Color Design Trends

The first big color trend that is expected to continue into the New Year is a move towards aged, distressed color finishes that are reminiscent of past times. Shades in earthy brown and aged greens, as well as smoky blues blue hues will continue to be popular for wall paints and fabrics. Lenzing Fibers, a cellulose fabrics manufacturer and retailer, reports that many of the colors that are going to continue to be seen in fabric design revolve around the earthly elements. Colors based on the colors of nature, i.e. minerals, soil and plants. Metallic colors are also expected to be a continuing trend in 2010. Pantone, the global organization that analyzes and sets color standards for each fashion season, says that the eight key color palettes for the New Year include: Greenmarket, Gatherings, Transformations, Pastiche and Ambiance, to name a few.

The Old is New Again

Antique and vintage interior décor pieces add a bit of warmth and human soul to a home, and in the past year, the urge to revisit the past in new design settings has been increasing and the trend seems to be ready to continue into the New Year. This also explains the rise in thrift store and consignment store shopping, as well as the surging of sites like 1stdibs.com. This same trend in revisiting the pasts design aesthetics has led people to revisit their own past heritage when designing the interior of their homes. A return to one’s roots is a growing interior décor trend. People are looking for Native American, aboriginal and tribal colors and patterns that employ bold hues and geometric shapes.

Going Green

A few years ago, green living was a brand new trend in the world of interior design. Now, it might be more accurate to call it a staple of contemporary design aesthetics. As we head into 2010, green design is still growing and shows no signs of slowing down. Green construction and building materials have become a huge part of the home improvement marketplace, a trend that will hopefully continue not just through 2010 but for many years to come.

Environmentally friendly paint, cloth fabrics, furniture and flooring materials, and energy saving lighting alternatives are just some of the green elements that are factoring into today’s interior décor fashions. Characteristics of green products include sustainability and a minimum emission of volatile organic compounds that could be harmful to people and the environment. Another design trend that is related to recent green living trends is the increased use of re purposed or recycled furniture and design accessories. Reusing, repainting and refinishing old items can give them new life and help avoid unnecessary waste.

Mixed Fabrics

The trend of mixing colors and texture when picking out a living room’s decorative fabric pieces looks like it’s going to continue well into 2010. A room with matching textures tends to get old after a while. Layering different textures of fabric creates a more interesting arrangement. Try mixing and matching satins, furs and cotton fabrics to see what you like, and feel free to incorporate patterned fabrics as well.

Layered Flooring

A home’s floor is as much a part of its interior design elements as the walls and furniture. Adding patterned mats, decorative carpets, area rugs and other decorative elements to your floor will give it a rich layered look that will in turn lend warmth and coziness to your home. Runner carpets for stairways and hallways are also back in style. Layered flooring started to grow as a trend in recent years and it seems poised to be a big part of 2010 interior design landscape. In a tight economy, layering your existing floor rather than replacing it with a new one is a money-saving way to completely renovate the look and feel of your home interior.

Rectangular area rug shapes are the most common, and are a traditional, versatile choice. They can work in almost any room, and can help in making a room appear larger.

Square area rugs, like rectangles, are versatile enough to work in most settings. However, they give a more balanced look because of their symmetry, and can make more of a statement.

Round area rugs are a great solution for rooms of an unusual shape. They also work well with round dining tables, as long as the rug is large enough that the chairs can be pushed back without landing off the rug’s edge.

Oval area rugs are the pairing between the organic feel of round rugs and rectangular. They work in the same instances where you would use a rectangular rug, but add more interest, and elongate the space they’re put into.

Hexagon, octagon, and free-form shaped area rugs are not very common, but are very unique and eye-catching. They capture attention and create a dramatic effect in foyers, under dining tables, and on stair landings.

Runners are elongated versions of rectangular area rugs, which are perfect for hallways & stairways. They “lead the way” visually, creating a natural path along a set area, & often making spaces appear longer.

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Carpet tiles are exactly what they sound like: smaller squares of carpeting, which are installed by laying them together, like tiles. This type of carpeting allows for creating patterns of infinite customization.

The biggest incentive to utilize carpet tile, rather than broadloom carpeting, is the ease of installation. The flooring can be installed quickly, and can be completed when offices are closed, to avoid business disruption. It can be installed section-by-section, meaning that less moving of furniture is required. And if one section of carpeting eventually gets stained or otherwise flawed, it’s a simple process of removing the affected carpet tiles, and replacing them with new ones- no cutting or measuring required.

