2016 Interior Design Trends

2016 is proving to be a creative year for interior design. While there are a few trends from the last few years that are still going strong, there are a lot of fun new ideas that we are seeing everywhere, in both commercial and residential spaces. Here are 9 of our favorites.

1. Blanketed all-neutral or all-white color schemes with bright splashes of color or standout pieces.

Rooms are becoming canvases of white or light neutral tones with bright splashes of color and unique and interesting accent pieces to draw the eye. This contrast makes for a fun and playful interaction that offers up a lot of room for creativity and personalization.

Photo: Joe Carrick Design

Art: "Tango" by Tom Druin

Photo: Stonebreaker Builders & Remodelers

2. Mixing metallics

Metallics have been in for a while now but this year it's all about pairing different metallic tones to create unique and sometimes contrasting effects. The result is a unification of vintage vibes with more modern styles in spaces that feel rich and opulent with a calming aura.

Photo: Armijo Design Group

Art: "Awake" by Terri Leo

3. Bringing the outdoors in

Right now, everywhere we look it seems like it's all about bringing nature back into our daily life. There are few better ways to do that than to bring the outdoors inside into your home or work spaces. Living walls, trees, and the sound of trickling water over stone are just a few of the ways this trend is showing up in homes all over the world.

Photo: Ambius

Art: "Wading" by Roberta London

Photo: Caan Design

4. Creative Storage

This year is all about finding unique and fun ways to optimize space and make use of unused corners and crannies. Why stick with all of the usual drawers and cupboards in your kitchen when you can customize your space to have your favorite spices and utensils on hand, laid out just the way you like them?

Photo: Glenvale Kitchens

Photo: Signature Design & Cabinetry LLC

Photo: The Hammer & Nail Inc

Photo: Weidmann Remodeling

5. Patterns and Geometrics

Patterns and geometrics are everywhere this year -- dripping off the walls, covering the furniture, and spilling out onto the floor. These repetitive shapes add a fun blend of both neutrality and interest to any room. We're seeing a lot of designers using two or more patterns together create textural, layered effects.

Photo: Kohler

Art: "Blue Trim Design" by Tien Frogget

Photo: Angel in the North

6.  Local, reclaimed, upcycled, artist-made, and sustainable

We doubt that being green will ever go out of style. Every year, it becomes more important to consumers to purchase materials from local and sustainable sources. Reclaimed wood and upcycled items are being used everywhere to create unique and fun pieces that add interest to any room. Artists are drawing endless inspiration from transforming what some consider "throwaways" into to-die-for pieces that end up the the cornerstones of truly one-of-a-kind designs.

Photo: Jaffa Group Design Build

Photo: High Camp Home

Photo: Piet Hein Eek

Photo: Restaurant Bon

 7. Quartz, crystals, geodes, mandalas and minerals

Yet another way of bringing the outdoors in, this trend adds an element of earthiness to any space and also pairs well with metallics. All things crystal and stone are in this year, and it seems like the motto is, "go big or go home!"

Photo: Blackcrow studios

Art: "Mandala and Vines" by Erin Sparler

8. Wall Murals

What better way to add art to a room than to bring it to life on a wall? Murals are back in this year and more popular than ever before, making a splash in residential, commercial, and hospitality spaces alike. From high resolution photography to intricate paintings to large-format graphics to whimsical sketches, murals are a gorgeous trend that will not be going away soon.

Photo: Raji RM & Associates

9. Mix, mix, and mix

By far, the biggest trend this season is to mix and match things like crazy. Odd items, contrasting patterns, and styles that don't seem to fit together or colors that are not normally paired are very hot right now. The idea is to create a setting that stimulates new ideas and patterns of thought. When things are brought together that are normally considered contrary, a kind of synergistic magic can happen! Doing this in a way that is artful and creative is the work of today's interior designers.

Photo: Closet Factory

What are your favorite interior design trends this year?

Textural Abstracts by Artist Michael Hunter

Michael Hunter’s art is a dance of texture and shape splashed with bursts of color on canvas in a fusion of clean and rugged, modern and artsy, simple and complex. Elegant lines blended with sketch marks and bold solids and a repetition of circular forms create a unique synthesis of crafty, Zen and haute couture. His work is both peaceful and invigorating in a perfect balance between motion and stillness.

Born in Preston Lancashire in 1972, Hunter loves his hometown and has lived just down the road in the small market town of Garstang for all of his life. He has been painting and drawing for as long as he can remember and gains never-ending inspiration from the quiet countryside and beautiful scenery.

After studying A level art at Blackpool and the Fylde College, he received a Fine Art degree from The Cumbria College of Art and Design. While his training is in traditional art, his work evolved over time into a more semi-abstract expressionist landscape style and later to pure abstract. This is where he feels the most at home creatively, because there are no limits or boundaries to what comes alive on canvas. Abstract art is full of surprises and things can happen within a piece of work that may have been totally unplanned.

