West Elm
Playful shapes and bold colours characterize West Elm’s New Modern collection, to which this armchair belongs.
If January is a time for projection and setting goals, December is often a time of introspection.
We re-evaluate our relationships, we reassess our careers and we think about what we’ve achieved and what we could have done better.
Here, we take a look back at something else: the biggest decor trends of the year. Trends come and go so fast it can sometimes be hard to keep track of which ones were just a flash in the pan and which ones will stand the test of time.
Since a room is a little more permanent than an outfit or even a seasonal closet, it’s important to evaluate the longevity of a trend before diving in headfirst.
Now that the year is almost over, we looked back at 2017’s biggest trends to predict which ones are here to stay and which ones should go. From insanely popular round mirrors to the rise of hygge and beige paint colours, we rounded up the home decor trends that made an impact this year.
Ready to play love it or leave it?
Let us know which trends you’d like to see stick around in 2018 and which ones should disappear forever.
New modern
Earlier this year, West Elm introduced us to a collection called New Modern and warmed us to the idea of minimal furniture with curved edges and bold colours. Unlike its midcentury influences, new modern incorporates more playful shapes and colours, such as pastels and jewel tones.
Beige tones
Many of us grew up with the perception that the colour beige was boring, but if 2017 taught us anything, it’s that this doesn’t have to be the case. Designers embraced the neutral tone to create beautifully layered minimal spaces that portrayed it in a whole new light.
No upper cabinets
Inspired by the European kitchens of designers like Joseph Dirand, we saw many kitchens stateside forgo upper cabinets and instead extend the marble from the countertops up into a foot-high backsplash with a ledge.
This growing trend also encourages displaying art and objects to make the space feel more decorated.
Handmade ceramics
If all the cool girls on Instagram taught us anything this year, it’s that handmade ceramics made a comeback.
Often displayed in sets, small vases and other decorative objects bring a more organic quality to otherwise polished spaces — giving rooms everywhere an imperfect, lived-in edge.
Round mirrors
Round mirrors were all the rage this year.
Most often displayed in bathrooms, powder rooms, and entryways, round mirrors — often with thin brass or black metal frames — help break up the otherwise squared edges in a space and can also make a room appear larger and lighter.
It’s a little miracle product that’s well worth the investment.
Hygge
If 2016 was the year of Marie Kondo, 2017 was all about hygge.
The Scandinavian word is intended to represent the feeling of coziness and togetherness — and is often represented in homes with lots of soft textures such as blankets and sheepskin rugs, candlelight and other cozy items.
Colourful kitchens
All-white kitchens have been all the rage for a while now.
However, 2017 gave us a glimpse into another growing trend: colourful kitchens.
Think green-tiled islands, pink cabinets, or even bright yellow barstools, because it seems homeowners are more ready than ever to leave behind the predictable white marble-and-subway tile combo for something a little more daring.
— Tribune Media
