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herlife | homeInterior DesignTrends for 2012by catie watsonInterior design is similar to fashion design, with each year bringinga crop of new styles and design trends. Unlike fashion, there is norunway for interior design. Instead, industry insiders find out aboutthe latest looks by visiting trade shows and design centers, and subscribingto trend reports. Most consumers don’t become aware of trendsuntil later in the year when they make their way into home decoratingmagazines and onto the floor of their local furniture store.Thanks to the Internet, a few interior design trend reports are nowavailable free of charge online. One of the best reports is compiled bythe staff of the Boston Design Center (BDC) and is available on theBDC website. According to the BDC Trend Report, these are some ofthe hottest interior design trends for 2012.Vibrant ColorPantone, a color planning company that predicts each year’s topcolors for all types of design, has chosen an energizing mix of redand orange called tangerine as the color of the year. The BDC TrendReport agrees with this prediction and also names purple as one of theyear’s trendiest colors, in all shades from orchid to plum to amethyst.While you may not want to redo an entire room in tangerine or purple,you can add touches of these trendy colors to any room with accent pillowsand small accessories. Additional trendy colors for 2012 are brightgreen, and neutrals like gray and beige.Blooming FloralsUpholstery, drapery fabrics and wallpaper will bloom with vibrantfloral patterns in bright color combinations in 2012. Even bathroomtiles and sinks are getting the floral treatment. The trendiest patternsare bold versions of retro prints from the 1940s and modern versionsof traditional Asian designs. For added style and personality, designersare combining different floral prints within a single room. A sense ofcohesiveness is created by using prints that are different scales andmixing complementary colors that have the same intensity.Global and Handcrafted InfluencesA trend for handmade accent pieces from around the world willpay homage to history and heritage in 2012. This includes everythingfrom primitive tribal art to antique pieces of Americana. Whether inreaction to several years of modern style being in the forefront or dueto the almost overnight popularity of Etsy (the online marketplacefor artisans), there’s a growing demand for handmade furnishings andaccessories for the home. The juxtaposition of handcrafted items inmodern interiors is a new twist that can personalize a home and addwarmth. Antique finishes on new furnishings is another up-and-comingtrend—think rustic textures, hand-stitched leathers, exposed rivetsand rough wood trim.If you fall in love with a new trend,you can incorporate it into yourhome’s design in gradual dosesthrough the addition of small itemslike pillows, candles, lampshades,rugs and artwork. This way, thehome’s major furnishings (whichare also the most expensive) canremain in use for several yearswithout looking dated.Opulence and Touches of GoldDespite a tighter economy, an emerging trend for 2012is the use of gold to add a feeling of luxury to the home. Accordingto the BDC Trend Report, ornately furnished homes of the late 19thcentury are the inspiration for the new Gilded Age. Look for patternedwallpaper, furniture hardware and light fixtures that include touchesof gold. A related trend is the use of classic pieces of furniture thatreflect opulence and luxury, including tufted couches and chairs upholsteredin rich fabrics, antique sideboards andlarge mirrors with baroque frames.62 HERLIFEMAGAZINE.COMContinued on page 64