Michael likes to use simple shapes in his work and looks for interesting ways of arranging these against chosen color schemes. He often listens to music while he paints, envisioning that his work flows similar to the way a DJ would mix music. He hopes that viewers of his work will be uplifted and inspired by it in the same way they would from hearing a favorite song. Art separates Michael’s mind from the stresses of everyday life. It is a way of relaxing and fills him with contentment. Michael loves that his work means different things to each individual viewer.

By using a variety of techniques and applications including paint, airbrush, photography and digital collage, he is able to create textures that are one of a kind. He finds himself fascinated by the effect of shapes and forms and how their arrangement can create space and movement. The contemporary style and unique compositions in his pieces are well suited to interior design. By using fade-resistant inks with superb clarity and vibrancy, he ensures that his pieces will be celebrated for many years to come. His work has been shown in galleries in the north of England and in several art fairs in Aberdeen, Glasgow, and Liverpool.

2014 Interior Design Trends

It's always fun when a fresh year brings new ideas and trends to the table in interior design, and 2014 is no exception! It's time to wipe your palette clean and see what splashes of color and excitement are popular this year.

1. Gray is the new black
   Gray has always been a very versatile color that goes well with so many things, but this year it's taking center stage as the perfect neutral. Gray is stylish, sophisticated, and glamorous. Pairing various grays such as charcoal, silver, slate, or subtle gray with more vibrant colors like sunny yellow, sapphire, magenta or forest green can have amazing results.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Popular colors include Navy Blue, Turquoise, and Pantone's Orchid
   Bright colors are big this year and we're seeing lots of amazing interiors that include these gorgeous, bold beauties.
   
   
   
3. Graceful curves and geometric lines
   The perfect blend of feminine and masculine in any interior -- mixing graceful feminine curves with geometric shapes and straight, masculine lines can be a match made in heaven!
   
   
4. Light, honey-tone woods
   There's nothing like warm wood tones to brighten up a space, and they are definitely making a comeback this year.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Metallics, jewel tones and bling are in
   There's nothing that says 2014 quite like gorgeous splashes of copper, bronze, silver, Aztec gold, pewter, steel and antique brass mixed with neutrals and a dominant jewel tone. Ruby, Turquoise, Sapphire, Emerald and Amethyst are all amazing jewel tones and of course we can't leave out popular Pearl. Everybody loves a little shine and sparkle to liven up an interior.
   
   
   
   
   
6. Saturated colors
   Similar to last year, vibrant, saturated colors are still in. People are realizing more and more how important is to feel happy, and that the spaces that they spend all of their time in are a major contributor to that happiness. Cheerful tones are a great way to make interiors feel warm, welcoming, and uplifting.
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. Natural colors
   On the same token, natural colors are also big this year. It may be the 21st Century, but people are feeling a growing need to revitalize their connection to the earth, to "go green" and bring nature back into their homes. Earthy tones include but are not limited to muted blues, rich chocolate, espresso, tan, beige, red rock, forest green, avocado, and fern.
   
   
   
   
   
   
8. Wood, hair on hide, and other natural textures
   Along the same lines of #7, natural textures are big this year. You'll be seeing lots of rich, textural woods, furs and leathers, cowhide, and hair on furniture and accessories.
   
   
   
   
   
9. Putting things together that don't match perfectly
   In music, there is something called "dissonance", which is defined as lack of harmony among musical notes. While this may sound strange, dissonance can be one of the most beautiful aspects of music. In the same way, interior designers can use their own kind of dissonance by mixing colors, textures and patterns that might not seem to go together at first glance, but really make a statement when you step back and see the whole picture. We're seeing a lot of dissonance in interior design this year.
   
   
   
   
   
10. "Less is more" when it comes to accessories
    People are realizing that all of those extra accessories that they bought over the last few years are actually beginning to feel a little cluttered. It's back to basics with the old adage, "less is more" and keeping it simple.
    
    
    
    
    
11. Sculptural artwork is incredibly popular
    We are seeing so many beautiful new mixtures of sculpture and painting this year in a new fusion of art that adds a three-dimensional element to the typical two-dimensional art. What a fun way to accessorize!
    
    
    
    
    
12. Bringing the outdoors in and vice versa
    Last (but definitely not least!) everyone is finding new and wonderful ways to merge the indoors and outdoors into spaces that would really have to be considered both. In Hawaii, they call it the "lanai" and here on the mainland we call it fabulous! It's the perfect space to entertain guests or relax at the end of the long day, bringing nature back into our modern world.
    
    
    
    

So tell us... what are your favorite trends for 2014?