Interior design is a coordinate plan with clear guidelines in place to help enhance a home’s aesthetics and functionality. Plus, there are hundreds of styles that we can use to help create our space. Many interior design styles have come and went while we see interior design evolve over time, just like fashion and beauty. Some styles have indeed survived the test of time where others come and go. Many bold and contemporary designs seem to be much shorter-lived than safe and neutral designs. Typically, this is because neutrals do not make such bold statements where other colors can be very influential. Yet, when new bold design themes do come about, they usually change the perspective entirely and can revamp the next generation of design.

During the 1980s, Italian designer Ettore Sottsass and his design team created a daring and novel design theme that would break all the rules of the current design times. This design was referred to as Memphis design, which was named due to the famous Bob Dylan song “Stuck in Memphis.”

What Is Memphis Design?

Memphis design is nothing short of abstract. It is probably the easiest design to recognize because of how whimsical and unique it is. During the 1940s, Mid-Century Modern took the forefront of many designs. It revolutionized architecture and home designs throughout the United States. However, having too much of a good thing can soon make it overused. Since Mid-Century Modern was a very minimalistic and neutral color palette, it had constructed rules which help create and make the atmosphere. During the 1980s, Sottsass and his team decided to make something untraditional or “radical, funny, and outrageous” as they put it. They created the rule-breaking, whimsical, pop art, and colorful Memphis design.

The Return of Memphis Design

Likewise, we have seen neutral color themes for the last several years. For instance, many rooms have been painted gray, beige, and white, and as children grew up with this color palette, they began to want more color. However, those children are adults and homeowners today, and we notice that generation X loves their colors. They are adding colors more than ever into their homes and apartments. So, we slowly see the return of rule-breaking colors and patterns to create an artsier and maximalism-styled home.

How to Master This Whimsical Style

The color palette is completely open but thrives off bold, neon, and pastel colors and a lot of them! Many rooms will have more than a dozen bold colors incorporated in their design. Plus, this style has unique and contemporary geometrical shapes to construct furniture and patterns. It also uses a ton of patterns where most designs stick to one or two.

What do you think of this crazy design? Is it refreshing to see colors back into homes, or is this design too much? We would love to get your opinion below in the comment section.

When designing your space, you have the freedom to add whatever décor, paint colors, furniture, and style you want. Without guidance, the overall look can become a chaotic mess; therefore, it is important to have a structure to your design. You want your home to flow and your design theme to agree with itself. Fortunately, there are several interior design themes homeowners and businesses return to for there general concepts and styling, which look great when replicated. One of these design themes is Scandinavian. You may know this styling more as the “Ikea” design styling. Scandinavian design is an excellent design with sleek lines, a clean atmosphere, and a minimalistic approach. So if you are looking to master this style in your own home, here are several key factors that contribute to this styling:

Color Palette

As soon as you see a Scandinavian design, you will quickly notice the very muted and neutral color palette. Typically, the designs are made from whites, greys, blacks, and beiges, yet some very pastel colors can trickle into the design as well. These muted colors allow light to travel more freely in the space and open up the atmosphere.

Woods

With the neutral color palette, many light-colored kinds of wood are included in the designs. From hardwood flooring to furniture designs, wood is essential to completing this styling. Look for light woods like beech, pine, and ash. You will also notice that authentic Scandinavian design never uses wall-to-wall carpet. Instead, consider adding a comfortable rug to the room for added comfort.

Greenery and Natural Lighting

A dull color palette would feel dead without the proper accommodation of greenery and natural lighting. To master Scandinavian design, make sure you allow natural lighting to flow into your space as much as possible. You can also flourish your room with plant life to help spruce up and revitalize the area.

Minimalism

This design style features sleek lines and a very minimalistic approach. The light color palette and natural elements help open up the environment. Even art work is considered to be very minimalistic in these design themes. Remember, less can be more in many design situations. Do not over-clutter your space.

Cozy Textiles

The last thing that brings this design full-circle is the attention to cozy textiles. The sleek lines, hard cut furniture, wood, and grey atmosphere can quickly drain its comfort. However, Scandinavian design has a solution for this. This design commonly indulges in cozy textiles, warm throw blankets, fun pillows, and great rugs. Do not forget to add your space of comfort to these areas to help complete your design.

All in all, Scandinavian design is highly praised for its simplicity and attention to detail. What do you think of this design style? Would you use it in your own home? Let us know your thoughts below in the comment section, and for more insight on designs, make sure to subscribe!

Things that we see every day, we begin to build immunity toward. It is easy to walk into a new home and see its strong and weak design attributes. However, consider your own life. Sometimes, we do not even notice ourselves aging because we see ourselves every day. However, run into someone you have not seen in ten years, and they may look different! Likewise, this immunity can occur in our own design themes in our homes. Over time, we become numb to weak points in our design and do not make them priorities to fix.

