Say Goodbye to These 10 Home Design Trends That Are So 2015

It’s hard to think of today’s decor trends with anything other than a myopic view. We have finally perfected interior design! you might think, smugly ensconced within the enveloping folds of your velvet couch while staring at your gallery wall—complete with a faux taxidermy deer head, of course.

It’s hard to think of today’s decor trends with anything other than a myopic view. We have finally perfected interior design! you might think, smugly ensconced within the enveloping folds of your velvet couch while staring at your gallery wall—complete with a faux taxidermy deer head, of course.

1. Swiss crosses

Been there, done that. We’re ready to cross this design trend off our list.

sugarandcloth.com

This minimalist, Scandinavian-inspired pattern looks good on a quilt, throw pillow, or shower curtain, but it may be time to give this simplistic design a break. The fad may not have run its course yet, but it spent the last year permeating Pinterest, so it’ll be on its merry way soon. And what’s worse than being the last one to arrive at a party? (Plenty, actually.)

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2. Black and white spaces

No gray area here. We’re tired of this colorless look!

Houzz

Another Scandinavian import, white rooms with black accents—or, rarely, the other way around—are certainly chic. A simple take on class and style. But isn’t it time for some color? There’s no need to paint your walls yet if you’re still digging the trend, but adding some royal blue throw pillows or a pink chair will give some 2016-style oomph to your definably 2015 room.

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3. Mixed metals

The only gold and silver we want to see mixed together is in our bank accounts.

Z Gallerie

“Anybody who mixes metals besides Rolex is an idiot, and maybe Rolex is an idiot, too,” Scott Dresner of Chicago’s Dresner Design told me when I interviewed him about kitchen trends designers hate. While his statement might be broad, chances are good you’ll look back on 2015 with the same attitude. Enough with combining silver and bronze; consistency is its own reward.

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4. Industrial chic

Industrial chic? More like “industrial cheap”!

Studio Cuvier

There’s nothing wrong with adding some industrial touches to your home. (I may or may not be writing this from an industrial-inspired dining chair.) But loft-style decor is so trendy. You’ll probably think back on it like you do the mullet: Cool in small doses, but generally used incorrectly.

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5. Driftwood

This is one design trend we’re hoping will just drift away…

DigsDigs

Last year, we said good riddance to rustic-inspired, wood-pallet decorating—only to find driftwood rising in its stead. Chances are you didn’t go down to the beach and select that driftwood yourself (and if you did, seriously,bravo). Unless you live on the coast, your driftwood accents will look out of place once the fad dies down, so it might be time to start hunting for a replacement.

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6. Rich velvets

We love this look, but we’re afraid it’s time for velvet to go underground for a bit.

West Elm

Bold, velvet chairs and couches should never, ever go out of style. Unfortunately, the design world is defined by shifting trends and endless change, and eventually these gorgeous, rich, velvet fabrics will be unfashionable yet again. Savor them while you can. In the future, we’ll all look back at 2015 as a high point of royal glamour.

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7. Chintz

BYE, already!

www.horchow.com

Floral patterns have been attempting a comeback for several years, but it’s time to let them wilt on the vine. Sure, the current interpretation is thoroughly modern, often combining large-scale designs with sleek, contemporary furniture; but as a society, it’s time to say no. No, chintz, your comeback is notnigh. Go away.

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8. Open shelving

We’d love to tuck away this design trend for a while. Oh wait, we can’t!

TIDBITS

The debate over open shelving has raged on for a few years now, but 2015 is the year we drew lines in the sand. Some open-shelving fanatics seem to be tip-toeing quietly back, complaining of dust and grease splatter. (We told you!) Come back to the side of cabinet doors and cleanliness, friends. Let’s leave those dirty open shelves in the past.

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9. Faux deer heads

Houzz

For some reason, when designers tell homeowners they need to add something three-dimensional to their gallery wall, everyone leaps toward fake antlers. Whether you choose cardboard or white resin, it’s time for these eerie oddities to go the way of chevron decorations and cheap wood panelling.

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10. Explanatory walls

Does America really need this many reminders to eat?

sweetpickinsfurniture.com

The writing’s on the wall: Stop putting writing on your walls. You don’t need to stick the word “family” in the middle of your gallery wall—we know. And believe it or not, most guests will understand that a kitchen is for “EAT”ing without enormous metal letters stating as such. Let your guests determine each room’s intentions without spelling it out for them—literally.

Shared from:  http://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/say-goodbye-to-these-10-home-design-trends-that-are-so-2015/

Home Design Tips from Ellen

Who knew? Ellen DeGeneres isn’t just an affable talk-show host and beloved comedian. She’s also an extremely prolific home designer and house flipper, as shown in her new book, “Home.”

“I wanted to be an interior designer when I was 13,” DeGeneres admits in her book—which explains why, over the past 25 years, she has bought and renovated nearly a dozen homes. Each home was an adventure and an education, she recalls. Below, from her book, are a few lessons she’s learned, as well as gorgeous photos of her interiors that illustrate her points.

