Many people are under the misconception that contemporary home decor is an exact and specific style. However, contemporary is a term that means ‘modern’ and ‘up to date.’ With that in mind, the home accessories and decor for this style can actually change from year to year. Here’s the low down on what home accessories and other items will suit contemporary decor in 2012.

All About Contemporary Furniture

With contemporary styled furniture in 2012, look for clean lines and simple style. Avoid looks that are unnecessarily decorative, such as with nailhead trim, ruffles, carved details in the wood or excessive tufting. Instead, opt for clean straight lines or even fluid, organic lines which will also compliment the look of contemporary home decor. Instead of using your furniture as the basis for your home decor, use your furniture as a single piece of an overall scheme, which will help you to create a more cohesive and natural flow to your space.

Contemporary Color Palettes

While you’re looking for furniture and other home accessories to suit the contemporary style, you may find yourself wondering about color palettes. For contemporary decor, the key is to create a neutral color palette. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t infuse a bit of color into the space. Ideally, you’ll want to use mostly neutrals such as gray, ivory or beige and combine these hues with subtle pops of a chosen accent color.

For example, you could decorate a space using ivories in a few different shades. This translates into the flooring, such as a deep wooden floor with a throw rug that features a clean darker ivory tone. Lighter ivory toned upholstery is found on the furniture and drapes, with a third ivory tone found on the walls. From here, there are a few different options to add color to the space. Throw pillows, table decor such as vases or bowls and other small home accessories can be used to compliment the space; or if you are really daring you could paint a single accent wall to help highlight the space.

Contemporary Home Decor

When looking to add some home decor into your space, the first items to incorporate are the natural elements. Metal tones are extremely trendy right now, but they’re also very on-key for contemporary home decor. An easy way to incorporate a few metals into your contemporary space would be through beautiful metal accent coffee tables, or polished metal vase table decorations. Other options include metal pendants for your dining table or various other metal objects that you could add to the space.

Glass is also another look that can be incorporated into contemporary home decor. This could translate into the same looks as above, so don’t be afraid to mix glass and metals together to compliment your contemporary space. Glass lamp bases, glass bowls or vases are all great options for table decor on coffee or side tables.

Other natural elements to incorporate into the space include potted plants or flowers, reclaimed wood furniture pieces such as coffee tables, console tables or end tables, all of which are extremely trendy for 2012 contemporary home decor; metal, golden and wood finished frames, glass or metal home accessories and so forth. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

It is just that easy to combine different decorating elements and add them creatively into your contemporary home! Find modern home accessories that carry your personal taste.

In 2012, certain hues are all the rage. Citrus colors are going to be extremely popular in both the spring and summer of 2012, perhaps even into the early fall if the right hues are chosen. Home accessories and decor in these hues are a perfect compliment to a variety of home decor styles, making it easy to incorporate them into existing spaces. Here are a few tips and tricks on home accessories in citrus hues for your home.

Trendy Citrus Hues for Home Decor

If you tend to favor clean, white looks for your furniture rather than wood tones, then you may want to consider painting your walls or an accent wall a fun, funky citrus hue. Popular colors include tangerine, mandarin orange, or lemon yellow. Not ready for an entire room, or even an entire wall? Another trendy look for incorporating a fun new hue into the space is to paint a single large and wide stripe onto one wall. This stripe could be horizontal or vertical, but it should be used to draw attention to a given area. This is a great way to create a focal point with your home decor.

Of course, painting a room is not for everyone. Furthermore, you don’t have to mix citrus hues with other citrus hues. You can mix and match different hues to create your own custom color palettes. Don’t be afraid to blend a citrus hue such as tangerine with soft pinks or creamy ivories, as well as with other bold hues such as turquoise or plum. You could easily incorporate these other hues through your home accessories: throw pillows, accent furniture, table decor and so forth.

Other popular citrus hues to consider include lime greens, orange, clementine, grapefruit pink, grapefruit orange, grapefruit yellow, kumquat, tangelo, pomelo, sweety (or sweetie, sweeti) fruits, ugli (or ugly) fruits and many, many more.