Step Back and Reevaluate

We live in our homes every day. It is easy to come immune to clutter or outdated designs. It is time to step back and unbiasedly assess your space. Are there areas that are outdated? Are there places that could use some decluttering? Stepping back and honestly assessing your space is the only way to reveal weak points. Do not look at your home as yours anymore. Try to disconnect your personal attachment and truly critique each room.

Declutter

One sure way to improve a design is to declutter. While minimalism is not for everyone, it is a style or genre which is easy to follow. The process truly consists of less is more. If you are at a total loss on where to begin in your design, you may need to declutter. We accumulate a lot of stuff over time. From furniture, outdated electronics, and décor, our homes are filled with miscellaneous clutter. Try to remove clutter from rooms to help reveal a more minimalistic aesthetic nature to your own design.

Continue to Learn

Another way to improve your design is to enhance your knowledge continually. Expand what you know and explore different designs. From social media, design catalogs, or blogs, all these can be continual avenues to explore in your own design. Maybe you have outgrown your old-style, or it has become outdated. Try to explore some of the newer trends and see which may work in your home.

Too often, we become content. There are endless tasks to be completed in every household. It comes down to how much you prioritize them. Try to assess your own design honestly.

A fad is a general style that was typically short-lived yet very trendy or loved during its time. However, a trend is much longer and even more influential to the era. As we progress through time, we see many trends and fads come and go. Yet, some trends have been coming back into style over the last couple of years. This may be the beginning of some new trendy styles and interior design ideas. As we analyze today’s design, fashion, and social media influences, we can see certain trends rapidly growing. Today, we took a closer look at those trends and made our top predictions of 2020 interior design trends. Let’s take a look!

More Color

Interior design has been very black and white lately, yet this trend seems to be fading. Neutral color palettes are beginning to turn more colorful. While neutrals will always be in style, homeowners and businesses are beginning to take bolder approaches in their designs. Bright colors and even gender-influenced colors are becoming more common in everyday fashion and design. In fact, pink and purple have slowly become more gender-neutral colors, and they are becoming part of different color palette options. Designers that would never bring more than three colors to a room are simply adding more to their designs. Therefore, we believe color is going to become much more common in 2020’s interior design.

Mixed Wood

While a uniform design was once highly sought-after, each wood can bring a different value of character to a space. Wooden chairs not matching the wood of the dining room table, dark wood trim with whitewashed wood floors, or even mismatched bedroom set woods are slowly becoming viable options. We believe we will see many more mixed wood options in the near future of interior design.

Floral

Floral prints were once very trendy. They went out of style in fashion for a while, yet as time progressed, we saw more homeowners bring elements of nature into the home. This helped influence floral design’s comeback in the textile industry. Men and women’s fashion both reintroduced many floral prints this year. We see it actively moving into next year and breaking into many homes’ interior design as well.

While our predictions can just be educated guesses, it is always fun to think about the upcoming trends. What do you think are some trends we will be seeing next year? Do you think we will see more colors and diverse wood materials? Would you put floral designs in your own home, or do you have them already? Let us know in the comment section.

Rustic Design is praised for its simple approach of creating a beautiful atmosphere by incorporating earthy tones and a warm, inviting comfort into the design.  This timeless design theme is not created through sleek technology, modern art, or evolutionary architect in mind but instead focuses on the organic elements of nature, functionality, and comfort.  Stones, woods, metals, and even bricks thrive in this environment as they enhance the space.  However, not all metals are as welcomed to this design.  Remember, rustic themed spaces are reflected through including aspects of the outdoors.  Highly polished metals can create quite a spectacle yet may not be best for these types of designs.  We put together some beneficial metals to incorporate in your own Rustic Design that can help elevate your look and keep an eye on detail!

Galvanized Metal

Galvanized metal is when a protective layer is applied to iron or steel.  These metals are molded into decor then submerged into a molten zinc bath.  They then coat the metal with a unique look that is highly durable.  This decorative metal can amplify your Rustic Design in your home by adding character to the decor while giving it a great look!

Golds, Copper, and Bronzes

The great thing about metals is they are considered very neutral.   Gold, copper, and bronze are great to add throughout your home.   Whether you change your appliance to these materials or accent it through your cabinet handles and decor, these metals can keep your color palette feeling natural and earthy. 

Rusted Metal

What is Rustic Design without a little bit of rust?  While this is usually avoided with most metals, rust can add more character to the decor.   This can be greatly used in a wall decor piece or a fun patio decorative item.  Rust has a very worn and natural look which can amplify your home’s atmosphere and make it feel more “lived-in.”

Whatever metals you decide to use in your home, be cognitive of how it affects the space. Remember that decor can make or break a space. Keep in mind that rustic themed spaces should feel cozy, yet should also be highly functional.  Sometimes, less is more.   

Do you use any of these metals in your own space? If so, how and where? Let us know in the comment section!

With the seasons changing, your home may become a little more cold than usual. Or perhaps, your home has always been on the cold side. No matter what your circumstance may be, you are cold and do not like it. To help you fight back against the chill, we have created five genius ways to use decor to add warmth to your home. Let’s take a look! 

