All images: Crate and Barrel
By Laura Love Bardell
The fall season may be the perfect time to give your home a fresh new look. As cooler temperatures, shorter days and holiday celebrations approach, we spend more of our time indoors. What better reason could there be to update interior spaces? Whether you're interested in a whole home makeover or a quick room refresh, we've chosen our top 10 favorite decor trends to give your home a boost in 2018.
Unexpected Shapes in Furniture
If you're looking to update any furniture in your living room, family room or bedroom, think curves and rounded shapes. Unexpected silhouettes and sweeping contours are here to stay, especially for sofas, sectionals, chairs and chaises. While these silhouettes feel perfectly suited for snuggling up during autumn and winter, they make a statement during all seasons. Asymmetry is having a strong moment, too. Look for statement pieces that feature artful lines, such as sofas with high-low backs or sectionals that gently curve inward.
Velvet Upholstery/Luxe Textiles
Another trend with staying power? Velvet and luxe textiles. Velvet elevates any piece of furniture, providing a lush-yet-approachable look. For a bold statement this fall, consider a sofa swathed in purple or navy blue velvet, and layer on faux fur throws and chunky knit pillows. Don't be afraid to play around with different textural combinations until you find a look that you love.
Mixed Neutrals
There is no question that in 2018, home decor is all about mixing and matching. The new neutral is a rich combination of grays, ivories, tans and shades of brown. Think complementary instead of identical. Create visual interest with subtle variations of pattern and texture. On a sofa, for instance, layer monochromatic pillows of different sizes and shapes, punching up the appeal with ribbed, knitted and patterned covers. In the dining room, consider pairing a live edge natural wood dining table with chairs treated in a gray, leather patina. Finish the space with a textural ivory rug.
Mixed Materials
Just as you'll want to experiment with your own combination of neutral colors, home accessories and furniture are also freshly updated with mixed materials. Sofas no longer need to be covered in the same fabric; instead, find one with a combination of leather and upholstery. Think accent tables that juxtapose industrial metals (especially black-coated iron) with unexpected pairings, including faux shagreen, agate or raw wood.
For found objects, photos, books and vases, choose bookshelves dressed in marble, glass and gold or brass. Even if an item itself doesn't feature an integrated mix of materials, you can curate your own collection of perfectly mismatched vases, picture frames, candle holders and sculptural objects in a way that speaks to this trend.
Navy and Black
This fall, consider deep, rich hues. Deep navy blue is on point for autumn, and it's such an easy color to add throughout your home in ways big and small. If you're really looking to take a room to the next level, pair navy walls with neutral furnishings (including dusty pink!), and add black decor for an eye-catching palette. Gold or brass accessories and accents really pop against a navy or black backdrop; white, ivory and light grey work well, too.
Modern Global
The fashion-forward homes of 2018 and beyond share an element of worldliness, with a modern twist. Look for Moroccan and Iberian patterns on anything from textiles—rugs, pillows and throws—to wall art, planters and lanterns.
Artisanal and Handmade
Hand in hand with 2018's emphasis on modern global decor is a fascination with artisanal, handmade finds and treatments. Wabi-sabi is also of-the-moment, with emphasis on appreciating the perfectly imperfect. Ceramic dinnerware with freeform edges or hand-blown glass vases are easy additions to any home if you want a subtle nod to what's trending now.
Graphic Patterns, Oversized Florals
In 2018, graphic, geometric patterns and oversized floral prints are perfect for fabrics, upholstery and even wallpaper. Add a collection of boldly-patterned throw pillows across the sofa. Look for bright colors that coordinate, and draw the eye through the room with a framed abstract art print. If you prefer a more subdued aesthetic, pick one pillow with a strong pattern, and add solid-colored pillows to finish.
Statement Rugs
If you're in the market for a rug and have a fairly neutral decor scheme, consider a statement rug to ground the space and add a focal point in an unexpected place. Even in monochromatic or limited-palette rooms, you can create interest with raised patterns, shag textures or luxe materials, such as woven hide.
Botanicals
Adding real or faux botanicals to the home is a 2018 trend that shows no signs of weakening, and it is probably the easiest one to follow. Bring the outside in this fall with greenery and houseplants. Start small with a succulent or an air plant in a handmade ceramic pot, or make a bold statement with a fiddle leaf fig ensconced in a weighty floor planter. If a room lacks the light needed for a live plant (or if you feel like you have a black thumb instead of a green one), opt for faux plants. Modern varieties of faux plants look just as real as live ones, and you can easily place them in any spot that needs a touch of color and texture.
So, take some time this fall to give your living space a design refresh—by the time the holidays roll around and you have family and friends over regularly, you'll be glad you did!
Nancy M. Alexander - Stone Harbor and Avalon NJ Real Estate NancyAlexander.com
