I asked HGTV hosts Bryan Baeumler from Disaster DIY and Samantha Pynn from Pure Design to look into their expert crystal balls and tell us what they see happening in home decor this year.
Vanessa: What colours do you think will be important in 2009?
Bryan Baeumler: A lot of people are going with white or off-white and using furniture and art to bring some colour in. Taupe is still a pretty popular safe choice but some are adding colour with accent walls. We recently painted a room Dill Pickle Green this year…and then painted over it.
Samantha Pynn: I think that colour in general will be important. Lavender, grey and blue are all on trend and very easy to work with, but really it's about finding colours that speak to you. It used to be that there was one hot colour but people are really starting to decorate their own homes, so I don't think that you can peg one colour as the hot colour of the year.
Some of Samantha's paint picks from Pure Design: Benjamin Moore's Violet Mist (CC-880), Stonington Grey (HC-170) and Polar Sky (HC-790).
V: What's a good way to incorporate colour into a neutral decor scheme?
SP: Colour can be incorporated in many different ways. It just depends on how daring you are. You can add pops of colour with accessories like pillows and throws or paint a small space like a powder room. Make a bolder colour statement with patterned window treatments or a bright or patterned upholstered sofa.
V: Will eco style continue or will shopping for sustainable choices just be integrated into all design?
BB: I think eco style will continue to grow in popularity, especially as prices come down and more products become available. It’s a relatively new phenomenon and as with anything, the longer it’s out there, the more products that will become available.
V: Will the economic atmosphere impact home decor?
SP: Yes, we're in uncertain economic times, but that doesn't mean that sophistication and luxe have flown out the window. We need a little glamour now more than ever. And you don't have to spend a bundle to add a little sparkle to your home. I think that initially we'll see classics like linen upholstery, fabric and tailored lines (think the modern wing chair) but in the future, colour, pattern and statement pieces will prevail. Oh yes, and long live the nail head detail. We'll see nail heads everywhere, but again this is a trend that will last.
Nailhead trim on the dining chairs from Pure Design Ep. 7: Beth's Dining Room.
V: How can 2009’s trends easily (and inexpensively) be incorporated into a home?
BB: Good question! I think if people use their imagination and aren’t scared to try something different, there’s limitless potential. Using off-cuts and reclaimed materials to create unique designs and accents is a good way to save a few bucks and have something a little different than the neighbours.
SP: I like to draw a parallel between dressing your home and dressing yourself. Just as you wouldn't buy the entire outfit off the mannequin, don't go too crazy with all new things. Work with what you have. I always start there. Rethink floor plans, move furniture and accessories around from one room to another and then layer in a few trends. If you buy something trendy that doesn't work the way you thought it would, don't fret. Move it somewhere else. I bought an orange belt for my jeans and I just couldn't make it work, I tightened the same belt around the waist of my old black sweater, and I had a whole new favorite outfit.