2011 Design trends

According to experts, the trends for 2011 will reflect preserving the past. From a practical view, we will continue to see a shift from quantity and excess to personalization and quality. One reason for this is the result of the financial crisis. People are questioning what it is they need to live well. This is leading to the emergence of simplistic, formal or severe designs that combine the basic and old with the modern and the high-tech.

Style

Trends show a resurgence of people becoming interested in their roots and becoming more interested in patterns, textures and colors that have a global influence.

On the contemporary side, designers have begun to push the boundaries between art and design. Watch for experimentation with archaic forms and nature represented by glass and metal complemented with hard and soft plastics to form a changeable surface.

The classical design approach will be focusing on the concept of looking back to move forward. These periods will be popping back on the scene in new and inventive ways:

Tudor – the return of voluminous velvets, tapestry accents and tear-drop pearls.

The 1940s - will feature wood materials in light maple, pecan and walnut; and textiles in seersucker, jersey and cable knits.

Mayan, Incan and Hopi – these tribal influences will be reflected in geometric florals, trapezoids and primitive portrayals of the sun. These graphic prints will work with traditional chairs and sofas.

Color

Experts’ predict that cool neutrals and muted hues from icy grays to chocolate browns to bright reds, fuchsia purples and sapphire blues will be reflected in paints and fabrics. Subtle color tones and soft interior paint colors will be popular for those large wall surfaces of in 2011. Bright and sharp colors will be reserved for decorating accents. Purple will continue into 2011, as well as gray. In fact, according to designer Kimberly Ayres “gray is the new beige” and pairings of gray with teal, magenta, tangerine and yellow will be popular.

While it is interesting to keep up on the latest in design trends, you must decide how to create a harmonious look in your home and usually this requires a blend of highly personalized styles, colors and patterns. The most successful rooms I see don’t look like they’ve been copied from an interior design magazine.