Décor Ideas for a Cold Home:

1.  Work with Warm Tones.

The colors used within your space can actually make the room feel colder. Be sure to use a warm tone color palette within your space to help create a more comforting and cozy environment. Warm tones consist of colors like tans, browns, beiges, reds, burgundies, oranges, rusts, yellows, and olive-greens. Their warm nature will help add comfort and coziness to a chilly space.

2.   Add Comfort.

If your floors are cold to the touch, it can be imperative to begin the warming process with proper textiles and insulation. Layers can create the perfect “warming” effect that you desire. Plus, they help to add a stylish touch to the space. Be sure to add plush pillows, soft blankets, and cozy rugs for add softness and warmth.

3.  Genius Hacks.

If you know that insulation is specifically a problem in your home, you may find it helpful to hang wall tapestries. While being extremely stylish additions, they can help warm up your space and add a layer of heat. Plus, they are easy to remove which makes switching up your décor easy than ever.

4.  Focus on Windows.

Windows can, in fact, be a significant source of cold drafts. If you are looking for a stylish way to warm up your windows, you can purchase heavy curtains for your windows. The heavy curtains will help to reduce the chill caused by drafts and keep your room feeling warm and toasty.

5.  Your Getaway.

Our last and final tip for cold homes is to create a cozy, comfortable bed. With a bed that oozes warmth, you will be excited to jump into it after a long day. To help add warmth, we recommend adding extra blankets, pillows, and sheets. Plus, you can even add a heated blanket for chilly nights. Just be sure to shut it off when you are not with it.

We hope you enjoyed these tips and tricks! Let us know how you stay warm in the comment section. 

What is the first thing you notice about this room scene? Red, right! Red is a bold color that tends to stand out whether in interior design, an accessory to an outfit, or as a car color driving by on the street.  It reminds us of the power of red as a color in decorating.  Red is a great color for the home and can be used as a wall or accent color.

A few years ago red dining rooms were all the rage. This could have stemmed from the study that showed red increases our appetite. Today we are seeing fewer red dining rooms but not less red in interiors.

Red is a powerful color when used in its pure form. Power suits and ties are often red because of the strength of this color.  Having a red wall or red carpet makes a very strong design statement in a room.  For this reason many people prefer to use red as an accent color. Red today is often used as an accent color on area rugs and pillows.

The variation of red hues can run from plums to tomato reds, which allow red to be used in a wide variety of color palette. Terracotta red tile floors are great in the kitchen while deep plum is a cozy color for the walls in a master bedroom.  Red and grey is also a great color combination for the living room.

Reds work with neutrals like grey, other warm colors like orange, or contrast with cool colors like aqua.  Adding a pop of red to your counter top or sofa will bring energy to your room.

Contemporary spaces that have minimal ornamentation and decorative flourishes rely heavily on the beauty of the materials used within them. This living room is a beautiful example of using stone in a contemporary space. Stone is a good choice for contemporary style that puts an emphasis on green and natural materials with clean lines and surfaces.

The largest area of stone in the space is the stone floor.  The warm hued stone covers both the living area and the step up to the hallway.  Continuing the material throughout both spaces helps the areas flow together into one large space. Placing the same tiles on the steps leading down into the living room makes the steps blend into the floor, enhancing the seamless flow between spaces. Using a tile that is a foot square adds enough variety to create a pattern while maintaining a uniform look. Larger size tiles could also work on this floor.

More stone is used on the fireplace wall. Extending the tiles beyond the fireplace surround gives this focal wall more presence in the room.  The stone on the wall is different than the stone tiles on the floor, but both are in the same color group so work together well.

Carrying the stone from the floor up onto the wall wraps the room in the natural material. Despite its cool surface, the natural stone color warms the space and gives it character. For a room that has neutral, light furnishings, the stone adds color and subtle pattern too.

When writers get stuck it is called writer’s block. We’ve decided that there is also something called designer’s block. It is similar to writer’s block in that both are the feeling of being stuck and unable to move forward with a project or decision. Designer’s block can strike at the beginning, middle or end of a design project. It can stem from a problem floor plan or awkward room design; or be something like choosing which throw pillow is perfect for the sofa.

Designer’s block can be frustrating and infuriating. Choosing the right hardware for a cabinet or pillow for the sofa should be easier than it often is. We can get stuck in a cycle of thinking “what if this is a mistake” that can prevent us from moving forward with a decision.

Collecting samples of flooring or paint chips can be a great way to make a design decision but can also be overwhelming. The sheer number of choices available can leave our heads spinning at the paint or flooring store.

If you are stuck on a design decision and stuck with a case of designer’s block, start looking at design blogs and magazines for inspiration. Just as reading something else can help with writer’s block, looking at completed design projects can help us get over the block.  Walk away from the project for a few days to get a fresh perspective. Seeing the project or pillows with fresh eyes can make a once difficult decision perfectly simple.  Like writer’s block, designer’s block is often very temporary so don’t fret. This too shall pass.