Color Trends 2009….. part 1

Inspiration found through Color.

Part 1….

Trend 1: Nature Inspired.

What a relief for lovers of neutral color schemes – everyone agrees this year that understated room schemes inspired by nature will be one of the strong trends for 2009. Designer’s have been inspired this year by everything from rich ochre colors to the simple beachfront homes with bleached cream wooden shutters, weathered and worn woods, and stones in warm hues, punctuated by cooler tones of blues and greens to create a natural balance of colour and texture that is warm and embracing.

Elements of the natural world have also inspired Wallpaper palettes such as this colour palette and is combined with flame red for an injection of vibrancy.  Combine the ever popular greens with fresh yellow’s and add a touch of raspberry and mint green for a unique combination.

Being “Eco-Conscious” or “Green” is a deciding factor for many when decorating.  In 2009, the will be slightly more subtle. With people moving less frequently,  look for fresh and bright to become increasingly more important. Expect to see “New-Neutrals” take root, as the year continues.

Natural tones will also be an enduring popular choice for furniture, with wall colours being chosen to echo the tones of the upholstery.

Living Room
Inspired by nature doesn’t have to mean “No” color in a living room !  You can choose anything from deep dark browns to rich ochres, mustard yellows, pale greens and blues. When incorporating patterns… using something light and airy as opposed to heavily patterned choices creates a visually pleasing environment.

Bedrooms
Natural schemes doesn’t mean feminine and traditional – you can give a nod to the trend within a contemporary scheme too, as in this bedroom. Combine wood panelled wardrobes or walls with natural floor coverings and furniture in woody tones, and add texture with throws and cushions in deep earthy shades.  Combine with a bold accent color to add a “Punch” to the area.

Kitchens
When making selections for your kitchen in the Natural trend, think sensibly and long term. Walls can always be painted and Accent your Kitchen with unique objects such as lighting, accessories, rugs, stools and window treatments to add flair….

Dining Room
This is a particularly good look to go for in your dining room.  And, if your dining room is part of your kitchen area -like in an open plan – a Neutral scheme is a must to create a relaxed and cohesively calm space.

Kids’ Room
Design a neutral scheme for a kids’ room is easy and sustainable for the long-term (not having to change the scheme every few years is easy for the wallet as well).   So, whether you’ve got a baby or a teenager, hit this trend in a big way…

Bathroom
Space is always a factor, but any bathroom can be given the natural touch easily.  When looking for a new bathroom cabinet, choose one in real wood.  Flooring, choose a natural stone.  Wall tile, choose something light and airy with some visual texture.  On a budget?  Paint the walls a soft shade of green or blue.

Tags: 2009 home trends, Advice, choosing colors, Decorate on a budget, decorating styles, Design Styles, design trends, Do's & Don'ts, Eclectic style, home decorating, Home Improvements, Home makeover, inexpensive tips, Interior Design, Interior design style, Interior Design Tips, Interior Styles, paint colors

Interior Design “Styles” Revealed…..Eclectic.

The Eclectic, Interior Design, Style is NOT a mish-mash of styles thrown together haphazardly.  It’s a style with a deep thought,  mixing patterns, color, line, scale, theme and texture.  

 

This room combines traditional and asian inspired elements with neutral colors and a punch or red used as an accent and well placed balancing the room.

This room incorporates natural elements with solid sleek surfaces and metal with contemporary leather upholstery.

This setting includes african wood panels, modern furnishings, asian elements with the lighting and a traditional flair with the area rug.

This room has a great Modern feel with added bright asian accessories and contemporary fabrics and artwork.  The 70’s style lamp with the tall shade and the 60’s Dresser adds a real simple but unique look to the room… especially adding the white lacquer floating shelves above.

 

Eclectic,  is one of the most unique styles, creating an environment, much the same as a painting on canvas does.  It might consist of collections from areas traveled around the world, antiques, accessories of a specific theme, furniture of different periods with a common element, modern and traditional items mixed together and neutral colors with a bold color mixed in as accents.

Eclectic is not a formal environment.  You most often see the Eclectic style used (not necessarily on purpose) in people decorating their first apartment or home and are collecting furniture from various sources;  your parent’s basement, a friend’s hand-me-downs or thrift store finds.

The Harmony between the elements must create a flow and have a purpose.  You may have an old English style chest you found at a thrift store that would work great against a wall in your living room, but it needs a coat of paint.  You have occasional tables that have an ebony finish on each side of your sofa.  You then, might want to spray the chest a lacquer black finish and update the hardware to give it a fresh look and have it “flow” with the occasional tables.

This would be a great chest to paint and add some unique glass hardware to it.

 There is the unique detail at the bottom but still simple enough to go with everything.

 

 

The same thing can happen if you find an old lamp at a thrift store that needs a little love, but you like the shape.  You have collected white porcelain vases that are displayed on your shelving.  An idea would be to spray the lamp white and find a coordinating white shade (or go for a bold shade that coordinates with an accent color you are using in the room).

 

Lamps painted white and adding a modern shade with a punch of color.

Lamps found at a Thrift Store, slightly different in height, but could be painted and have a bell shaped or drum shade placed to coordinate them.

 

 

There are so many options of things you can do, it’s just a matter of opening your mind to the possibilities.

Tags: Advice, decorating styles, Design Styles, Eclectic Design, Eclectic style, Interior Design, Interior design style, Interior Styles