Ten Great Interior Design Trends of the Decade

From famous architects to paints, the Green has swept the world. We now see the importance of reducing and recycling our wastes. What you may not know is that, even if ever single scrap of material in your house is new, those materials could have been recycled. Additional trends are using sustainable woods, like Bamboo (which is technically a grass), to outfitter stores that cater to recycled building materials, to solar powered upgrades and EPA standard appliances. This trend will continue to grow as oil and gas prices skyrocket.

Vintage Charm

Along the lines of going green, many have turned their eye to the past, as antiques and vintage furniture has once again become vogue. Used furniture stores and flea markets are jam packed as buyers want a piece of their own history.

Nature

Whether you are bringing the outdoors inside, or the indoors outside, or you add an aquarium or houseplant, then nature is one of our top designing preferences. More and more people are adding herb pots and aloe plants to their nightstands, and popular magazines like Martha Stewart Living feature full spreads of their bonsai plants as the main decor.

Mixing & Matching Woods

Just like your mother's old advise never to mix silver and gold, the old trend to match all of your woods together has gone out the door. Now, the newest trend is putting the old, antique cherry with the new, bamboo hardwood floors.

Minimalist Design

A page out of the bachelor's handbook, one of the best trends of the decade is to streamline your looks and remove all the clutter. All of the curio cabinets filled with knick knacks and collections have been replaced with single tables with one display piece.

Bright, Bold Colors

This decade, we have seen an infusion of bright and palatable colors across a background drop of neutral browns and earth tones. Often times, these colors clash (intentionally), or are of similar hues to complement each other.

White

Bare apartment white has gotten itself an upgrade into the trend of interior design. Now, instead of painting your house in subdued hues, white is the new it color. Pair it with dark woods and a minimalist design for a tasteful decor.

Homemade

Crocheting a blanket, knitting a pillow case, or sewing some curtains. These are all examples of one of the best interior design trends of the decade. While nothing new (think quilting), a lot of people, especially parents who also hold full time jobs, do not really have time to dedicate to pulling off a project. If that is your case, try picking up some homemade stuff at a store.

Walk Out Basements into Family Rooms

This is probably the best way to add space to your home without any major changes. Walk out basements, turned into a family-friendly atmosphere, add square footage but don't dent the wallet.

Master Bathrooms

As parents are turning towards privacy and oasis, the master bathroom has come with a big swoosh, turning over bi-levels and one bathroom homes alike. Bathrooms are also one of the biggest renovations in any house updo.

Hardwood Floors

Gone are the days of shag rug carpeting and black and white tiling. One of the hottest trends now is to install or update hardwood floor, and then throw rugs on top. It's a simple, yet elegant design, and if you employ runners, the the upkeep is small. Also consider the alternatives to these floors, including laminate or half wood, half laminate flooring, or snap pieces.