forecasting trends

December 26, 2011

By Glen Peloso

WITH THE BEGINNING OF A NEW YEAR, trendspotting is top of mind for the fashionistas –and these style mavens influence the world of home décor as well. It used to take weeks or months for fashion trends to show up in home décor, but in the digital age, social media and other tools are bringing these worlds together almost simultaneously.

Here are my top picks for 2012 home trends:

Materials
We are seeing “reclaimed” materials becoming increasingly popular. Reclaimed woods and refurbished industrial items and materials afford a weathered look that can add texture and interest to your home.

Eras
Silhouettes from the mid-century period remain popular, with industrial designers such as Eames and Mies a source of inspiration. The design trend is to be eclectic in style, where modern elements of clean-lined sofas are mixed with an old soda crate from the 1930s and 1940s or a sideboard from the ’60s.

Fabric & Patterns
When it comes to fabric patterns, we draw from a completely international influence. Think pop art and Bauhaus motifs influenced with a hand-painted look, to washed-out Shanghai flowers with a smoky feel. Internationally, we see many fabrics that have a tribal or ethnic print in a handcrafted detail, as well as bohemian folk art with paisleys. A natural hand-aesthetic feeling, contributed by individual artists as opposed to mass production, is prevalent. Abstract patterns seem to be coming from natural elements such as microscopic close-up cells or organic matter with a tie-died feel.

Colour Palette
The colour palette continues to use a warm grey as a neutral. This is a grey that is sometimes called “taupe,” containing a brown undertone. Accent colours, on the other hand, will include earth tones often seen in of the garden.

Soft yellows, greens, reds and blues are part of the 2012 palette. In the red spectrum, look for fun colour that includes oranges and pink tones. Think pumpkins and the soft red blush of flower petals.

In the yellow family, the golden and sunny hues seen in natural blonde hair and the colour of a marigold will be prevalent.

In the green colour range, we are looking at a hue with a teal tinge, as well as more intense greens found in camouflage or soft leaf greens.

In blues, deep, dark tones head toward charcoal, evoking the mystery of night. These are all colours that can easily be found in nature.

Fashionistas used to tell the world of home décor to catch up, and now that it has, you can anticipate the colour palette and pattern influences simply by strolling down Bloor St. to get your inspiration from a little window-shopping. Enjoy a croissant and café while you’re at it, to make your trendspotting outing much more pleasant!

Glen Peloso
Glen Peloso, design editor at Home Décor and Renovations and principal designer of Glen Peloso Interiors, has been designing spaces for commercial, corporate and residential clients for more than 15 years. You’ll recognize Glen as the host of such television design shows as Restaurant Makeover, Take This House & Sell It and Renovate My Wardrobe, to name a few, as well as from speaking engagements at home shows across Canada. glenpelosointeriors.com

Filed under: STYLE FILE