When it comes to home décor, 2016 was the year of everything from woven wall hangings to Scandinavian-inspired interiors. And as the year winds down, soon enough your thoughts will most likely wander to a home refresh. So it’s worth exploring the top decorating trends that will likely be on repeat in homes across the country—and possibly in your own abode.We checked in with three interior designers—Martyn Lawrence-Bullard, Young Huh, and Beth Diana Smith—for their 2017 decorating forecast and some easy pointers on how to make them your own. These trends are chic, inspiring, and (fortunately) don’t require a complete room overhaul.GreenAccording to celebrity interior designer Martyn Lawrence-Bullard, who counts Kendall Jenner among his list of clients, green is “strong again.” From lime green to emerald, the hue works throughout the home—whether it’s as a wall color or a room-filling rug. If you’re not too keen on the idea of using green in large doses, Lawrence-Bullard has a suggestion: “Add really fun emerald glasses to your regular white plates and suddenly you’ve got that up-to-the minute look.”
Tropical PrintsIt’s no secret that interior design takes cues from the runways, and this year, we’ve seen the likes of Marc Jacobs, Prada, and Emanuel Ungaro experiment with all things tropical. The print will continue to appear in wallpaper and designer fabrics, according to Lawrence-Bullard. But don’t worry if such in-your-face prints are out of character for you. He suggests throw pillows boasting the trendy pattern: “Always buy a plain sofa and change it up with new pillows,” Lawrence-Bullard advises. “It’s just like buying a great piece of classic clothing. You can certainly refresh it with a new bag and shoes.”TextureWeaving texture into an interior makes it more inviting and the idea of mixing fabrics and materials will be on the rise. “Texture is really important,” says Lawrence-Bullard. “We are seeing more and more texture in every form, from brushed brass tables to light fixtures to fabrics and wallpapers.” A quick way to test the trend: Drape a nubby wool throw over a leather chair or mix fabrics used for decorative pillows.
Marble and Brass CombinationsYoung Huh, who was named one of Vogue’s five young interior designers on the rise in 2015, promises marble and brass will continue to dominate in 2017. “We’re going to see this trend in both kitchens and baths,” Huh explains. “It’s that combination of something very natural and clean, like white marble, and something industrial, hard, and a little bit glamorous with the brass.”Muted ColorsDoes the thought of bold colors anywhere in your home make you feel a tinge of anxiety? Don’t fret—it’s all about neutrals in the year ahead. “Whites, beiges, pale grays, camel, and blush pink are super on-trend,” Huh says.GeometricsYour goal should always be to create a home that feels curated, and an easy way to accomplish this is through pattern. “We’ll see inventive geometrics that speak to ancient cultures, whether it is African or Asian patterns, but they’ll be modernized,” Huh says. Think simple lines, geometric designs, and triangles, Huh explains.
Quirky LightingThink of lighting as an accessory for your home—it’s the perfect way to show off your unique design sensibility. “A quirky lighting fixture looks great in a dining room,” Huh says. “It’s a great space to go for it and do something unusual.” Also consider sprucing up your bedside lamps with something truly memorable.Artisan-Crafted FurnitureFor New Jersey–based interior designer Beth Diana Smith, the new year will include an emphasis on uniquely crafted furniture. “People will be going back to furniture that is more of an investment—furniture that is very well-made,” Smith says. She recommends antique shopping for pieces that will add character to your home and browsing sites like Chairish.GrayGray was a prominent color in 2016 interiors and it will continue to reign in 2017. “We will see different tones of gray, a lot of gray and white, and gray in deeper colors,” Smith says. It’s the sort of color that complements a full spectrum of shades, from bold red to mellow ivory.
BronzeSmith promises that 2017 will bring loads of bronze—a metal that warms up any space. “It’s a lot more classic in a sense,” she says, as it complements a myriad of decorating styles. “I like it in lighting and accessories, whether it be vases, lamps, or decorative bowls for the kitchen,” Smith says.Like Architecture & Interior Design? The oft-repeated advice about writing and art, "you have to know the rules before you break them" is a vital part of interior design theory. This saying is especially helpful to remember when mixing styles or eras – it's always better to have an intimate understanding of the styles you want to emulate before embarking to reinvent those time-tested concepts. But nobody needs to be an expert to simply explore the options. In fact, these will help you learn the art of mixed-era design so you can adapt some of those transcendent to work within your own home. Our first dining room utilizes a crisp white and wood theme, separated from the parallel hallway by a black stone-clad fireplace.
