Let fashions inspire your decorating choices

Most people are tuned into the latest fashion trends, or at least to those in their own region. But did you know that home decorating trends typically reflect what is happening in the world of clothing fashion?

It can be about the economy

There is no doubt that we are experiencing difficult economic times. The good news is that there are lots of affordable options for decorating your windows and more. Perhaps fueled by the energy tax credit, an increase in the sale of new windows has translated into new and affordable window decorating options. Even custom treatments come with better choices of fabrics, hardware and other materials nowadays. So, you can still go the custom route to get exactly what you want AND be a smart shopper at the same time.

Speaking of custom..

While the custom route is becoming more flexible and affordable, it still says “luxurious!” Choosing custom window treatments might, in fact, be one of the easiest and most affordable ways to add the element of luxury to a room. Your treatments frame the room, hug the room, and set its tone. Go “luxurious” with your windows and you can cut bigger corners elsewhere in the room. The easiest way to convey that sense of luxury is with texture. Look at linen, silk, velvet and other textured fabrics to set a luxurious tone to your room.

Naturally bold

When most people visualize “earthy” in decorating, they think of earth-tones. While these neutral earth-toned colors can, indeed, add a natural feel to a room, so can natural fabrics and materials. Silk and linen work well in this category as well as adding luxury to a space. So do materials and fabrics made of wool, cotton, linen, hemp, ramie and jute. Leather is also an option worth considering. To add that natural feel to a space through other materials and furnishings in the room, consider bamboo, reed, and other natural, beautiful types of wood.

Finally, it’s all about BLACK

Well, sort of anyway. Whether it’s tones of black, gray or brown, the darker neutrals are the stars of the show in fashion and in home decorating. All are classic (aka, always in style) and as such, make great base colors to combine with “pops” of more “trendy” colors than can be frequently changed. For example, use your pops of oranges, lime greens and teal blues in your pillows, throws and other easily changeable accessories.

One other tip: Remember that while bold colors and patterns are the “trend du jour,” use them in ways that can be easily interchanged and evolve into something else in the future.

(Photo credit: Jatin Kampani)