Home Decorating Trends

We’ve heard it time and again: the bedroom is often the last place you tackle decorating because it’s behind closed doors (and it seems more practical to devote your energy and dollars to the more public areas of your home). However, just because you’re not ready to take a deep dive into reimagining your sleeping quarters doesn’t mean there isn’t something you can do to spruce up the place in the meantime…sort of like a pre-makeover.

Beds have been around for thousands of years, so you'd think that we had pretty much seen everything, design-wise. But that's where you'd be wrong.

It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment everyone became obsessed with all things Moroccan—poufs, lanterns, tagines, tea tables. But when it comes to textiles, the picture is a little bit clearer. A few years ago, interiors with Beni Ourain rugs started popping up in shelter magazines (and on websites like this one!). Then in a watershed design moment, if you will, West Elm released the Souk Rug back in 2012 or so, and it was on.

Target fans know how easy it is for a “quick trip” (online or in person) to turn into a long meander looking at, well…everything. It seems the only problem we might run into is figuring out what not to buy. So, who better than a hip designer to help us on our next Target shopping spree? We called on Natalie Myers, the mastermind behind Veneer Designs, to see what specific home decor items she’s a fan of at the superstore, and her selections didn’t disappoint.

I’ve always loved to play with colors, and put together unexpected and maybe unusual combinations, and my most recent favorite is this: black and mint. Like mint chocolate chip ice cream, but with a little more sophistication. The mint is cool, refreshing, gentle: the black adds an unexpected contrast, and a modern edge. The vibe is a little bit art-deco Miami, with a little bit of Memphis thrown in for good measure.

Are you tired of minimalism? You’ve come to the right place. As the pendulum of design inevitably swings, people have been scrambling to predict what look will replace the all-white, minimal, Scandinavian style that is so popular right now. A lot of people have pointed to maximalism, which is the inevitable foil to maximalism. But what kind of maximalism? I think I may have stumbled across the answer.

Textiles can really make a room, but they can also be pretty polarizing once you’re talking patterns beyond a simple stripe or classic dot. Right now, there seems to be room for a little bit of everything in the world of fabric: old world toiles sit alongside bold geometrics at showrooms, and you can’t go far down the Pinterest rabbit hole without stumbling upon a global-inspired ikat or an African mudcloth.

And if your grandma has a bed like this, then she's pretty okay in our book.

Never has this textile looked so good.

From polka dots to kaleidoscopic prints, scroll ahead for some gorgeous graphic sofas that will seriously make you reconsider your opinion of patterned upholstery.

Black walls have been a hot trend in interior design for some time now, but lately I’ve been seeing a sort of twist on the look that I especially like: black walls with a white floor. Nothing livens up a room like contrast, and black + white is the ultimate contrast. Plus, the two elements balance each other out nicely: a white floor keeps a black-walled room from feeling too drab, and black walls keep a white floor from feeling too sterile. They’re really a very nice match.

Here's one (relatively inexpensive) thing that can have a huge impact on the look of your bathroom.

Some trends stand the test of time for a reason. Case in point: cement tiles. Although they’ve been making waves in the decor scene for a looong while now (historians date some versions back to the 12th Century), these beautiful tiles started to pop up inside the most design-savvy contemporary homes across the globe in recent years in a big way. And it’s not difficult to see why. Along with creating artfully polished displays, cement tiles are crafted from natural materials (i.e.

There’s a color combination I’ve been seeing pop up in bedroom after bedroom recently. From transitional to eclectic to bohemian style, it seems to be the kind of combo that works with any decor look. And considering one half of the pair is very popular (like, the most popular), it’s not surprising that the trend is starting to swing in this direction.

Bright and rosy, copper is the metal of the moment, and its warm shine is especially welcome in the kitchen. We’ve written before about ways to add copper to your kitchen, but even if a remodel isn’t in the cards for you, there are still plenty of ways you can get the look. If you’d like to start small, this set of servers is a good place to begin. Add a shelf to a bit of free wall space and use it to store spices or oils (or just prop up a favorite piece of art).

Pantone's choice of Serenity and Rose Quartz as co-colors of the year in 2016 did a lot to rescue this pairing from the nursery, but this post is not about sweet, pastel shades.

I think it safe to say that, while we’re probably at the height of the bed-in-a-box phenomenon, beds themselves are at an all time low, literally. Many of the popular sleep startups’ mattresses don’t require a boxspring, and a bunch of new bed frame designs are basically hovering just a few inches above the floor or right on top if it, a la this Lonny bedroom. So what was once the look of college crashpads is basically now high design.

