TOP DESIGN TRENDS

Sunnier days have us dreaming of freshening up our homes, and there is an abundance of inspiration to help you get started. The 2018 interior design trends are in full bloom.  Whether you’re looking to update the hardwood floors for a newer look, or are into a full blown kitchen remodel, consider this list of what’s trending in design today.

Brass and rose gold have been in the spotlight for a few years already.  They aren’t on their way out quite yet, but there is a new kid in town.  Welcome the new hottest finish: matte black.  Seen everywhere from kitchen appliances to door hinges and handles, matte black finishes add an instant update to your home.  You can make a really bold statement with modern black faucets.  Accessories for the bathroom range from industrial chic to glamorous.  For the tabletop, your next new splurge may have to be new matte black flatware!

If you haven’t jumped on the gray and white bandwagon, have no worries.  There is a warming trend coming and it is quite beautiful!  Welcome warm gray, taupe and an entire palette of neutral hues to choose from.  Millennial pink on the runways has spilled over into interior spaces and has become blush and rosé, pairing harmoniously with the warmer relaxing tones.  Golden ochre lends itself to the brass finishes we’ve been embracing, but we’ll see it in sumptuous fabrics and in graphic patterns.  Lavender and bottle green compliment warmer gray tones, especially when combined with wood and earthy materials.  

The ever so popular classic white kitchen is getting a makeover.  Painted shaker style cabinets with small millwork detail will be offered in sophisticated colors, with, you guessed it, gray undertones.  Colors like Prussian blue, slate blue and artichoke give homeowners a chance to express themselves. Painted artisanal tiles on backsplashes are another way to inject personality.  Quartz countertops offer the greatest variety of colors and patterns and are practical and durable, too.  The eased edge has replaced fussier edges like beveled and bullnose.  If you were never a fan of large kitchen islands, consider a dining table topped in a quartz slab!

Wood looking tile is still at large, but the new wave is towards large format tiles.  Because of their large size, there are greater chances for a slight curvature.  Professional tile installers should be hired to take care to properly lay them for the best looking job.  The fresh take on wood look tiles is seen dressing up the walls and installed every which way from vertically to herringbone.

Metallic finish on everything is all the rage at home. From metallic mirrored wall tiles to textured metallic floor tiles, the options are endless.  There metallic wallpapers and tiles with metallic embossing that look like wallpaper.  There are papers with metallic threads and pieces of metal hardware already adhered to the paper.  Furniture is now available in every gilded leaf imaginable, from rose gold to champagne bronze.  Hollywood glamour never looked so good! 

Millwork design is finally very important again. From paneled doors to feature walls to ceiling designs, this vintage craft is having a revival.  Wake up any dead wall in the living room, dining room, long hallway, or stairway with a raised panel design, painted in a matte or daring high gloss finish.  Dress up a bedroom wall behind the bed for a unique headboard design.

The modern digital world we live in has us craving more natural elements at home.  There is a huge trend towards the application of refined natural materials such as stone, concrete and wood. Marble and agate continue to accent our homes and are particularly soothing when combined with warm wood tones and relaxing colors like pearl pink, gray, and as mentioned before, bottle green and ochre.

Lastly, we are beginning to see softer lines and curves, replacing the severe edges of the modern furniture over the past decade.  The organic shapes are friendlier, more inviting and again, bring us back to the natural world. Fabric designs embrace more ethnic patterns and feel modern in neutral and monochromatic colorways.  Try the trend at home with a kidney bean shaped coffee table or round throw pillows!

Decorating your home should be fun and an extension of your personal style.  Trends are good to look at and help you get started on your design project, but essentially, you should chose what you love whether it is the trend or not, because it is your style.  And good style is always trending!

Hadassah Avraham is a designer and the owner of Elbat Design & Décor. Questions can be forwarded to her at elbatdesign@gmail.com