It’s time to remodel, and you need to know what design elements are trending. Why make the investment in a kitchen or bath design that’s only going to be obsolete within the year? Or worse — one that was never in vogue at all. This year’s trending decor is fun, functional and features a versatility that gives double bang for your designer buck. Opt for sturdy pieces that are both quirky and eye-catching as well as pieces that offer convenient storage in unexpected ways. This will ensure your newly renovated rooms keep you happy for years to come. This year’s hottest design trends feature prints, finishes and shapes that you may never have anticipated, and you’re going to love the outlandishness of them all.
Flashback Florals
Remember that 1980s couch that sat, sturdy and serviceable, in your parent’s family room for decades? Everyone could pile on at once to watch “CHiPs” because it was big as an overstuffed river barge? It’s back — fabric-wise at least. Some call them granny florals; others call them retro, but whatever the label, those vintage flowered fabrics are regaining popularity in today’s modern homes. Couches, easy chairs, pillows and drapes now feature those brown and gold and blue and green combinations that defined your childhood, and designers are once again desperate to recreate that look your mom perfected over 30 years ago.
Black Stainless Steel
But while living rooms and sun rooms are basking in vintage-inspired decor, 2016 kitchens are all about contemporary. Enter the sleek, modern appeal of black stainless steel. Featuring all the advantages of regular stainless, the black version of this popular appliance finish hides smudges and fingerprints deceptively well while coordinating seamlessly with nearly every other finish in the room, from hardwood to marble. Add in a high-end appeal, and you have the perfect appliance finish for the modern kitchen.
Mismatched Cabinetry
Matchy-matchy is out. Eclectic is in. And mixing light-colored uppers with bottom cabinets that feature dark finishes are now the norm. Not even materials have to match anymore, and if you’re a fan of more than one type of wood, it’s perfectly acceptable to incorporate the gamut — maple, cherry, pine. Anything goes in today’s trendy and contemporary homes — as long as it’s cozy and eye-catching at the same time.
Shaped Mirrors
Blocky is out; character is in. So say goodbye to large, rectangular mirrors that take up the entire wall above the sink, and welcome in smaller mirrors that boast intriguing shapes. Frameless mirrors that echo the outlines of flowers, waves and clouds are trending and not just for the bath. Some savvy designers are outfitting entire feature walls in these cute and classic configurations.
Murphy Doors
Minimalist living is all the rage. Tiny homes and limited belongings are the trend in 2016. This makes the Murphy door a perfect choice of hideaway furniture for the well organized home. Murphy doors are interior doors that incorporate a bookcase into the design. When installed, they look like a built-in, instead of a door, and make the perfect security measure for gun safes, man caves or any other room that benefits from being hidden away. As an added perk, they do double duty, acting as both a passageway through and storage for anything that fits easily on a bookshelf.
Keep these modern techniques in mind this year if you’re planning a room remodel. By incorporating these trendy yet timeless design elements into your own home, you’ll create an atmosphere that’s functional for your family while still being fashionable enough to make even the stuffiest neighbor jealous. You can have that home that’s the envy of the block. All it takes is an experienced designer and a leg up on what’s happening in the world of fashionable decor this year.