outdoor rugs, decorative pillows and fire pits. That's because homeowners will always revel in having their own personal retreats, and outdoor living space provides that, whether cozy or elaborate, says Donnie Owens, store manager at The Fire House Casual Living Store in Greenville. "What a lot of people are doing instead of selling a house or buying a house, they're just adding on to their house," Owens says. Interior design continues to spill over in back yards with pieces such as decorative coffee tables and outdoor crescent sofas, giving outdoor spaces the feel of a living room. Crescent sofas are particular good for outdoors. "There are a lot of round porches that fit into play with this," Owens says. "A lot of porches just aren't square. It allows you to have more of a conversational setting. I personally think they sit better. You sit a little bit deeper." As far as outdoor fabrics, brands such as Sunbrella and Crypton are constantly evolving to make fabrics more durable and weather- and stain-resistant while offering even more pattern variety, Kyle says. Many of the fabrics can be used for both indoor and outdoor furnishings. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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