Perhaps one of the easiest ways to update your home decor is through the use of a fresh new color palette. In 2012, the green and gray color palette is popping up everywhere from home accessories and decor to the fashion runway. Here are a few tips and tricks on how to update your home with green and gray home accessories and decor items.

Shades of Green

When looking for the right tone of green, there are two ways you can go that are particularly trendy in the home decor world. First, jewel tones have been popular in the past few months and will likely continue to be popular throughout the rest of 2012. With that in mind, emerald green and citrine green are both perfect hues that compliment the gray and green color scheme.

On the other hand, you can stray away from jewel tones toward more refreshing tones of green for your home decor. This includes mossy greens, grass greens, forest and foliage greens and so forth.

Shades of Gray

With gray, you can’t go wrong. Gray is the new neutral to hit the scene, so the home decor world is currently overwhelmed with a wide array of colors that are being deemed as ‘trendy.’ Shades of gray to consider include charcoal, slate, soft light gray, brown gray or blue gray. You will find that gray can also have warm or cool undertones, so take your chosen shade of green into consideration and mix and match with grays until you find the right hue to compliment the look.

With this color scheme, don’t be afraid to add in a third color to the mix to help keep things lively. White is a great choice, though a brown, yellow or blue can also compliment this color scheme.

Home Accessories and Decor

Apothecary jars are continuing to be popular through 2012. For this particular color scheme, opt for clear jars or jars that feature a blue or green tint. Apothecary jars come in a variety of sizes and shapes, so you can find one to compliment your scheme. Plus, apothecary jars make great table decor and you can fill them with other objects to create additional visual interest in the space.

Other table decor ideas include matte ceramics, which are also very trendy this year. White and yellows, greens and blues are all great choices; as well as hammered metal bowls, wood bowls and so forth.

For wall art, things could be a bit more tricky. However, whenever you’re choosing wall art, you should opt for pieces that compliment your space but also pieces that you enjoy looking at. If you don’t love your wall art, don’t put it up. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

What are your favorite colors of gray and green and how can you integrate them into your home for a trendy upgrade? Just stroll through the great home decor and accessories collection at Arcadian Home and get stunning ideas!

Home accessories and decor are not exclusive to the interior of the home. Other home accessories include lesser-thought-of items, such as planters, which are an important part of a well dressed home. Planters tend to be expensive, especially the larger you go and when looking for planters made of certain materials. These materials are vital for matching to your home decor, but it’s important to remember that not everything has to be “matchy-matchy” and planters can be great trend items for your space.

Concrete planters can be surprisingly elegant in front of a home, especially when paired with a beautiful plant. Ornamental grasses or gerber daisies add an unexpected but cheerful touch to these unexpected home accessories. Plus, you can put just about any plant in them from cacti and succulents to small rose bushes.

The big benefit of this trendy item is that they are extremely versatile and most importantly: inexpensive. Trends come and go, so investing a large chunk of money into any one particular trend, especially when it comes to home accessories and decor, can quickly drain your entire life savings and make you take out a second (or third) mortgage on your house.

Since they are concrete, you can easily paint them to match any color palette you have going on for your home exterior. Plus, the basic shape also allows you to stack and design custom planters for your front porch, your back patio or any other outdoor space you may have.

Concrete block planters can also work in a number of climates from the cold Northwestern winters to the blistering heat of the Miami sun. This is because concrete is made to withstand the elements, making these home accessories a perfect choice for any homeowner.

That being said, though concrete planters may seem like an outdoor-only accessory, you could also easily incorporate them into your interior home decor as well. This is true for styles such as contemporary or industrial, in which a concrete block planter will look completely at-place in.

Remember, concrete blocks don’t always come in sections of two, many major home retailers sell half-blocks for less than $2 a piece. Affordable and the right size, it’s hard to turn down this trend.

When opting for concrete block planters, remember to water frequently. Concrete can absorb a great deal of moisture, which can dry out the plants if you do not remember to water them properly. Watering every day is not necessarily a must, but check the plants every few days to get a feeling of how often and when to water them. Once you know the routine and keep an eye on the weather, you’ll find that it’s easy to incorporate these home accessories into the watering schedule at your home.