Those who are looking to create a more neutral color palette with pops of citrus hues, may want to consider mixing these hues with grey, which is a particularly trendy neutral. Other options include ivory, black and white, all of which can create a surprisingly elegant look for your home decor.

If you don’t have the budget or simply aren’t willing to redecorate your entire space, consider swapping out smaller home accessories. This could include throw pillows or even curtains. Look for prints that feature citrus fruits, but also for fabrics that feature cleaner looks such as a solid citrus hue or striped fabrics. Don’t be afraid to also use bold patterns or mix and match different looks. You can also look for wall decor that features pops of citrus colors.

What Rooms Can I Use Citrus Hues In?

You can actually use citrus hues in just about any room in your home. Citrus hues are particularly trendy in bathroom spaces, kitchen spaces and home offices. However, they can also be used in the bedroom, living room or family room.

Citrus hues are not for the faint of heart, so you’ll need to be confident in your choices when using these hues in your home decor. Remember, with bright, bold hues, you are bound to get a bit of criticism here and there.

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For even more citrus home decor, browse through our large selection of charger plates!

Global chic home decor is one of the hottest new trends in decorating. This particular style involves a plethora of different home accessories that pull the look together. However, many people are wondering what exactly is global chic and what home accessories and decor items are needed to pull this look off? Here are a few tips and tricks.

In 2012, there are a number of globally inspired home decor looks hitting the market. Global chic is just one of many, but it does tend to be one of the cleaner, more elegant and chic looks of all the global styles currently out there.

Global Chic Furniture

Furniture for this particular style of home decor tends to be more on the contemporary side. It features clean lines, solid colors or clean patterns. However, that does not necessarily mean that some designers won’t mix clean lines with global influenced patterns. Don’t be surprised to see contemporary styled upholstered furnitures with tribal ikat prints, which are also extremely trendy but surprisingly clean and stylish.

Global Chic Color Palette

The color palette for the global chic look is surprisingly vibrant, despite the inclusion of contemporary styled influences. For this home decor style, don’t be surprised to see varying tropical shades including citrus hues such as Pantone’s Color of the Year, Tango Tangerine, as well as hues such as lime green. Other popular hues for global chic home decor include linen, ivory, turquoise, fuchsia pink, indigo blue, mauve, caramel and many more.

Home Accessories for Global Chic Home Decor

Global chic is actually a combination of contemporary home decor and global influencing. However, the specific type of global influencing you choose will vary, which makes this particular style extremely personal.

For example, you could choose to mix your main contemporary pieces with African inspired looks, such as wooden masks for wall decor, small hand woven African baskets for table decor and so forth.

On the other hand, you could choose to mix your contemporary pieces with Moroccan inspired pieces. Moroccan is still African, but yet, it isn’t. With this style, you may find yourself infusing jewel tones into the space through your rug and throw pillows, as well as in your wall art and your lighting.

With global chic home decor, you need to chose a style or styles that represent you and your family. These globally influenced styles can be representations of places you’d like to visit, countries that your family has originated from or perhaps a past but well enjoyed vacation. You can also choose to infuse multiple global styles if desired, as long as the basis of your design remains contemporary in nature. Clean lines are the base for this style, so always return to this and you’ll find that global chic home decor is surprisingly easy to recreate in your own home.

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Add vibrancy and a global sophistication to your interiors with a wide selection of fabulous home accessories!

Pinstripes, candy stripes and nautical stripes, oh my! There is something so perennially fresh and chic about striped interiors and there is a reason why stripes are a favorite home décor among decorators.

They can be masculine or feminine, fun and flirty, austere or exotic; how striped interiors turn out depends on color, thickness of stripe and, of course, the decorator’s imagination. If you want to design your own striped interiors, take a look at these beautiful homes for a bit of inspiration!

Cinnamon-red and white striped wallpaper in this entry looks like peppermint candy, doesn’t it? To keep a pattern like this sophisticated, add deep wooden or ebony accents and complement with a deeper hue of red or even plum.

