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Trends In Home Decorating
by Kathryn Whittaker
Fashion trends no
longer dictate the way we dress or decorate our homes. Eclecticism
and contrasting style directions reign in home decorating. More and
more people develop a taste of mixing contradictory furniture trends
in their home decor, combining contemporary furniture with vintage
finds and exotic art pieces.
Uncertain economy,
the rise of natural disasters, persistent war conflicts and terrorist
threats have resulted in the further insulation of people within
their home cocoons. This cocoon lifestyle has given a boom to the
housewares, home decorating and furniture industry since more and
more people turn to home entertainment and dinner parties instead of
“going out.”
The “cocoon
boom,” which originally started after September 11, 2001,
transformed the modern home into a family sanctuary and hideaway.
Casual living remains as the major theme with contemporary furniture
today, with an emphasis on home entertaining and informal dining.
From
modern furniture to accessories and dinnerware, people look for
ihome decorating tems that possess a strong sense of personal style.
The casual living trend in modern furniture translates into
multi-functional furniture with clear non-cluttered design and
extended seating furniture pieces such as extra-long and curved
couches and sofas.
Modern furniture
today encourages family values, promotes quality family
entertainment, supports traditional values and generally helps people
connect. Another noticeable trend in home décor and home
decorating is a return to ‘formal’ for special occasions.
People tend to make a greater effort preparing for special occasions
or dinner parties and spend more time selecting dinnerware, candles,
photo albums, seasonal decorations and table linen. Another important
modern furniture trend for home decorating is sensuality which means
luscious fabrics, soft warm colors and simple shapes.
Many furniture
items are adjusted for use for the targeted group of single men. This
means sleek minimalist design and an emphasis on the use of
multi-media applications. Flat screen TV’s are accommodated in
hi-tech entertainment centers, and flat loudspeakers are incorporated
into lean, spacious sofas, covered with dark trendy upholstery
fabrics. This trend is also reflected in one-of-a-kind furniture
items, such as art pieces having a functional meaning. Wide use of
LED lighting technology helps transform a coffee table into a
futuristic object that will change colors depending on a situation.
Speaking of
materials used in modern furniture today for home decorating, light
woods still dominate. Oak, cherry, and birch are the most popular
woods, with rattan and bamboo on the rise. Many woods are
artificially stained to resemble exquisite tropical woods, for
example, zebrano, mahogany, or palisander. A varnished solid front is
often combined with a veneered body. Stainless steel, polished or
brushed, and aluminum are used widely, often combined with innovative
satin glass and boldly colored fiberglass.
In the upholstery,
modern furniture designers favor refined large abstract patterns or
sophisticated monochrome surfaces. Stripes and checks, as well as
floral patterns are slightly out of fashion. The most popular
materials are wool, cotton and leather, with wool felt gaining popularity.
The main
characteristic feature of modern furniture is its understatement.
Giorgio Armani, a couturier turned furniture designer says that a
subtle richness, not an obvious beauty, is most important in
contemporary furniture design for home decorating. Like a beautiful
woman, furniture today reveals itself over time.
About The Author
Kathryn Whittaker writes articles on a number of
different topics. For more information on Contemporary Decorating visit
http://www.contemporaryfurnitureguide.com
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