Design Articles...
Zen-like furniture draws on saturated colors that make you feel happy
Home furnishings this year have cleaner lines and a more contemporary, less detailed look. Opulence and clutter are gone. But rather than the hard edginess that many people associate with contemporary style, what we're seeing now is soft and relaxed; i.e., traditional pieces that have been reinterpreted with modern, fresh flair.
The look is lighter and more streamlined, with an emphasis on comfort.
Furniture trends often reflect what is happening about us. Today, the world is so stressful and complex that we try to create serene retreats within our homes where we can recharge our minds, bodies and spirits.
Straight lines and fewer curves reflect a longing for simplicity and order. Spaces contain fewer pieces, so each one takes on added importance in creating overall design. Achieving the new look with existing pieces might require "editing" the room to eliminate clutter and to create a spare yet warm ambience.
The hectic pace of today's lifestyles, as well as more awareness of the global community, has resulted in the growing popularity of Asian influences.
Restful, spa-like interiors - featuring straight, square lines and heavier textures that allow the senses to relax - reflect a Zen-like ambience. The look is not the sharp, lacquered style of the past but instead a softer, earthly feel created with wood patinas and other elements.
Home furnishings also tend to follow the trends of fashion. Manufacturing furniture takes more time than producing clothing, so color palettes usually show up first on the couture runways, then in clothing stores, and a year or so later in furniture stores.
Today, people seem to be growing tired of neutrals, and the movement is toward more saturated colors. Neither bright nor pastel, these hues are full yet muted tones of colors such as clay, brown and blue. Metallic elements of silver and gold add flair.
Color, however, is extremely personal. Rather than focus too much on what is stylish, select colors for your home that make you happy when you look at them.
Wood-veneer ceiling inserts in varied shapes add architectural interest that blends with other natural elements.
A well-designed space focuses not just on function. Think about the activities that will take place in the room. Then accommodate them with today's furnishings.
NOTE: in order to deliver the most pertinent content, articles may not be replicated exactly or in their entirety.