Robert Passal’s (interior designer) home office is luxe in this glossy, bold black-and-white striped interior. This space is a beautiful mix of texture and pattern, and the salon-style hanging of the wall art adds a really nice touch.

Stripes of varying color and thickness are playful and bold in this dining room. The minimalistic table decor compliments the room and plays to its colors.  Don’t be afraid to mix it up in terms of color and pattern, even position. Done properly, you’ll have an interior that’s totally fresh and unique.

What more is there to say about this cleverly striped living room? Aside from a tonal striped wallpaper in pale blue, you’ll notice that stripes resonate throughout this space: the table lamp, a pillow…even the fireplace has chevron stripes.

Stripes can be subtle when painted in a glossy/matte combo. The combo here, shown in a celadon green, is calming and serene — a perfect space to rest.

Thick yellow-and-white striped walls in this bathroom are bold, yet happy. Black and white bathroom accessories add a lovely, contrasting touch. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Do you think your ready to throw some stripes into your own home? Check out our variety of charger plates that will easily compliment any pattern.

With the focus shifting to environmentally friendlier ways, many people are looking for better quality and better-for-the-environment fabrics and upholsteries for their home accessories. These fabrics are being found on everything from furniture to throw rugs, throw pillows to blankets and other home accessories and decor items. Today organic and eco-friendly fabrics come in so many different styles and looks, it’s easy to find the right look for your existing home decor.

On a side note, it is important to remember that eco-friendly does not always translate into organic. If a fabric is organic, the manufacturer will likely denote this in some way or another, such as a tag or in advertising. Furthermore, keep in mind that no one fabric is entirely eco-friendly. Manufacturing, transport and other issues affecting each individual fabric can drastically alter their seemingly eco-friendly appearance.

Bamboo

Bamboo is popping up everywhere in home decor: furniture, wood floors, table decor items, wall art and even wallpaper, carpeting and more. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that bamboo has also been manufactured into fabric. Bamboo is often blended with another material, such as cotton, to create a sturdier, longer-lasting product.

This particular type of fabric is perhaps the most eco-friendly because bamboo is fast growing and self replenishing. It also produces an extremely soft, comfortable fabric, which adds to its overall appeal.

Organic Cotton

Many people assume that because cotton is a natural product, it must also be eco-friendly. Unfortunately, this isn’t true. In fact, almost a quarter of all the insecticides used in the world are used on cotton crops. However, if you opt for fabrics for your home accessories and decor that state they are made from organic cotton, then you’re on your way to eco-friendlier fabrics in your home. Organic cottons are cottons that are farmed from regulated organic cotton farms, so you can buy with good faith.

Wool

Wool is a type of fabric that some feel is on the fence when it comes to eco-friendly fabrics. While it is true that it comes from an animal that does not have to be killed in order to harvest the wool, it is also true that sheep themselves (especially in larger numbers for manufacturing purposes) can be a huge burden on the environment. They require food, grazing areas and so forth. Furthermore, “factory farm wool” is made from sheep who are kept in extremely small pens their entire lives, a particularly gruesome and horrible existence. So it is important to weigh the pros and cons when opting for wool for your home decor needs.

These are just a few of the many different organic or eco-friendly fabric options out there that you can use in your home decor. There are also twill fabrics, hemp fabrics, organic blends, cotton twill blends, silks and silk blends, jersey knits, bamboo blends and many, many more. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Decorate your home without damaging the environment, with these eco-friendly home accessories and decor.

When it comes to wood tones, either for floors or for furniture, the trends tend to last quite a bit longer than for other home accessories and decor items. With home decor, the color of the wood you choose can have a huge effect on how your space feels. In 2012, expect to see warmer tones of woods popping up on home accessories and other items.

Walnut

One of the most popular wood tones for 2012 is walnut. Walnut does tend to be on the darker side of the warm wood tones out there. However, it isn’t too dark for the looks that many people are going for with their home decor this year. This particular wood tone can come in a few different hues, though they all tend to have the same warm undertones and get along with many table decors.

