The past few decades have been characterized by modern design themes – sleek, smooth lines, minimalist rooms without a lot of furniture, muted or neutral colors, and eco-friendly building materials. These classic interior design trends are still relevant, but we’re seeing a shift toward what experts call “New Modernism” or “Refined Rustic.” You can think of it as “Old World Charm meets Sleek Modern Sophistication.” Here are some of the home décor trends reflecting this overarching theme that you can incorporate into your existing home or seek in new construction.
Top Home Décor Trends for 2017
Natural elements
Designers are bringing more elements from nature into suburban living. Families love:
- Rich grain
- Knotty wood accents in the kitchen
- Raw stone backsplashes, counters, and flooring
- Warm, bronze appliances
- Rough fabric textures
- Distressed wide-plank wood flooring
- Soothing earth tone accent walls juxtaposed by white shiplap walls
- Large windows to bring in natural light
- Airy, soaring high ceilings
- Green house plants
Deep natural shades and jewel tones
Deep purple-blue-gray is the most appealing shade for 2017, according to paint manufacturers. From the gray end of the spectrum with Benjamin Moore’s “Shadow” and Kelly Moore’s “Kettleman,” to the lighter “Violet Verbena” of PPG Paints, “Byzantine Blue” of Glidden, and “Cloudberry” of Olympic, the colors are all noticeably similar. Even the outliers – like Dunn-Edward’s “Honey Glow” and Sherwin-Williams’ “Poised Taupe” are rich, natural shades.
The colors aren’t pastel, but they’re definitely soothing, peaceful, and neutral. Vibrant splashes of jade, violet, and vivid ultramarine are also making waves in Valspar’s color palettes. Last year, we saw a resurgence of Art Deco inspired golds, purples, sapphires, and jades that are still popular going into 2017.
Smaller statement piece furniture
It used to be that everything had to be rectangular with stark edges. Now we’re seeing more round mirrors and curvy furniture back in the shops. Sprawling sofas are out; smaller loveseats and chairs are in. Designers are mixing marble, brass, wood, organic lava rock, metal, and upholstery in their pieces. Black steel and rattan are favorites that are not always easy to work into a design plan, but offer surprising sophistication when done right.
Focus on art
Interior design clients are basing entire rooms around their art collections these days. High-quality, affordable art is more accessible than ever to the general population and is not just a rich homeowner’s passion. Accent colors found in favorite paintings may dictate wall colors in some cases. In other cases, people are using functional artwork as the anchor in a room. For instance, lighting pieces may double as wall art. Boldly colored sculptural chairs are the highlight in otherwise neutral spaces. People are not afraid of patterned rugs, lampshades, or pillows as decorative accents to drive continuity between rooms.
Subway tile designs create art pieces out of shower or kitchen backsplashes. Funky, colorful, geometric patterned tiles, wallpapers, planters, and throw pillow fabrics are popping up in unexpected places to tickle the brain.
Functional design
People are looking for creative storage options and multipurpose spaces that adapt to their family’s needs. This might mean a beautiful storage cabinet that stretches along the entire wall of a room that serves as child toy storage now, but evolves into backpack lockers, or kitchen gadget and linen storage down the road as the kids get older.
Tables that dual-function as both dining and work surfaces are in demand. Built-in bookshelves can be used not just for books, but for displaying collector’s items, children’s artwork, and flower vases. Buyers are looking for creative pet food storage solutions, laundry room organization, computer stow-aways, mail sorting areas, and craft room storage to get rid of the clutter in their main spaces.
Where to see rustic modernism in action
One of the exciting places to see some of these design aesthetics come to life is in the new Town of Whitehall, located on the south bank of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal in Middletown, Delaware. Montchanin Builders describes their new town as “a uniquely walkable, mixed-use, family oriented community designed with both nostalgic ambience and modern convenience in mind.” They seek to embody the universal appeal of modern rustic design in their collaboration with Interior Concepts Inc.