Neutral colors make the best palette

“I like neutral colors with stronger colors in art, pillows, or a nice throw. Big color statements on walls or furniture can be fun, but limit the possibility of changes.”

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Get a chalkboard in your kitchen

“Chalkboards make a great, fun statement in a home. You can draw on them or use them practically to make lists or write notes. You can write something like, ‘Remember to put away your shoes,’ just as a random, not-specific-to-my-life example.”

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Less is more

“When finishing a room, I find it’s often useful to take one thing away. I always want to make sure it doesn’t look overdone or fussy.”

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Go vintage

“Vintage fabrics can help personalize your home. They can be used for throw pillows, upholstery on a headboard—even a dog bed.”

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Let there be light—lots of it

“Every room needs more than one light source. Lighting can be harsh or insufficient if you just rely on ceiling lighting. I like soft, even lighting, and I think floor and table lamps are essential to creating the right mood.”

Shared from:  http://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/five-home-design-secrets-from-ellen-degeneres/

Main Universal Design Improvements Every Home Needs

Whether you’re planning to spend your golden years in your home or put it up for sale, you may benefit from making some universal design improvements. Universal design can ensure the comfort of you and your family for years to come, and it can also appeal to buyers with special needs or a desire to spend the rest of their lives in the new home they purchase. Regardless of your age or long-term plans, the following may be sound investments:

Step-Free Entryways

Clear the access paths to your entryways -- including your front door, back door, garage and any others -- of steps, bumps or other hindrances. Homeowners, as they contemplate spending their advanced years in their homes, seek an accessible, level and open floor plan. The 2012 International Residential Code allows for garages to include a level entryway, so if any of your entryways have a step or a bump, consider installing a ramp or mat to address the issue.

Wide Doors and Halls

Doorways should be at least 36 inches wide to enable wheelchair, cane and walker access, as well as to allow multiple people to enter and exit rooms at any given time. Hallways should be at least 42 inches wide to allow for the same. Should you need to expand your doorways and hallways, consult with a remodeling professional to address any structural dangers ahead of time.

Single-Floor Home

Effortless access to every room in the house makes life easier for everyone. And while ramps and railings can make climbing stairs a little easier, stairs remain a hazard -- so a single-floor plan is preferred. Homes should also have a direct line of sight to the front door to ensure easy access in times of distress, as well as a clear view for paramedics or visitors who may be there to render assistance in times of need. Floor plans with many twists and turns like a maze won’t appeal to aging or special-needs populations.

Easy to Use Controls and Handles

People who use wheelchairs have a reach of up to about 42 to 48 inches, which means that controls, light switches and thermostats should be installed at or below that height. Similarly, electrical outlets should not be placed more than 24 inches off the floor. To make things especially simple, consider investing in a home-automation system -- whether it’s for programmed opening of the garage door, timed lights or a remote-controlled entertainment system.

Twist-and-turn door knobs and faucets should be replaced with levered handles for easier access. You should also replace as many kitchen and bathroom wall cabinets as possible with drawers and floor cabinets. Keep universal design height measurements in mind when installing drawers and cabinets (24 inches and 48 inches respectively). Make sure the handles you install on your drawers and cabinets are easy to use as well.

Universal Design Investment Benefits

How do you stand to benefit from investing in universal design home improvements? If you are a homeowner making improvements with the intention of growing old in your home, your efforts to plan for the future will bring you great returns. As you grow older in the home, your risk of physical danger will be minimized because your home will be equipped to accommodate any physical handicaps of yours that may present themselves. The investments you’ve made will yield returns through your safety. (For other improvements that add value to one's home, see article: "Home Improvements That Really Pay Off".)

If you are a homeowner making improvements with the intent to sell your home, it might seem harder to assess the actual financial benefits that are gained from creating a more universally appealing home. While there are no statistics available on the return on investment for universal home design, research shows the baby boomer generation is looking to settle in one place and stay for a long time -- and the baby boomer generation makes up a third of the population in the United States. Making these improvements will likely increase your home’s market appeal to anyone between the ages of 45 and 70. (For more about choices being made, and trends being set, by baby boomers, see article:"How Baby Boomers Will Change The Way Others Retire.")

The Bottom Line

Homeowners who make universal design improvements to their homes will likely find that the investment was worth it -- whether they spend the rest of their lives in those homes, or put them up for sale.  In the former case, such improvements will maximize the safety and comfort of a homeowner's surroundings as he or she ages. In the second scenario, in which a house is put up for sale, there will be a larger market for a house that is designed to accommodate those with special needs, as well as aging homebuyers.  (For related reading, see article: "Selling Your House? Avoid These Mistakes.")

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Reposted from:  http://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/120214/main-universal-design-improvements-every-home-needs.asp