2017 Interior Design Trends

Kimberly Varner, ASID, NCIDQ, Kimberly Varner Interior Design

Geometric Patterns

Geometric patterns are easy to incorporate into your design. Tile and wall coverings, along with pillows, throws, and other accents are wonderful ways to feature geometric shapes. Seen in fashion as well as in pillows and blankets, fringe will also be creeping onto all types of small furniture pieces. Metallics add sparkle to any design scheme and pearlescent accessories will also make a push. And finally, designs will call for touches of natural elements like wood. Carved bowls, clocks, and lamps add simple, powerful statements. Also look for wood applications to continue on accent walls and ceilings.

Ashley Stinson, Lead Designer, Broadleaf Residential, Inc.

Bold Twists

My biggest obsession this year is adding a twist to classic designs. For example, I like installing a mullioned glass shower door instead of clear glass, using funky cement tiles for floors and walls, mixing several colors and species of wood in cabinetry, putting thoughtful storage in every nook and corner, and creating outdoor living spaces that give inside spaces a run for their money! Clean white tops my list for walls, but accents of bold colors like emerald green, classic navy, and black are bold twists that give you the “wow” factor you are striving for. Step outside your comfort zone and check out the amazing finishes in lighting this year! You will see a new spin on gold, black, and even (my personal favorite) rose gold, so don’t be afraid to add them in. You won’t regret it! Have fun and be bold in 2017!

Dolores Wolfe, IDS, Wolfe Studio Interiors

Blues and grays are popular and are being used as background colors in rugs and upholstery. Of course, that means you can still use pops of gold, green, and red. Although traditional seems to still be the choice for long-term buyers, trendsetters like a softer contemporary mix that leans toward simple lines. Metallics are being mixed, rather than going with gold or silver by itself. Wood tones will be used against the neutrals instead of white, especially against the warmer gray blues and greens. Wall coverings are back! They are seen in large patterns with muted colors that pair well with cozy fabrics. Most of us want a home to be a comfortable place, and softer colors and fabrics are great to come home to!

Haskell Matheny, ASID, CAPS, Owner and Principal Designer, Haskell Interiors

Add Whimsy

Butterflies: this whimsical motif is no longer just for kids’ rooms. Appearing on fabrics, wall coverings, and accessories, it provides a fun yet elegant look to any décor and provides lots of color as well.

Laurel Powell, Laurel Powell Designs

Performance Fabrics

A big design trend right now is performance fabrics. We advise our clients to select and invest in quality pieces that they will have forever – and the best way to have them do that with confidence is by using a fabric that can withstand children, pets, and coffee stains. From outdoor fabrics for indoor use to leatherettes, we pick these out a lot in our projects. We are so impressed with how these fabrics have evolved with technology, even in the last five years. We also have a fabric treatment process that we treat fabrics with before they are realized into upholstery pieces. We advise our clients to use it so they never have to worry about a red wine spill ever again.

Jimmy Adams, Nell’s Home, Gifts, & Interior Design

Simplicity

Simple, easy living is still on trend in home fashion. Whether it is farmhouse style, urban ranch redo, or condo living, simplicity in form and quantity is key. We see fabrics like linen, viscose, and cotton that blend with easy hues such as pale pinks and airy whites and are complemented with warm bronzes and stark blacks. They define space with ease. Brass with an antique or aged finish is a trend as well as mixing metals of brushed nickel with brass. All are new and exciting. California-style living is still desired and can be seen in the lines of leading home furnishing suppliers like Restoration Hardware.

Linda Gaddis, Broker 35 South Real Estate & Design

Mix Metal Finishes

With each passing year, we see new trends that keep shopping fun. Warm, shiny metals like bronze or gold are taking the lead over brushed or burnished metals. However, resist the urge to have everything match. It is certainly fine to have a mixture of metals. This adds interest and personality to your home. When picking finishes for your new construction or remodel, select with longevity in mind. This will serve you well as you will not tire of your selections and they will still be attractive should you decide to sell.

