My Kitchen Zoom: Decor Trends

Working hand in hand with the colour choices, decor trends are leaning towards a natural environment, cultural flare and sophisticated simplicity. So if you’re considering redecorating your home, get some inspiration from these themes!

Natural Environment: Living in an eco-conscious world, many decorators are leaning towards more "green-friendly" decor. With inspiration being drawn from nature's soft greens, earthy browns, sky blues, golden yellows and colour-tinged grays, many decorators are bringing outdoors indoors. Here are some other ways to create that “natural” environment:

Textured painting is leaning towards marbling or creating more natural appearing finishes.
The notion of creating a feeling of “space” indoors is growing which means getting rid of unnecessary walls, creating balconies off of rooms, and adding large windows to bring in more natural light and open rooms up to the outside surroundings.
Explore unique natural materials either as a furniture, flooring or as accents such as rustic wooden or leather furniture.
Flooring options are expanding as well, with stone becoming a popular option in rooms other than the bathroom and kitchen. Granite, marble, slate all offer a range of colours and can create both modern and traditional looks, and a thick rug in the cooler months can help keep feet warm. Cork tiling is a popular, attractive and environmentally friendly option for kitchens as well. Hardwood floors are expanding into wider planks and hand-scraped versions give a weathered look.
Heavy wools, raw or old barn wood and leafy prints all help to accentuate the natural feel and create the popular Scandinavian look.
Renovations with recyclable or eco-friendly materials are a must.
Cultural Flare: Thanks to the Olympics in China, you can expect to see a lot of Asian influence in decor. Much of this is taken from China, India and some elements from Japan. You’ll find bright reds, magentas, purples, pumpkin oranges, peacock turquoise, jade greens and royal blues being used as both as main and accent colours. Here are some options to consider:
Textured painting could include striping, where two colours of the same paint but different sheen are alternated in stripes to create an exciting look.
Satin and silk materials blended with natural cotton add that cultural flare and other global textiles are garnering more attention.
Gold or yellow metal accessories such as brass stand out beautifully with the strong jewel-colours.
Neutral stone flooring compliments the bright colour palate.
Following the stripe theme again, furnishings no longer need to be plain as stylized floral themed prints and stripes are returning as upholstery options.
Accent cushions in softer reds or pumpkin orange add some flare to more subtle coloured rooms.
Sophisticated Simplicity: Hints of old Hollywood are helping to bring some glamour back into the home. Colours include classic black and white, as well as metallic sheens and accents. All of these help to accentuate both the bright Asian-inspired hues and the softer, natural tones. Too much can get gaudy, but the right amount can truly compliment the room. Here are some other simple yet sophisticated ideas:
Exotic yet classy glass accents or furniture which could include glass mosaic tiles, recycled glass countertops or artistic glass accent pieces. Translucent glass is also appearing in many modern appliances.
Eco-friendly modern appliances such as smart taps or low-flush toilets to help conserve water are growing in popularity. As well, as technology advances, you’ll find more modern appliances in unusual places. Kohler’s DTV showering experience allows people to create personalized ambiance in the bathroom from water temperature to lighting and music!
Purples and grays reminiscent of that by-gone era are now coming back in full force.
Metallic finishes are still a popular choice, including gold, silver or copper accents. Brushed nickel is now an attractive option. Metallic wallpapers are even coming back on the scene. As well, metallic accents work nicely. Consider an antique silver lamp stand, a gold wall hanging or a copper sink!