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Looking Ahead:Design Trends to Watch in 2010
Arcadia Weekly Jan 07, 2010
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This week, I am dusting off my crystal ball and peering deep into 2010 to see what design trends this New Year will bring us. What does it reveal? With a crazy economic climate, a desire to live green and the yearning to look to the past for simpler times, the design world will follow suit. Below are a few things to watch for.
Give Me More!
The economy stinks. So when it comes to home décor, we will want more bang for our buck. Look for a stronger demand of quality home products. When it comes to basic furniture, we will be investing in well-made items that last a long time, and go beyond design trends. No one will want to replace that sofa any time soon once it goes out of style. It’s back to basics.
With that, simpler lines will dominate; furniture will need to transcend our decorating whims that come and go over the years. Instead, accessories are the way to update your home.
Green, Baby, Green!
As ice caps melt and polar bears disappear, green design is becoming a way of life. There was a huge push for green design this past year, but look for it to get even bigger, more mainstream. Catalog furniture companies began rolling out green design lines last year, with more organic products, recycled materials, sustainable woods and natural manufacturing materials. This trend will continue and push further into the furniture industry.
Reuse and Repurpose will be big trends this year in furniture and accessories. Also this year, green design will become more luxurious and more glamorous in look and feel.
Make it Cozy
The saying “staying in is the new going out” will carry over to 2010. So if we are going to be staying home, we want a cozy place in which to our spend time. Layered rugs or kilims, plush floor coverings, and faux fur rugs will help add a warm and welcoming feel to our abodes.
The use of wall treatments will also add to this layering effect, with lush patterns or fabrics that help a space seem enclosed and comforting.
Looking Back
As times remain uncertain, we will be looking back to our heritage and ancestry more, adding details of our past into our homes. Global influences will inspire colors and patterns.
This also means that we will continue to mix furniture periods when decorating our homes; and since we want to reuse and not throw out, using grandma’s chest with a new modern sofa could not be more appealing.
Universal Design
As the real estate market remains uncertain, more Baby Boomers are making the decision to stay in their homes and spend their golden years right where they are. They will continue to be more focused on the concept of “Aging in Place.” This means modifying the home so that they can spend their golden years comfortably, no matter what kind of physical restrictions they might have in the future. New designs, from touch faucets to better designed bathtub handlebars, are making Aging in Place solutions better looking and easier to install. (Stay tuned to Design Sense in the coming months to read more about Aging in Place.)
Neutrals Make a Statement!
Colors will be rustic and finishes will be a bit weathered and distressed. Colors that reflect nature will be big: browns, grays, sandy colors, terracottas, buttery yellows, soft blues the color of water and greens the color of grass and leaves. This not only surrounds us with a soothing, organic palette, but also provides a neutral background to add some daring accent colors. And bright colors also bring optimism!
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