It's Offically Summer! HOT Trends in Decorating.

May 29th, 2014

Summer 2014 is just around the corner, and the trends are HOT! You may have just brightened your living room for spring and may be wondering how you can change up your space for summer, we’ve got some insight on what you can expect to be trending for summer 2014.

H&M’s Spring/Summer collection show the hottest summer trends, using different geometric patterns in a room can add texture throughout the room. I think we can expect to see a lot of pattern mixing.

Another hot trend this summer is using neutral colors for walls and furniture and accenting them with bright colored pillows or accessories.

 

Other trends that are included for summer is floral patterns and stripes, the popular colors for the summer are mostly earth tones, reds, and blues.

5 tips to give your interior a quick, cost-effective lift

1.     Pull furniture away from walls.

When furniture is pushed back against the walls, it makes the space feel uninviting and disoriented.  Floating furniture in the room allows you to have conversation groupings and give the space a more intimate feel.

2.     Two feet on the rug.  Make sure at least the 2 front feet (if not, all 4) of your furniture are on the area rug.  Avoid floating a small rug in the middle of your seat grouping, it looks awkward and calls attention to sizing mistake.  If your rug is too small to allow your pieces to sit on it, remove it from the space. It is better to go without than to have a rug that is too small!

3.     Group your artwork. Pictures and artwork are so much more impactful when clustered together on one wall versus spread out individually on every wall.  There are so many ways to group things to create visual interest, and you can even use groupings to hide unsightly elements like a thermostat in the middle of the wall.  Don’t be afraid to mix various sized items together if it makes sense.

4.     Keep your accessories trendy.  If you are in love with the chevron print that is currently so popular, you can buy some new throw pillows in that pattern and spruce up your sofa.  The benefit of keeping trendy patterns and colors in your accessories is that you never invest too much money in those items and they are easy to change when you tire of them.

5.     Paint!  Changing the paint color of a room is the most inexpensive way to update it.  A fresh color allows you to see your furnishings in a whole new way, as well.  Don’t be afraid to try a new color, you just may fall in love with it

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It's time for professional interior design when...

You’re a DIY-er, and you’ve got skills.  You’ve built cupboards, reupholstered chairs, and painted your heart out.  But even though you are qualified to tackle just about any project, there are times when you know it’s time to seek professional help. 

For example--when you have more empty cans of Drano than you care to admit, and your sink is still stopped up, it’s time to call a plumber.  But how do you know when it’s time to use a professional interior design service?

Here are some tips:

An interior design service can help when:  

1. You take back many, if not all, the pieces you buy because "they're just not quite right."

2. You have a stack of paint chips from the home improvement store but your walls are the same color they've been for the last 8 years.

3. You know how you want your room to look and feel but you have no idea how to make it happen.

4. You're terrified to make a mistake so you never make major changes to your home.  

For more info on how professional interior design can help your next do it yourself project, visit www.outoftheboxroomdesign.com.   

Bring the Outdoors In!

One of our favorite design trends is also one of the most unique:  bringing the outdoors in.

That can be easier to say than it is to actually DO, though (a great example is the gorgeous-but technically challenging--indoor "tree" (pictured at left).

So how can a thrifty (and realistic) DIY-er accomplish this look?

Just like the outdoors itself...keep it simple.

Look for (or create for yourself) accessories that give your space a rustic feel, without being overwhelming. This  antler wall hanging (pictured at right) is a great example.

Smart furniture choices can also do the trick--and allow you to accomplish your goal without spending a lot of time and DIY hours.

In fact, one rustic piece, integrated in even the most traditional or even high-tech design, such as the kitchen pictured at left, can give any room a dash of the outdoors.

Whatever you do, make sure it fits your general style, whether that is bold, understated, quirky, or luxurious.