Best Home Decor Resources

Color Trends: What's New, What's Next?

2012-01-16T13:10:00.000-08:00

Color Trends: What's New, What's Next?

While you're still deciding where to spend next year's summer vacation, color forecasters have already predicted what color your bathing suit will be for the year.

Color forecasters are part designer, part sociologist and part predictor. They draw information from the runway, auto manufacturers and the housewares industry; they scour showrooms, trade shows and magazines for trends; they consider what's happening culturally and how this impacts our national mood. Then they take all of that information and translate it into what colors we'll be wearing and decorating with in the next year.

The Colors Are Coming

The housing crisis, ongoing war, historic election and economic downturn have combined to shape Americans' color tastes. We're searching for the color equivalent of mac and cheese: safe, traditional and comforting. But the pops of bright colors, from crimson to acid yellow, suggest that we're ultimately hopeful about the future.

Neutrals are now, especially in larger purchases like cars, sofas or carpet. "For those big-ticket items, we'll make the safer choice such as neutrals, from rich gray to camel," says Emily Kiker Morrow, Director of Color, Style and Design at Shaw Industries. And, she continues, "We're using trendier colors, like acid green or amethyst, as accent pieces."

Denise Turner, founder of Color Turners and a color forecaster, agrees. "Neutrals continue to flourish, as companions for brighter hues or as standalone, monochromatic color schemes."

Both color forecasters see chocolate brown on the wane, though Turner notes that brown is still the go-to color in nearly every industry, from auto manufacturing to fashion to home. The guard is changing, however, as lighter browns begin to make an appearance. Morrow says, "We're seeing browns shift to the colors of spices and beverages. Think mocha and cinnamon."

Which neutral might just surpass brown as the favorite? Gray. And it covers a wide range of hues, which span soft gray to charcoal to hematite, and gain interest from metallic and pearlescent accents.

Green continues to gain strength from its association with the growing shift toward eco-consciousness. It will show up in everything from fabrics to accessories to countertops.

Turner noted that, after 9/11 blue surged in popularity. This comfortable, soothing color is associated with dependability, constancy and peace — qualities Americans seek during unstable times. Now every product in the industry uses some type of blue, and many are paired with brown, from chocolate to taupe.

According to Turner, pink and red are "the colors of causes." Think about the ribbons on our lapels to help raise awareness for breast cancer, AIDS or heart disease. But these sisters in the color family are also making their way into the home.

You'll see red as a bold accent in black-and-white designs; and look for pink in romantic bedrooms, the modern girl's living room or even in the kitchen, from cabinetry to appliances.

Violet came in through the back door, catching fire in the goth trend in high schools (think purple-black T-shirts, eyeliner and fingernail polish). From there it made its way to the runway and now it's lightening as it crosses into the home; popular variations include violet, wine and true purple.

Hot Color Combos

Just as the popularity of single colors waxes and wanes, so does the popularity of color combinations.

Brown and blue has been a favorite for several years and Turner predicts it will be a favorite through 2009. Morrow agrees, though she believes that the brown will be lighter (tan, caramel and camel), rather than chocolate.

For the last few years, black and white has been a popular combination in the European market, but Turner has noticed that it's making its way across the pond. While Morrow has seen it more in accent pieces, like textiles and wallpaper, Turner suggests it will take over entire rooms and recommends pairing it with hot accent colors like red or acid green for the latest look.

What's Not Selling?

While you'll see elegant gold in designs from traditional to Tuscan, don't look for sunny true yellows in American homes (though Europeans love them).

Orange is another color that's getting little love, unless you choose corals or an earthy, deep orange. But even then, these are used only as accents.

The trend toward violet, wine and amethyst is edging out soft lavenders or true purples. These colors, which were so popular in the 1980s, have taken a back seat to their bolder cousins.

Decorating For A Difference

2012-01-06T07:43:00.000-08:00

What do Decorating Den Interiors' decorators have in common with Frazier besides coveting his Eames chair and ottoman? We listen. We are the decorators who come up with solutions to solve our clients' individual decorating problems. Interior decorator Shelley Rodner heard her long time clients Vickie and Stephen complain about the annoying 'tinny' sound bouncing off the floors, walls and ceiling of their master bedroom. They were also having trouble arranging their furniture and choosing the right type of fixtures to light the space. Shelley assessed what was bothering them and came up with these resolutions.