The dining table is illuminated with Wireflow pendant lights designed by Arik Levy. This next space includes plenty of modern high-gloss materials but tempers them with classic mid-century furniture (notice the Eames dining chairs?) and a perfectly classic arrangement of black and white photography on the black accent wall. Classical elements like the large dining rug and the table’s curvy legs offer a sentimental counterbalance to the ultra-modern chandeliers and the contemporary Ale chairs from Roberto Lazzeroni. Composite stone floors take on a vintage-inspired salmon hue, juxtaposed again current dining room trends like the horizontal backsplash and the typographic wall decorations. Even the ceiling demonstrates a transition from old appreciated styles to a fresher aesthetic. This dining room combines new and old in interesting ways: herringbone floor and reclaimed wood table alongside industrial-inspired wire and geometric wall panels. The series of square shelves are an undeniably minimalistic touch.
A simple kitchen and dining combination – this space uses a combination of traditional and classic materials to create a bright and spacious area anyone would love to occupy. Clean, functional, and delightfully subdued. The only thing traditional about this dining room is the wood tabletop and wide-hewn wood floors. The suspended lighting does embody a retro form, but its materials are entirely contemporary. Simple wood paneling distinguishes the hallway from the kitchen, and highlights select cabinetry from within the kitchen itself. A sturdy wood table steals the show in this classically inspired dining room. The 1944 Wishbone chairs (by Hans Wegner) reinforce the traditional inspiration but utilize a gorgeous matte black color theme to bring them in like with contemporary trends. This dining room concept combines traditional materials and a retro-inspired table design with the recent Achille Armchair and Tom Dixon’s popular Beat Lamps. With a view like that, it makes sense to keep the furniture as streamlined as possible.
Herringbone floors in dark wood create a cozy and down-to-earth environment. The bench seats are used in an innovative way here, pushed aside when the table is needed for food preparation or other tasks. Low-profile wire chairs combined with classically styled dip-painted stools come together for a Bauhaus-like aesthetic, enhanced by the series of glass and black pendant lamps above. The kitchen itself is polished and current but outfitted with several cute vintage cooking implements. Iconic mid-century Eames chairs pair well with the distressed wood tabletop. More early modern influence comes from the 1925 PH 4/3 pendant light designed by Poul Henningsen. Even the chalkboard accent wall hosts a little vintage flair by way of classical signage lettering. Hans Wegner designed the CH88 chair in 1955 but it spent its entire life available only as a prototype – until, in celebration of what would be Wegner’s 100th birthday, when it finally enjoyed its public release. Hairpin legs are a distinguishing feature of mid-century inspired design, but the molded chairs that accompany the dining table are fresh and modern as can be.
This space demonstrates the best of modern minimalism and an appreciation for organic materials all at once. Ultra-modern interior styling displays only the most subtle influence from traditional design themes – like the parquet floor tiles, or the blown glass lighting collection. The lights are the work of Dan Yeffet and Lucie Koldova. Beautiful wooden floors offer a classic touch, as do the flowing curtains and scalloped pendant lights. Everything seems so very elegant and warm despite the relatively minimalistic pieces used throughout. Harvest gold and pea green make up a vintage color theme nobody could forget, yet this arrangement feels perfectly fresh and vibrant. The clever vertical garden idea pulls double duty for functionality and aesthetics. The chairs used in this design are one of the most successful designs of the industrial age, the famous 1859 Era Chair by Michael Thonet. Above, substantial metal pendant lights bring out the industrial attitude bestowed by the glossy black table and chairs.
Capturing the atmosphere of a warm autumn day, this formal dining arrangement peers out of a spectacular picture glass window. To the left, a versatile storage unit serves to divide the social areas while contributing to the rich wood theme. Geometric pendant lights offer that modernistic spark that ties the vintage furniture back to today’s favored trends. This modern dining room is a veritable gallery of classic chair designs, ranging from Wegner to Panton to Eames. The lamps are also a throwback of sorts – Jan Plecháč and Henry Wielgus designed these blown glass lamps as part of the Neverending Glory Collection, inspired by iconic chandeliers from the world’s most important opera houses and theaters. A bold and sophisticated brass chandelier adds a layer of tradition and charm within this minimalistic white dining arrangement. It’s hard to go wrong with a wood and white theme. This one incorporates the trendy horizontal wall paneling but keeps its classic flair with a set of mid-century Wishbone chairs and retro-inspired pendant lamps.