Design preferences tend to change over time, and when you’re looking back at vintage interiors a lot of them can seem, well, strange. But it’s also true that a lot of “new” trends are really just ones recycled from the past—things that a few years ago would have seemed odd, and are now suddenly all the rage. And a lot of times my own reaction to strange old trends is less “that’s so strange” and more “why don’t we still have that?

The International Contemporary Furniture Fair, or ICFF, is like the design world’s answer to a runway show, a place to see all the latest and greatest designs for your home, all under one roof. This past week, two of our editors, Nancy and Arlyn, scoured the show looking for the most interesting and innovative designs. Here are 15 of the best. Above: Give us terrazzo mixed with acrylic and wood beads any day, and we’d be happy as a clam.

Anyone who lives, breathes, dreams design will understand the following: sometimes, you become fixated on something design-y, and then —like learning a new word that you start to hear everywhere — you start to see that design-y thing everywhere (much to your delight, but also much to your chagrin because you WANT.IT.) Well, that is me currently with colored glass and mirrors.

One of my favorite trends in furniture is the comeback of cane. I remember it from my grandparents’ house in the ’80s (sticking your fingers into the weave), but, paired with contemporary materials and worked into modern shapes, it can also feel very fresh and very new. And the good news is that, unlike a lot of other furniture trends, cane is fairly democratic, appearing in a lot of admittedly very expensive pieces, but also a few at the more modest end of the spectrum.

Today in old things that are new again: caned furniture, which has been around for a long time but suddenly feels very fresh. This isn’t the first time in design history that cane furniture has been recognized as a particularly good fit for modern interiors—designers like Pierre Jeanneret and Harvey Probber did lovely work with cane in the middle of the 20th century.

One of the most exciting (and most alarming) things about the internet is the speed with which information travels, and the speed with which ideas catch fire, achieve full saturation, and then become passé, often within a matter of weeks. Case in point: the strange phenomenon known as millennial pink. Perhaps you’ve never heard of it, or perhaps you’re already tired of it. I know I am. And yet, here I am.

Want to see the world through rose-colored glasses? Take a peek at these beautiful blushing interiors.

French women have had a mythological standard of perfection attributed to them, often being characterized as having it all figured out. One scan across the shelves of your local bookstore will tell you that, if book titles are any indication, they know how to dress better, eat better, and just generally do everything better than women who are not French.

First off, I want to thank all of you for your patience as we have been preparing this fabulous collection to present to you in all of its styled glory. After teasing you with the inspiration last week and party pics earlier this week, I am so excited to present the OFFICIAL introduction to the new line of upholstered furniture designed by Christiane Lemieux and Meganne Wecker of Cloth & Company and available through Amazon.

I do not attempt to hide my love for trend spotting. Seeing what’s on the horizon for design makes me giddy. I’m not a slave to trends, as I believe that you should buy what you like because you like it (although I must admit I recently purchased a “millennial pink” vase, but only because I loved the shape and it was on clearance and I make no apologies).

One of the hottest new trends in the world of wallcoverings is marble-print wallpaper. These swirly, fantastical papers range from more abstract, marbleized patterns to ones that are almost indistinguishable from actual stone. Whichever side of the spectrum you fall on, marble wallpaper is a great way to bring a touch of luxury — and a little scope for the imagination — to your home. Here are some of our favorite patterns.

We’re big on the iridescent/unicorn/mermaid craze around these parts, so when we heard from our friends at Pinterest that they sniffed out a new, related trend—mermaid tiles and fish scale motifs—we just had to share. Last year, we reported on the look, but the seafaring motif seems to have continued to gain traction.

It's like blush's moody, worldly, more sophisticated cousin...and we can't get enough.

As a writer for Apartment Therapy, I spend a lot of time predicting trends, and watching trends come and go. I also spend a lot of time thinking about why certain trends come and go. Interior design is always being influenced by outside factors—certainly fashion, and definitely pop culture.

There are a few privileges to being an editor in the design world, one of which is getting to see the future (a.k.a. what’s going to be in stores well before anyone else is privy to that information). This comes in handy when trend forecasting happens to be your sport of choice.

Time and time again, necessity proves to be the mother of invention. That’s certainly the case for Femke Furnée, founder of FEST Amsterdam. If you’re already hip to the awesomeness that is this Dutch home goods company, you’re definitely not alone, as the brand, in its four years of operation, has taken the design world by storm. But let’s go back to the beginning here.

