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We're a month into the new year already—have you given much thought as to how you're going to update your home?
Style-wise, 2017 is spoiling us for choice. Do we explore the Nordic revival, indulge in powdery pinks, or step into the space age with polished glass and bright white walls? Should we mix and match, or stick firmly to one style?
The great thing about this year is that most of the tried and tested style rules of recent years have been thrown out the window. According to interior designers, mix-and-match is the name of the game—this year, it's all about contrast, quirk, and the unexpected. Minimal with elaborate vintage accents? Scandi sleekness with sumptuous textiles? Trust us, anything goes. Check out the top six styles for the coming months, and then mix it up to your heart's content!
In a surprising shift of aesthetics, 2017 sees a return to a more decadent, decorative style. That's not to say that every home should go full-on Versailles—the new approach to opulence relies more on adding highly ornate pieces to a blank canvas, as seen in the example above.
Unexpected touches of luxury pack far more of a punch when they are sat next to refined, minimal pieces of furniture. A foolproof rule of thumb is to choose opulent textiles, such as cushions, rugs and curtains, and pair them with streamlined sofas, tables and lamps.
Vintage accents will always be a popular choice in any fashionista's home, but it's important to know which decade to reference in order to stay on tops of the trends.
This year, it's all about mid-century again—think 50's, 60's, and 70's, clean lines, slimline styles, and retro colours. Geometric patterns and essentialist forms reign supreme. If you've got the budget, take the time to search out original pieces. If you're looking for something cheaper, however, then many mainstream furniture stores specialise in creating budget furniture with that one-off mid-century appearance.
Florals? For Spring? Groundbreaking…
No really, this time they actually are! Classic ditzy motifs have been re-imagined in monochrome and greyscale, reminiscent of old black and white photos and times gone by. If these dark neutrals feel a bit too muted for your tastes, try introducing hints of vintage colour, such as rose gold, cream, and dusty green. Just remember to repeat the pattern around the room in order to keep the design scheme coherent and connected.
Minimalism is the trend that will never die. This year, it reinvents itself into a gorgeous dreamy palette of barely there greys, creams and whites. 2017's perfect minimalist colour scheme should echo the sky on a cloudy day. Accent colours should be restricted to pastel shades of beige and blue.
As always, keep the furniture angular and seamless. Amp up the cosiness with a huge wrap-around sofa, not by adding extra bits and bobs to the space. Minimalism is about clean lines, not clutter!
We're still hooked on Nordic style, and this Swedish term is a natural progression from last year's buzzword hygge
. Lagom translates as not too showy; in the right measure
, and advocates a calm, stripped back approach to luxury home design.
This might sound like a bit of a paradox, given that just a couple of paragraphs ago we told you that opulence is back with a bang. But remember the mix-and-match manifesto of 2017—introduce natural materials, soft colors and sparse decor to your home, pay attention to what is strictly necessary, then balance it out with just the right dose of decadence. See? Lagom is definitely a trend we can get on board with!
After the sombre tone of 2016, trend forecasters have predicted that 2017 is the year we embrace colour as an antidote to all of that doom and gloom. Bright pastels and 70's shades will be rocking the accessories aisles in all of your favourite homeware stores. Imagine the colours you would find in a retro pack of tutti frutti sweets, and base your 2017 design scheme on this concept. Turn your home into a sweet treat, and make 2017 work for you.
If you liked this article, check out: 6 simple bed frames you can DIY.