She covered the walls of the bedroom in a soothing gray-blue grasscloth, which besides adding depth and beauty to the space, contributed a layer of much needed sound absorption. To further address the acoustical issue she placed a large area rug on the wood floor. Recognizing the restrictions imposed by the layout of the room Shelley determined, with her clients' approval, that in order not to have the space look crowded there was a need to edit the existing furniture. The nightstands were replaced with a pair of striking floor lamps. These provided excellent lighting for reading in bed, and also gave the homeowners the flexibility of moving the lamps to other areas of the room if they so desired. Additional lighting comes from the amazing hand-crafted chandelier.

Designing the window treatments presented a variety of challenges that included, direct sunlight that was fading the hardwood floors, an 11 ft. tall back wall and a soaring ceiling that created an overall cavernous effect. Shelley began addressing the light problem by installing crème Silhouette shades, but when it came to dressing the windows she introduced the element of variety with two distinct treatments using two different fabrics. For the massive window she designed a graceful arched valance in a sumptuous chocolate tone faux silk, suspended from decorative medallions. The valance is lined with a subtle floral pattern, which Shelley used as the main fabric for the stationary drapery panels on either side of each single window.

As a result of interior decorator Shelley Rodner listening to the concerns and requirements of her clients Vickie and Stephen, she was able create a calm and soothing haven for them to come home to and enjoy together at the end of their individually busy work days.

DECORATE WITH BOLD COLOR

2011-12-03T13:47:00.000-08:00

Decorate With Bold Color

Learn how to infuse your home with vibrant colors, whether through small details or painting entire walls.

To use color boldly can be a challenge. Many people end up picking the wrong color for the wall (probably because of the small paint chips we use to pick our colors), and then we wonder why we aren't happy with the result.
If attempting a bold color, like a daring hue for your walls, consider a few pointers.
First, color theory is really a science, which I won't get into — it's way too boring. Let me say this: There are many different looks or tones a color can create. For example, some colors are very soft; think pastels, colors that are mixed with tons of white paint to get a lighter, softer color. Some colors are dark, rich jewel tones and others are bright, juvenile primary colors.
Basically, you want to pick one look for your entire house. Not that you can't have different, unique colors in every room, but pastel pink in one room, primary red in the next and deep, dark purple in another won't flow well. The idea behind using color well is it should flow in your house, not be a patchwork of opposite looks. If you love color and are going for bold color throughout your home, pick one look. It could be all light pastel colors or all jewel tones, which are rich, saturated colors that often resemble actual gems, in look and name, like emerald green, sapphire blue or ruby red.
Second, for those not quite as adventurous with bold color, you don't have to paint an entire room. Bring in one boldly colored accessory, fabric or rug. It's often an easier way to incorporate bold color without going over the top or without making a costly mistake.
Another way to add a dash of bold color is to try it in a small room. Powder rooms are typically small and are a great place to experiment with a bold color on the wall. Just don't paint your powder room green because it can cast a sickly green tone into the mirror and you (or your guests) will always have an "off" look.

SILKFLOWERS.COM

2011-12-03T11:21:00.000-08:00

Silkflowers.com is your complete source for home decorating and unique gift giving ideas - offering a superior selection of designer-quality silk flower arrangements, natural looking artificial trees, lifelike silk plants, coordinating containers, and decorative room fragrances all shipped factory direct.

Why You Will Love Silkflowers.com

Hand-crafted by Silkflowers.com floral artisans in our Cincinnati, Ohio facility, our beautiful silk flower arrangements, plants and trees are designed using only the finest silk flowers and artificial foliages available.

- products hold their natural beauty for years with little to no maintenance and are a cost-effective and allergy-free alternative to live plants.

-Hassle-free Return or Exchange within 30 days for a full merchandise refund.

eFAUCETS

eFaucets^TM is the online leader in faucets, fixtures and accessories with triple digit growth. We are known as “Your Online Kitchen & Bath Store^TM” We are part of the eImprovement.com, LLC network of specialty home Improvement stores on the internet.

