subject: Interior Design Trends 2012 [print this page] Fashion is always changingFashion is always changing. And this is just as much the case with interior decorating as it is with the clothes we wear. So what are some of the interior design trends for 2012?
Creating Your Own
These days many people like to create their own interiors to stamp their own mark on their home. Having more of a hands-on approach to decoration is something that has been growing in popularity in recent years and this is continuing in 2012. This includes people creating or transforming their own furniture and creating personal pieces of art. Using your own scenic photographs instead of buying them has also become more common. People who dont like the idea of waste are making use of materials that may otherwise be discarded. People like the idea of creating something themselves and this is becoming apparent in many peoples homes.
Second-hand Furniture
Second-hand furniture makes a home appear vintage. This along with altered old furniture such as furniture turned into something completely different is becoming increasingly common. People also like to make things look older than they actually are.
Soft Furnishings
Comfort has become more of a key lately. Whereas relatively recently style was perhaps considered more important than comfort, there now appears to be more of a balance between the two. Corner sofas are something that had gone completely out of fashion but are growing in popularity once again. Large cushions are also being used more commonly due to the more homely feel they can give. Patchwork and velvet are two other things that are coming back.
Wooden Flooring
Wooden flooring is continually becoming more popular, something that has been a gradual trend over the last decade or two. One reason for this is the elegant style it creates. It can make a home seem more specious so is particularly suitable for smaller homes and flats. Wooden flooring is practical too with it simply needing wiping down for cleaning.
Window Shutters
Window shutters, especially wooden shutters, given an elegant feel to a home while also being a return to tradition. These were originally used prior to curtains being an option and have been coming back into fashion in recent times. They also have practical benefits as home owners are able to adjust shutters and their louvres to let in the optimum amount of sunlight and air.
Wooden Furniture
As well as wooden flooring and wooden shutters, wooden furniture is currently popular. It is seen by some as being very natural, with a natural feel to a home being fashionable. Partly due to the success of Ikea, a Scandinavian style is popular, and wooden furniture is part of this.
Affordable Luxury
In the current economic climate the term affordable luxury is being used a lot, in interior design and in other ways. This doesnt mean things that are very expensive, such as a swimming pool, but relatively small things that give an air of luxury. This is more about things that might cost fifty pounds or a hundred pounds rather than things that might cost thousands. Examples include kitchen appliances or an improved shower unit.
More Colours, Brighter Colours
Colour is coming back in rather than the blacks and whites that often accompanied minimalist designs. Brighter colours, such as reds, oranges, greens and yellows, are being used more commonly. As well as using brighter colours, people are using a mixture of colours rather than just one or two.
