Trend forecast for 2013

December 21, 2012

By Erica Gelman

A new year is upon us and as the saying goes; the only constant in life is change. Nowhere is that statement truer than in the world of design. Every year we are exposed to new and exciting design trends and movements in the industry. Often, the word ‘trend’ can be associated with a negative connotation, suggesting a style that will inevitably pass just as fast as the current season. However, I believe that if properly executed, a ‘trend’ can become a classic staple rather than a temporary essential.

COLOUR
Colour is usually the first trend everyone is curious about. What’s the big colour to hit the design world? In my opinion, there have been a few. First is yellow – a creamy bright hue that will dominate with its vibrancy. Yellow can be combined easily with neutrals to create the perfect colour palette. Pair it with white & grey for a modern look, or accent it with navy for a fresh design approach. Yes, you read that correctly, navy as a neutral. This is a design trend which deserves some serious note-taking. Forget brown and beige, blue is the new chief in town. It’s much more subtle than black although the intensity of navy has the same dramatic effect. There is such a large spectrum of blue hues, from royal to electric and midnight to cobalt, you’re guaranteed to be drawn to at least one.

FEELING
Lately, a huge movement we’ve been seeing in interior design has nothing to do with colour, pattern or even style but rather a mood trend. Our clients have been requesting a comfortable environment where they feel at ease in lieu of the typical designer showhome. We’ve been hearing more and more that our clients are looking for fabrics they can use, instead of just to look at. It’s an attempt to have their homes decorated to look as if they’ve decorated it themselves. This is actually one of my favourite trends because it allows the homeowner to create a personal reflection of themselves in their most sacred environments. This trend is all about using understated pieces to form a collection of new and old, reclaimed and store-bought.

FINISHES
Another area we are seeing this trend of mixing and non matching is with metals. Do you love brushed nickel? Are you intrigued by bronze? Does stainless steel still excite you? Well, you don’t have to choose one. While this may be music to a designer’s ears, it can also be a pretty scary statement for the amateur decorator. It’s how you incorporate the metals and the harmony between your choices that will result in the perfect metal combination. For instance, if you are working on a kitchen design, you can use a faucet that stands out while keeping your cabinet hardware consistent throughout the kitchen.

MAN CAVE
First and foremost, the man cave is not a new concept, however, it is evolving and becoming much more mainstream. We are seeing more men who like to get involved in everything from the fabric selections, furniture pieces, artwork – even down to the rugs. This puts into perspective that the man cave is no longer a dark and gloomy space either in the garage or the basement. These “caves” were typically poorly lit, dressed with rundown furniture and kept bare floored yet featured the large TV screen as their focal point. Rather, these trendy spaces are just as tailored and customized as the main floor living room, although the large TV screen is still the dominant feature.

Trends don’t have to all be used, especially not together. You should incorporate what works for you and your lifestyle. They are a gateway to start getting excited about change and making better style decisions.  These current styles emerge from the notion of people enjoying their homes and creating living spaces that suit them personally. Let’s make 2013 the best design year yet!

Toronto-based designer, Erica Gelman, Principal of Erica Gelman House Of Design specializes in both large and small scale residential design projects throughout Toronto and the GTA. Known for enhancing and creating new possibilities in every space of your home.

 

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Tags: colours, decor, design, Erica Gelman, finishes, man cave, trends 2013