Industrial and durable, commercial carpeting is an obvious choice for business applications; its tight, low, compacted construction is able to withstand high traffic and office activity better than any other carpeting option.

However, more homeowners are beginning to choose commercial style carpeting in their home, for a few reasons. Firstly, it�s an economical choice, almost always more affordable than other carpet options. Secondly, commercial carpet is one of the only carpeting options that is wheelchair friendly, because of its flat, low pile construction. One drawback of using commercial in your home, however, is comfort; because of its flatness and the use of thinner padding, it does not provide as much cushion underfoot as other carpet styles.

This carpeting option also offers a lot of variety; it is available in many prints, lengths, and color options. Known for luxury and value, it is one of the heavier carpeting options you can buy. Its plush comfort aside, this carpet is better suited to rooms with low traffic, as its texture will show imprints and vacuum marks easily.

Bamboo hard wood floors

When it comes to hardwood flooring, bamboo has become a popular option. A renewable resource that grows at exponential levels and has minimal affect on the environment. It’s a very popular hardwood flooring option because it can be stained or painted any color. You can make it look like traditional hardwood floors, or use the bamboo to highlight a unique appearance. Bamboo adds an innovative style to the possibilities of hardwood flooring.

Bamboo furniture or Wall Covers

Bamboo also makes for an affordable furniture material, perfect for kitchen tables, chairs, and bar stools. In addition, it can be used as a wall covering to compliment your furniture. Since it grows so prolifically, it’s cheap to use, and has the great qualities of hard wood. Bamboo is functionally strong, so you know your investment will be around for a long time to come.

Recycled Wall Paper

This is a hot trend in interior design, although you might want to avoid recycling the bright 70s yellow Brady Bunch wallpapers you remember from your childhood. Many companies take existing pieces of wallpaper and recycle them to make fresh new designs. Scraps of existing paper or broken paper are then added to make material that’s completely new. This saves wallpaper from ending up in a landfill and polluting the environment further.

Make Use of Distressed Wood

Distressed wood can come from broken furniture, torn down houses and even old sail boats. It’s much cheaper than new wood, but can still be reused to make quality products. The pieces are left as is, but can be sanded and stained to look new. It’s great for making wooden tables, pieces of decoration, or even a cheaper option for installing hardwood flooring.

Windshield Carpet Backing

Although you wouldn’t expect that you could make carpet from used windshields, they make excellent carpet backing. Tandus recently released Ethos, a modular carpet backing that uses waste from the manufacturers of windshields and safety glass to create a thermoplastic polymer. The non-chlorinated thermoplastic can be recycled repeatedly to divert it from landfills forever. How’s that for carpet excitement?

Redesign old drawers into furniture

Take a chest of drawers and build them into a new frame to create a charming but eco friendly new piece of furniture. This approach is retro and modern at the same time. Professional touches can range in the thousands of dollars, but find an innovative carpenter and you can probably work out a deal.

Wine Glass Furniture and Other Decorations

Some recycling companies refuse to recycle the green glass from which wine bottles are made of, leaving you with a nice collection if you save them from the landfill. These wine bottles can be cut and sanded into charming drinking glasses, lampshades, and candlestick holders. For a simpler approach, plant your wine bottles in the ground spout side down to create charming flower garden borders.

Over the past few decades, shag carpeting has greatly diminished in popularity. Once a trendy and readily available carpeting option, shag-style construction is now mostly isolated to area rugs, rather than wall-to-wall carpeting. Although shag is now considered passé, there are other long-fibered carpeting options- and shag has, in its decline, led to the development of 2 new textured styles.

Frieze carpet is one of the most popular options in carpeting today. Fibers constructed with a very high twist level gives this style carpet its distinct, curly appearance; the long fibers are tightly wound until they actually curl over themselves. The twisted tendrils of frieze carpeting also enable it to withstand traffic, and resist footprints well. This is a carpet option that offers very high wear-ability and comfort.

Cable style carpet is a thicker, straighter carpeting choice than frieze. A lower level of twist, and denser, wider yarns make this a very soft, sumptuous carpeting option. Because cable carpeting is so cozy and plush, it would do well in bedrooms or other areas where relaxation and comfort are key- although the lengthy fibers can matte or bloom under heavy traffic, losing some of the look or texture over time.