Seasonal changes to refresh your home

Spring is in the air, which means it’s time to refresh your indoor spaces. The top home decor trends of spring 2014 take a fresh approach to traditional design elements to create an aesthetic that is fresh and full of life. Best yet, the trends are easily accessible, so anyone can update their space with a few simple tips.

Carpet

More homeowners are seeking the beauty, comfort and safety that carpet provides, making it a top flooring trend for spring 2014 and beyond. What types of carpet are popular?

“New soft fibers,” said Vickie Gilstrap, director of design services for The Dixie Group, a top U.S. carpet manufacturer. “Consumers went away from wall-to-wall carpet, as hard surface flooring gained in popularity. Then, people began to miss the softness and warmth of carpet. Carpet absorbs sound, making homes quieter, and traps dust at the base of the carpet fibers so that dust doesn’t circulate in the room air. The soft fibers give us a reason to put carpet down again.”

She is also seeing increased interest in “mixed-media” carpet styles — with hi-lustre and low-lustre yarns used in the same carpet. Additionally, patterns are being featured on top of texture, giving a multi-dimensional appearance to flooring.

Not only stylish, carpet is healthy, too. People with allergies or other sensitivities can choose carpet as a way to improve indoor air quality. A recent study supports previous findings that carpet, when effectively cleaned, traps allergens and other particles, resulting in less dust, dander and airborne contaminants escaping into the air. For more information, visit the Carpet and Rug Institute at www.carpet-rug.org.

Color

Thoughtful use of color in home design is a top trend for 2014. “Colors are getting warmer,” noted Gilstrap. “Taupe is the bridge color taking us from gray to browner tones. Warm pinks are returning, as well as warmer greens like moss and olive — even apple.”

Keep in mind adding personality to a space through use of warm color doesn’t necessarily require a complete interior overhaul. Consider incorporating spring colors using accent pieces. It’s easy to switch up pillows, throws or artwork without investing a lot of time or money. Plus it’s a fun way to update the personality of your favorite spaces every season.

Texture and pattern

This spring, more homeowners are using textures and patterns to make a visual statement through design. Strategic use of texture and patterns can highlight certain interior spaces, manipulate the light within the room and influence scale. Blending both adds visual interest and helps homeowners create a unique space to call their own.

“Layering of pattern and texture — in floors, walls, upholstery, window treatments — gives a more individualized feel,” said Gilstrap. Scared of mixing patterns and textures? She suggests placing patterns on stairs or in hallways. If big and bold patterns aren’t your taste, consider sticking to small, neutral patterns that can be a subtle way to add visual interest and design complexity to interior spaces.

Keep in mind, when selecting fixtures, there’s no longer a need to avoid gold tones. “Gold is coming back — we are seeing more gold and copper and less silver,” said Gilstrap.

Lighting

Ornamental lighting is big this year with designers thinking outside the box when it comes to how and where these fixtures can be used.

Let there be cool lighting ideas

Lighting plays an important two-pronged role: it makes a space functional and also helps define its design aesthetic. Adjusting the task lighting within a room can instantly make the space more livable and highlight the design motif. Another easy lighting update is purchasing new lamps or simply adding new shades to existing lamps — a great way to refresh a space with minimal cost.

These articles are courtesy of Brandpoint.