5 design trends to follow.

It's hard to follow home design trends for many reasons.  First, of course, is the expense. While being fashionable and current is a great idea, to re-do your home frequently is time consuming and costly.  Second is that a trend may not accurately reflect who you are....a great style doesn't mean you should use it.  By incorporating - subtly - some of the top trends, you can be cutting edge and stay true to your budget and your personal style!

Pottery from your travels works well in decor.

1) Uniqueness: With a trend towards our heritage and ethnicity, this style trend is easily incorporated into most decor. Most of us have a favored piece from family or travels. Do you collect unusual art?  Make those pieces stand out in a room and highlight their individuality. Hang that art by itself...add a picture light, drape an old table or chair with a brightly colored throw, place collectibles in a single area and light it.

A new paint job moved this dresser to the entry.

2) Reclaiming:  This has broad meaning. From using items that have been made from materials used before, to re-purposing something for a new use, you can capture the essence of this long-term style trend. Try using a small bedroom chest as an entry table...a new finish and hardware can make it a statement piece.  Turn a found object into a candlestick...express your creativity.

3) Time worn:  In every type of decor from country, to classic formal, to sleek modernist, adding aged pieces in the right proportion and color is stylish. An old stone piece on a sleek tabletop, a rugged architectural remnant hanging in a traditional dining room. You can even create aging or distressing on pieces you don't love and find a new use and place to display them.

4) Handcrafted: Reminiscent of the Arts and Crafts movement, this moves us away from mass-manufactured products to those made by hand.  Ideas... baskets for display and storage - these add leather strapping and brass buckles -  a wooden bench, an earthenware vase. One standout piece, or a grouping, makes a great statement and captures the essence of craftsmanship.

A large hand-painted pattern in a dining room.

5) Exaggerated scale: With full knowledge of scale and proportion, and how to use them, designers have been 'breaking' the rules using this element in ways that could be considered over-the-top. By placing a very large scale object d'art on a small table, or a huge painting on a small wall, you create a statement that draws the eye and gives a unique message about your style. At home, try using large scale wall-coverings, a big pattern on an area rug, a large pendant over a table. One 'over-the-top' chair can work really well if positioned correctly in