Dana Moody, PhD, ASID, IDEC, UTC Interior Design

Smart Living

Today’s culture is obsessed with electronic devices and continues to seek ways to integrate more technology in homes. Integrating smart home technology, including whole-house audio systems and media room design, into remodels and new construction is becoming the norm. With one touch, homeowners are able to dim the lights, turn up the heat, stream their favorite music, lock the doors, and turn on the security system. To add smart home technology to your home, search for an electronic systems contractor in the area.

Marsha Yessick, ASID, NCIDQ, Yessick’s Design Center

Transitional Style

We are decorating in a transitional style, blending both traditional and contemporary elements. We see this in furniture especially, where sleeker, cleaner lines are being used. This year’s color is gray, all different shades. Other popular colors are aqua blues and terracotta colors of orange and brown. IKAT-patterned fabric is in, as well as geometric patterns. For window treatments, we are using European pleated panels, with interesting banding instead of fringe, in various shades of coordinated colors, using all types of rods and finials.

Leslie Morales, Smart Furniture, Photo courtesy of Our Ampersand Photography

Brass is Back

Brass finishes have been making a comeback slowly over the last few years. They have the ability to bring shiny golden tones to a space without the high price tag. Satin brass offers a richness that is more muted and warm but still adds just the right amount of contrast to finish the look. I especially like a satin brass finish because it’s transitional and can complement a number of styles. It also looks amazing against almost any color! I think we will continue to see rooms with satin brass for quite a while and possibly mixed with other finishes for a more eclectic look.

Lindsey Frost, Frost Designs

It’s All in the Woodwork

The simple design of farm life has hit the market big in woodworks this year. Back in the day, sheetrock was rarely used and wood planks covered the walls. It’s now popular again to let the bones and building materials of a house shine. Shiplap, wood beams, and heavy posts stand out in beautiful pine and cedar woods. You can accent a foyer wall, wrap around the kitchen, or apply shiplap (nickel gap) to ceilings using 1 x 6 or 1 x 8 MDF primed boards without breaking your bank. This ¾” material only costs $1.20 per foot, creating an effortless look for an effortless price!

Jim Laney, ASID NCIDQ The Design Company

‘Brake’ Conformity

“What goes around comes around” so be ready to see more traditional influences with a shift towards individuality. No more ‘formula’ decorating. Stark, homogeneous, and colorless styling must step aside for more creative ideas!

Michelle Workman, Michelle Workman Interiors

Art Deco Influence

Color, color, color. Pastels such as mint and lilac are predominating. Deeply saturated colors, like rich greens (forest green to emerald) and dark blues are also trending – neutrals are showing up as charcoal and vanilla with both gray and taupe fading away. An exotic mix of layers and textures is in. I am seeing a lot of shagreen, vellum, and burls, which are being mixed with metals, such as chrome, brass, and copper. Geometric shapes are in: faceted shapes are showing up in lighting and casegoods, occasional, and even tabletop furnishings. All of the above point to a highly sophisticated Art Deco influence. The stylized movement is strongly felt for the first time this year and promises more in the coming years.

Chris Stephens, Total Concepts Furniture

Furniture Your Way

Remove the skirt and expose the legs – on your new sofa! And add some swivel or motorized motion to your new chairs. Sofas are shrinking in scale and are being designed to the customer’s preference. You can custom order and design each piece your way. People want more comfortable, multi-functional home
seating. Emerging color schemes include Caribbean blue, shades of aqua oceans, and pale sky blues, along with greenery, the 2017 color of the year. Warm sunny yellows, accented with sunset coral reds are in the forefront, against soft sand backgrounds and stone gray silhouettes. Metallic gold will sparkle on the home design horizon in 2017 and 2018.

Laura Hertle, Laura Hertle Designs

Texture Love

Navy is big. Everyone’s doing navy and also different shades of green. A lot of the changes I’m seeing are in fabric – we’re using fewer patterns and more textures. Mixing tactile fabric choices is very popular – velvet with linen and silk. Velvet is extremely popular this year. Also, marble and stone are being mixed with brass a lot. Most importantly, trends come and go. You should always invest in fine pieces. Go for quality; even if that means you finish the room a little at a time. Make sure you love a piece before you buy it.