With this in mind, there are also a few manufacturers who produce walnut furniture or walnut finished flooring that is bleached or features cool gray undertones. These are also going to be trendy for 2012, as gray is extremely trendy and will continue to grace home decors for years to come. This makes walnut the perfect hue to invest in, as we tend to hold onto our furniture for several years before making any major changes or new purchases.

Cherry

Another popular hue, cherry tends to have a red undertone that adds to its appeal. Cherry wood and cherry finishes actually come in a plethora of different tones and colors, with extremely red versions to woods and finishes that feature a subtle hint of the hue. This color compliments a select number of home decor styles, so be wary. Unlike walnut, cherry will not necessarily look good everywhere. Though it will be scarce in terms of furniture pieces, cherry will be particularly popular for kitchen cabinetry, so keep this in mind.

Cedar

Another wood tone trend for 2012 is the use of lighter toned woods. Cedar is a perfect blending of warm, rich tones with lighter tones for a stylish look. Unlike cherry, cedar tends to be more versatile. It can be used on both indoor and outdoor furniture and it will compliment a variety of home decors.

Much like other wood tones, cedar comes in a plethora of different hues including gray, silver, red and brown hues. This makes it extremely versatile and easier to match up to existing or new home decor looks.

These are just a few of the many warm wood tones that will be gracing the home decor market this year, at least in terms of furniture. Warm wood tones will also be found in kitchen and bathroom cabinetry as well as wood flooring throughout every space, so keep this in mind if you are remodeling or redecorating. Images 1| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Whether you decide on a modern or rustic look, wood floors bring a warm touch to any interior space! Discover stylish home accessories and decor that will complement your wooden flooring!

Many people are wondering what exactly ‘French Market’ home decor is. What home accessories and decor items will suit this style and where can one find them? Fortunately, this particular style is extremely easy to understand once you know the basics, including what to look for with home accessories, furniture and other items for your home.

About French Market Style Home Decor

With this style, it is important to note that with the ‘market’ side of this style, it is more casual rather than uptight. Many people regard the French in general as an uptight look, while others feel it is all about a rich, luxurious and classy style. Whatever your opinion may be, you must remember that with French market style home decor, this look is casual, not uptight.

When looking for pieces to suit this style, there are two routes that you can take. The first method and typically the preferred method (especially with interior designers) is to take the time to scour local flea markets, garage sales, estate sales and antique stores for authentic pieces that compliment the space. This is particularly true with furniture pieces, as new remakes are not quite as stylish or elegant as an authentic piece, which will also show its natural age, wear and tear, giving it a true ‘French Market’ feel.

In fact, French market style home decor puts a great deal of influence on informal style. It is simplistic in nature but it does combine a subtle infusion of that classy, rich and luxurious French style into it.

However, this does not at all mean that you cannot opt for new pieces, especially if you’re having a hard time coming by authentic pieces to suit the look. Online and even local retailers have a plethora of options. The true key factor with this style is to look for a casual elegance. A style that is worn and weathered but still beautiful and elegant.

This same concept should also be applied to the other home accessories you use to complete the space: throw pillows, wall decor, table decor, lighting and so forth.

For materials, there are a few key items you can (and should) incorporate into the space. For example, natural raw woods are a perfect addition to the French market style. With French market home decor, you’ll find that since the furniture pieces are already worn and well loved, the finish has often wore away, leaving behind a raw look. In fact, you may even find that you can incorporate reclaimed wood pieces (tables and other furniture) into this look quite easily. Other materials to incorporate include natural fiber materials such as organic cottons, jute, hemp and linen.

With this style, the key fact to remember is that it is almost an eclectic style. You want your space to be casual but elegant, with flea market finds and a combination of other items to pull the space together. It is not all about the actual lines or any specific look. It is a combination of elements that work together to create the French market style for home decor. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

What kind of art would you like with your French Market style? We have a wonderful and large selection of wall art to choose from. Take a look!

Eclectic home decor is a unique look that many people are finding themselves more and more drawn to. This style can be casual or elegant, clean or chaotic and there’s an eclectic look for just about every person. With so many home accessories and decor items out there, many people are wondering exactly what home accessories are best suited for the emerging style known as ‘Global Eclectic.’

