You can definitely tell that we are collectively feeling a whole lot better about life and the economy, as colour reappears at home and on the runways. One of the most popular colours this year will be a bright, cheery yellow – yes, we are literally expecting sunnier days ahead.
Look for bright, neon shades (omigosh, the eighties are returning) – think lemon meringue pie or lime sorbet.
Can any room wear yellow? Almost. These new fun yellows pair well with popular blue hues, such as peacock, denim and turquoise, and all through the blue-reds, such as royal violets, grapes and merlots.
Optimistic yellows also pair well with rich, handsome browns, warm corals and the charcoal-greys that we have come to know and love. Look for greys to lighten up a little this year with an infusion of crystal and a hint of blue, for a fresher, lighter appeal.
Who wasn’t enthralled by the 3-D images from Avatar last year? Bring those same effects home this year with dimensional wallpapers and fabrics – think origami flowers, geometric shapes, pleats and folds.
We’ll also see a return to shine, as more and more high-gloss materials make their way home this year, starting with the kitchen. Look for polyester cabinet doors, highly reflective surfaces for backsplashes and mirrored finishes on appliances.
Ever since the first decorators designed their caves, we have loved and employed animal prints at home. Twenty-eleven is no different, as we passionately embrace animal prints at home, and while cheetah and zebra work well, look for us to have fun with more whimsical and playful animal-inspired motifs.
Look for modern and traditional to merge, literally, in home design as we see furniture that combines both styles in one table or dresser. These pieces are fun and can tie your eclectic elements together – but one piece is enough. Don’t overdo this trend.
Good taste is always in style, and this year we love to show off our one-of-a-kind finds and artistic savvy as we see original art and unique pieces take centre stage at home.
It is never in good taste to have clutter in your rooms. The recession taught us about the dangers of overindulging, so this year it is more than trendy to reduce clutter and not have too much stuff sitting around, collecting dust. As we say every year: if you don’t love it or don’t use it anymore, move it out.
I love the sense of fun and opportunity that this year presents, and I can’t wait to see what creativity we can inspire together.
Designer secret: Whenever I do the laundry, I always find change in everybody’s pockets, so I finally bought a funky-looking piggy bank and put it on the countertop in the laundry room. Now while I’m doing my chores, I’m actually saving money – and by this time next year I expect it to be full. The only problem will be, what to do with all that cash…?
Cheryll Gillespie is an award-winning designer with a passion for travel. Visit her website.