Our trusted mega brands include Delta, Moen, Kohler, American Standard, Price Pfister, Danze, Grohe, Giagni, Hansgrohe, Blanco, Teka, In-Sink-Erator, and many more. We are one of the few to be internet authorized by our manufacturers.

With over 40 top brands, offers like low prices, free shipping*, same day shipping, real-time inventory, media rich shopping - eFaucets has a high conversion rate. eFaucets was a 2007 BizRate "Circle of Excellence" award winner. We have PowerReviews, BillMeLater, Google Checkout, Paypal and eBillMe. 97% of what we sell is in-stock and ready to ship the same day. We price match any competitor.

Decorating Tips and Ideas

2011-11-19T09:42:00.000-08:00

Gifts N Ideas

Giftsnideas.com offers a full line up of best and unique products including Gifts, Apparel, Jewelry, Gadgets, Pet Gifts, Floral arrangements, Gift Baskets, Art and Crafts for everyday occasions like Anniversary, Birthday and Wedding and seasonal occasions like Mother's Day, Valentine's Day and Christmas.

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Save up to 50% on some of AA Gifts & Baskets most popular items! No coupons required and no quantity limits.

• Gifts for any occasion such as new baby, get well, wedding, etc.

• Gourmet food and wine gift baskets

• Bath & body, gardening, golf, sports baskets

• Chocolate, pasta, coffee or tea specialty baskets

Holiday Gifts & Baskets Gift Baskets from just $20!

• Corporate Christmas gifts & baskets

• Major holiday gifts – Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, etc

• Minor holiday gifts – Nurse’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, Boss’s Day, etc.

Cookie Gift Baskets Anniversary Cookie Gifts

-baked cookie bouquets, tins, and baskets

• Fresh-popped tins of gourmet popcorn

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Burke Decor

Burke Décor is an online retail boutique specializing in unique home furnishings, gifts and home improvement products. We carry modern designer products and rare online finds such as modish wallpaper, custom-made pillows, reproduction planters, curtains, area rugs, accent furniture, shower curtains and bathmats, soy candles, tableware, luxury home audio and more. Our brand appeals to decorators, renovators and consumers in the market for unique objects to accent both living and commercial environments.

Our products have been featured in Lucky Magazine, Domino, Food & Wine, Real Simple, Blueprint and several other leading industry publications.

We have an attractive, unique array of products and an easy to navigate website where customers can search by product category or brand.

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Touch of Europe

Thank you for your interest in Touch of Europe.

We started with a simple idea: to provide interesting, unusual new and vintage items from Europe and have branched into a beautiful selection of affordable luxury goods as well as natural and organic products, eco friendly products and so much more.

Touch of Europe has over 5000 items including European luxury imported skin care & spa items, gourmet foods & beverages, linens, décor and accessories, tableware, kitchenware, porcelain, eco and organic items in both personal care and gourmet food..

Our items come from many countries, including: France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Great Britain, Sweden, Switzerland & more.

• Free Shipping on orders over $50 in the USA and discounted shipping internationally.

• Huge advanced warehouse/shipping/customer service facilities in Atlanta, Georgia.

• Regular educational promotional emails

• Membership Rewards Club

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Room It Up

A fresh and Fun Collection of Lifestyle Coordinated Accessories

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Lumens Light and Living

Lumens Light + Living is dedicated to offering the very best of design-oriented lighting, fans and home accessories. We carry a highly diversified line of products from the most contemporary international designs to modern interpretations of the classics. Our selection includes both European and American designs including the most popular international contemporary lines. We make a special effort to showcase the work of studio glassmakers, artisan lamp-makers and small design studios that you won’t find anywhere else.

Natural Home Rugs

Natural Home Rugs is one of America's Leading Natural Flooring Distributors. We directly import all natural materials for our high-quality rugs. We offer an extensive selection of both traditional and unique colors, designs, and styles. The manufacturing processes used at Natural Home Rugs stem from ancient rug-making traditions that have produced elegant, durable products for many generations. We have all sorts of rugs including oriental area rugs, modern area rugs, wool rugs, contemporary rugs, seagrass rugs, sisal rugs, bamboo rugs, shag rugs and more.