To put it simply, global eclectic home decor is all about mixing and matching different global or ethnic looks.Typically, this style also blends in a few contemporary pieces, such as furniture, to help ground the look visually. This could include a clean lined sofa, chair, coffee table or other piece of furniture that helps keep the space from being too visually overwhelming.

With that in mind, remember that not all of the furnitures must be contemporary or clean lined. Just one or two pieces, particularly the larger pieces, are all that is necessary to help visually ground this style of home decor. This means that other items, such as accent tables, accent chairs and so forth, could be in various global styles as desired.

After furniture, you’ll likely want to focus on the color palette for this style. Fortunately, there is no set color palette for this home decor style. This can be both a pro and a con, as if you’re unsure of where to start, it can be quite frustrating. On the other hand, it also allows you to pull together your own color scheme. After all, it’s an eclectic style and therefore should reflect your tastes. Popular colors that compliment this style include bright hues, such as jewel tones, inspired by Moroccan looks; poppy reds, stark blacks, warm beiges and so forth.

Be sure to vary texture when working with this particular style. For example, all of your furniture does not have to have the same fabric: your sofa could be made from a linen, your arm chair can be made from a bamboo or cotton blend and your throw pillows could be made from a variety of textures: faux fur, wool and so forth.

With wall art and wall decor, remember to vary the items. Again, part of this style is an eclectic look. You could blend African masks with a Moroccan painting and perhaps even throw in a few Chinese decorative elements, such as a fan or screen. Global home decor must be varied, otherwise it won’t work properly. If you only opt for one global style, then you do not have global eclectic, so keep this in mind.

This concept should apply to every and all areas of your home decor including, but not limited to: lighting, furniture and other home accessories such as table decor, curtains and so forth. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

What types of global looks pull your heartstrings the most? Browse our vast array of global inspired home accessories and decor!

As expected, certain items tend to resurge in popularity as time goes on. What was popular in the 1950s might not be popular in the 1960s, but may come back into style in the 2010s. With that in mind, it’s important to take note of what home accessories are coming back into play for your home decor. The sunburst is popping up on home accessories and decor items everywhere, so consider incorporating this fresh look into your space.

All About the Sunburst

The sunburst may also be referred to as the “starburst.” Technically, both terms are correct though sunburst tends to be the more popular choice for terms. This particular piece of wall decor typically features a large or small center circle. The center circle can be used as a holding place for a photograph or other piece of artwork, though it often tends to be a mirror.

Outward from this center circle are multiple arms in varying lengths to create the bursting look. These arms are typically finished in a gold or yellow hue. However, recent trends have created sunburst style wall art finished in a plethora of hues ranging from blues and whites to blacks and browns, yellows and greens to reds and oranges; making the sunburst an extremely versatile piece of wall decor.

Where Can I Use the Sunburst?

The truth about the sunburst is that it is a surprisingly organic home decor item. This is because the sun itself (and the stars) are ‘natural’ elements of our world and therefore, this particular style will actually suit a plethora of home decor spaces. With that in mind, there are a few key places where sunburst wall decor can truly stand out.

For starters, placing a large sunburst over a fireplace and its mantle can make a dramatic statement that adds to the overall warmth and appeal of the fireplace itself. Choose a sunburst that compliments the existing home decor and it will seamlessly blend right in. Don’t be afraid to opt for metal toned sunbursts, as metal is another natural element and can help make your chosen sunburst easier to incorporate into your space.

Another great location for the sunburst is the foyer. Everyone loves the feeling of the sun warming their skin, so incorporating a sunburst into the home decor of the foyer can actually help make your home feel more welcoming, inviting. You can center your sunburst over your table decor, console table, foyer table or you can place it above your coat rack or coat hooks. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

When it comes to the sunburst, the opportunities are endless. Thanks to its ‘natural’ style, you can incorporate it into just about any style of home decor.

Before you start throwing these Sunburst into your home, make sure you check out our selection of wall decor that you can use to compliment the designs.