When Target starts to carry something, you know you've reached trend fever pitch.

In a world where buying a new sofa can be accomplished by a couple clicks, some in the design world are resisting this fast-paced, instant gratification direction in favor of a slower way. An offshoot of the Slow Movement — which began in Italy in 1986 as the Slow Food Movement (a natural reaction against a McDonald’s opening up) and has gained serious traction as of late — Slow Design focuses on process, origin and materials, while valuing the environment and the individual.

We’re only a few months into 2017, but that hasn’t stopped Pantone from looking inside their colorful crystal ball. At the International Home & Housewares Show in Chicago this week, the international authority on color gave attendees a peek into what’s on trend for 2018.

As Nancy pointed out recently, there are some kitchen design choices that never go out of style — retro SMEG fridges and farmhouse sinks fall firmly in this category. If they’ve been considered stylish and practical for decades, chances are they’ll still be popular a couple decades from now.

The natural look is just another reason we're adding "kitchen renovation" to our home wish lists.

In an energetic student town one and a half hours outside Amsterdam, where old factories have been converted into artists’ studios, galleries, shops, restaurants and lofts, a fresh generation of designers is envisioning the future of Dutch design. With graduates from both the Design Academy and the University of Technology creating a synergy between design and tech, the focus is forward-thinking, with an eye for reinvention.

Oil cleansers, water cleansers, essence, ampoules, and sheet masks for lips (true story!), there is a bit of a learning curve with Korean skincare products. But there’s also a reason why these products are superstars in the global skincare industry: they are good. Like really good. If you don’t already have your own K Beauty skincare favorites, I’ve rounded up 20 products that are receiving heaps of praise from Soko Glam to Sephora. Check them out.

Lately, they’re everywhere: huge, darkly dramatic floral wallpapers that draw you in with their lusciousness and sheer scale. If you love the look, and have been wanting to re-create it in your own homes, you’re in luck, because we’ve rounded up a definitive list of sources, in patterns and price ranges to suit every home. Anthropologie, always a great source for unusual and innovative wallpapers, sells this five-panel wall mural bursting with oversize florals.

Copper is definitely the metal of the moment. It always adds a little bit of warmth—and a touch of the unexpected—to any room. If you’re looking to inject some of the rosy metal to your home in the form of a dramatic light fixture, look no further than these 10 beautiful, modern copper chandeliers. A modern, geometric style at a nice price. This retro style puts a funky twist on warm metals. I love the simplicity and elegance of this three-bulb style.

As a close watcher of trends in the design world, I will say that there’s a lot out there that is very beautiful, but few things that feel really new. There are always exceptions, though, like these iridescent homewares (and accessories). They feel different and futuristic and maybe even a little bit magical, the perfect thing for taking your home, and your style, to the next level. Above: Definitely a bit pricey, but watch for sales.

The zigzag pattern known as herringbone has been around for a long time, but right now it’s enjoying a moment of particular popularity. The pattern, whether rendered with wood or tile, is a great way to add a little movement, and a little touch of the unexpected, to any space. Below are examples of beautiful rooms showcasing the pattern in classic, as well as modern, applications. Above and up top: Gorgeous herringbone wood floors grace a home designed by Gisbert Poeppler.

If the words sheet mask, Peach & Lily, 10-step skincare routine, and BB cream are familiar to you, then you’re probably up on the Korean beauty trend, which continues to grow in popularity in the US—partly because it’s lauded as a more natural, intentional approach to skincare, and partly because of the ridiculously cute packaging. I mean, moisturizing face mist in a pink bunny bottle? You had me at bunny!

Tropical prints like banana and palm tree leaves, monster plants and beyond have been hotter than the climates they normally reside in over the past year, and are still going strong. These leafy motifs make a space eternally happy, playful and perfect for daydreaming about lounging on the beach all day, even in the dead of winter. Be made in the shade with these 11 picks and sources.

One of the perks of having a mother who was very into both garage sales and interior design was growing up in a house filled with wacky old design books from the 1960s and ’70s. In their pages, I was exposed to many strange and wonderful things, not least among them supergraphics, the crazy stripes and arcs and rainbows that covered every surface of a room, irrespective of walls or floors or furniture.

I’ve always been a huge fan of pink and green together, and the current trend towards more somber, desaturated colors has put a fresh new spin on this classic combo. Hunter green and dusty pink are beautiful on their own, of course, but they’re even better together. This kitchen from Little Greene pairs a pink that’s just a wee bit bubble gummy with a dark green (and an oak worktop) that balances it out nicely.