Our customers buys from us for the following reasons:

• We have a reputation for building quality products with impeccable service

• Our prices are 30% to 60% lower compared to other merchants since we are direct importers

• We are a BBB Accredited Business

• Free Shipping within Continental USA for orders $50 or more - No drop ship, we ship faster

• 15 Days Risk Free Trial

• 100% Price Match Guarantee

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Jane Seymour Botanicals

Flower lovers looking for the beauty of fresh flowers in a format that won't wilt, and home decor enthusiasts looking for just the right type of floral accent to add to their home or give as a gift have a new home on the internet- Jane Seymour Botanicals!

Jane Seymour, internationally recognized actress, artist and philanthropist, has enormous name recognition. Recently, Jane Seymour met with some of the most talented people in the floral design and home decor industries. We were excited to work with Jane because of her love and passion for the beauty that flowers can bring to the home. Finding inspiration in her paintings that feature flowers and her design ideas for home decor, we came up an extensive assortment of permanent botanicals.

"Permanent botanicals?" Jane agreed with us that our designs can't really be called "silk flowers". The term "silk" doesn't work- they're not actually silk- so a new name was needed. Since our designs are "permanent"- they never wilt and don't need water!- and because they are so realistic that it's very hard to tell the difference from fresh flowers, the term "botanical" seemed like the obvious choice. So permanent botanicals just made sense to us. Take a look at the images on our site, and better yet, order any of our designs, get it home to your house, and we're sure you'll agree!

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">Past Times

Past Times has over 20 years of gift retail experience and a reputation for selling exceptional quality products. For Christmas we have a fantastic range of seasonal gifts you'll love! Our beautiful collections are inspired by past eras and historical designs, from the elegance of Art Deco to the derring-do of the WWII, the timeless beauty of Celtic crafts to the fabulous fun of the 50s. We have the enviable job of searching out and developing our unique and lovely ranges, most of which are exclusive to us. We know that variety is key when buying presents so we have an abundance of glorious things to tempt you. From retro books and vintage style jewellery to clever ideas for your house and adorable toys, you’ll find them here. We even have special ranges for those tricky ones, and to make it even easier, our new online gift finder takes the stress out of shopping. We started life back in 1986 with catalogues, and soon realised our products would look great on shelves too, so we opened our first shop amongst the dreaming spires of Oxford the next year. We now have over 100 stores throughout the UK and Ireland. Have a look at our store finder to see the one nearest to you. We look forward to welcoming you the next time your coming past. Most products have been developed exclusively for us, so you won’t find them anywhere else.

Colee-Hammock Home
Colee Hammock Home is an authorized online retailer of Global Views furnishings, lighting and accessories. We are also authorized online retailers for Robert Abbey Lighting, Indo Puri furniture and The Phillips Collection.

Before our online presence, we were a small furniture and accessory boutique in the Colee Hammock area of fabulous Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Our products range from small decor items to larger pieces such as coffee tables, consoles and entertainment centers. Items vary in price from $150 to $2500+ with many customers purchasing multiple items.

Clark Street Home

Clark Street Home is your one stop shop for decorating. We shop for unique furniture, decorative accents and rugs that we offer at value prices. Its Shopping your way for customers tired of swimming through a sea of products to get to what they want. Want to see all of the TV stands that we carry? Shop by Department. Prefer to just see contemporary, then Shop by Style. Love Red? Then shop by color. We also offer a selection of eco-friendly home items as well as staging products that are perfect for creating a model home look.

Wayfair
Wayfair is a zillion things home. We are in the business of giving our customers easy online access to the world’s home stuff in one place. We carry over 5,000 brands of products across all major home categories like furniture, décor, kitchen and lighting, plus office, school baby. And that's just the start. We also offer free shipping on most big stuff and most other stuff, too.

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Color Trends: What's New, What's Next?

Color Trends: What's New, What's Next?

Decorating For A Difference

DECORATE WITH BOLD COLOR

Decorate With Bold Color

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