Color the home with optimism

The new decade will see kitchens with teak veneer cabinets, teak and cork flooring and thick countertops. Overhead cabinets will vanish, to be replaced with roll-out drawers.

An economy on the rebound, a desire for more eco-friendly space and a renewed interest in the past and hope for the future is fuelling this year’s colour and interior design trends.

"I’m optimistic about the economy and I think it will reflect in how people decorate their homes this year," says Patricia Gray, of Patricia Gray Interior Design in Vancouver. "It means people will use more colour in accessories, on the walls and on their furnishings." Many interior designers are predicting bolder colour, as well as lots of natural fabrics and blends.

Stimulating this year’s biggest trend is a strong interest in living green. One of last year’s leading environmentally friendly looks was bamboo, which will continue to be a hot item in 2010 – especially on floors and countertops. Designers are drawn to bamboo because it looks great, it’s organic and it is a sustainable resource. Having said that, designers are also seeing an interest in cork flooring, which is natural, warm and soft.

Showrooms across the Big Apple are forecasting "live edge tables" will take off this year. Furniture manufacturers are reclaiming fallen trees for end tables, dining room and side tables. Designers are thinking more about the world and the impact they leave behind, and that is playing out in the products they choose to use. Using furniture in their original, weathered finishes gives way to fabulous shabby chic, rustic modern or vintage looks.

As for hot colours this year, Pantone, the colour authority, says look for strong tones of turquoise (the "in" colour this year) and burgundy, contrasted with brighter shades or neutral tones in unlikely combinations. Inspired by nature with tones such as the desert sand neutrals, this trend looks great in today’s home interior.

"Old and new are combined in an urban palette of muted tones that mimic the earthy shades of natural materials such as stone, clay, chalk and brick," says Gray.

Meanwhile, when it comes to renovations, 2010 will be all about kitchens. Everything from cabinets made out of eco-teak veneer, teak flooring and thick countertops with no overhead cabinets, are some of the biggest kitchen trends out of Europe.


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Here are six design trends predicted for 2010:

1. Colour is back. When considering paint, think yellows, greens, purples and aquamarine-based shades. (Grey is the new beige and works well with yellow or purple as well as varying shades of grey.)

2. 2010 is about cosy/comfort, so think bigger: oversized chairs, oversized art.

3. Layered flooring adds richness and warmth. Overlap your carpeting or hardwood with bold and colourful area rugs.

4. 2010 is about texture and eco-friendly fibres. New products include woven natural bamboo headboards, crocheted floor cushions, recycled glass candleholders and seagrass wall coverings.

5. Old is in. Antiques and vintage pieces, interspersed with more modern furniture, add character, warmth and soul to the home.

6. Wallpaper is back. Look for wallpapered ceilings to create stunning impact in a room.

(preapred by Michelle Hopkins/West Coast Homes & Design/Vancouver Sun)