In short, you don’t want to over-invest in trends but with concrete block planters (in which you just set on the ground in the desired spot, fill with dirt, add a plant and you’re done,) you can easily buy one or ten if needed and not spend more than $20. You certainly can’t say the same thing for other traditional planters. Images 1| 2| 3| 4| 5

It is easy to incorporate affordable concrete block planters as home accessories in your home.

Decorating a kitchen space can be challenging, especially when it comes to home accessories and decor. Home decor in general can be frustrating, especially when you’re trying to achieve a certain look. Fortunately, a number of home accessories exist for kitchen spaces of all sizes. Here are a few tips and tricks for decorating a small kitchen space.

Make Use of Food

Certain foods, such as pastas, rice, and spices, make great small kitchen decor. Since there is a limited amount of space in the area, turning your perishables and non-perishables into home decor can help you decorate your space and keep things in reach at the same time.

For example, spices can be stored in colorful magnetic tins made especially for storing these particular items. Meanwhile, you can store pasta, rice and other items in larger storage jars right on your counter. The different colors and textures bring visual interest to the space while your food works double-duty as home accessories.

Utilize Every Space

If you’ve got open space over your cabinetry, use it! You can easily incorporate a display, such as an heirloom set of antique teacups or a glass jar collection. However, avoid using home accessories such as fake flowers and foliage, as these just collect dust and look cheesy.

Mirrored Backsplash

In a small space, you want to incorporate home decor items that really reflect things, literally! The use of mirrors in a small kitchen space can help make the space feel brighter and lighter, as well as larger. A mirrored backsplash is also easy to clean and can even add a touch of glamour to the space.

Open Shelving

Open shelving is becoming more and more popular with the younger crowd. Plus, open shelving allows you to display your dishes as artwork. Having a small kitchen space doesn’t mean you can’t have beautiful dinnerware that doubles as elegant “wall art.”

With open shelving, you can also add a few decorative touches to the space such as a framed piece of actual wall art or a beautiful, vibrantly colored vase.

Light Fixtures

Just because you’re in a small kitchen doesn’t mean you won’t have any light fixtures. A good interior designer will incorporate elegant, beautiful kitchen lights into every design they create. That being said, why not choose a fixture that is visually appealing to you and will add to the decor of your space.

Many people just opt for a basic flush mount or semi flush mount ceiling fixture and move on, but this isn’t the way to go in a small space. Choose a fixture that you’ll love to light and your home decor will thank you.

Add Color

Finally, don’t be afraid to add color. The traditional thought process is that small spaces must be painted in a light color to remain open and brought. Fortunately, this isn’t true.

Ideally, a small kitchen space should be painted in a more simple color palette, one that features two, maybe three colors tops. This can be any color from stark white to jet black if desired, as long as fewer hues are used, the space will still feel large and open.

Decorating a small kitchen space involves a number of factors. Adding some color and utilizing every space available can really make your small kitchen feel like a big, beautiful kitchen. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Why not complete your kitchen design with some remarkable charger plates?

No matter what budget you’re on, one of the easiest and quickest ways to update the look and feel of your home decor is through the use of new home accessories. Home accessories and decor go hand-in-hand for updating a space and can easily transform the look and feel of any room. Here are some of the trendier accessories to look for in 2012.

Cloches and Bell Jars

Glass accessories in general are going to be huge in 2012. Cloches in particular are great because they can easily be blended into a number of home decor styles. Plus, you can display them just about anywhere, and you can display just about anything within them.

What are cloches, you say? A cloche jar may also incorrectly be referred to as a bell jar. These jars are rounded, clear glass that were originally invented to shield plants from the cold, giving them a chance to fully mature before the cold weather months settled in completely. Later, they were used for covering food, especially at outdoor events where insects were opportunists for stealing food and eventually became table decor used for displaying items while shielding them from dust and debris.

The difference between a cloche and a belljar is simple. A belljar will feature a small knob or other type of handle at the top; whereas a cloche features smooth lines and nothing with with to pick it up by.

Apothecary Jars

Apothecary jars are available in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. Since these home accessories are so versatile, it should be no surprise that you’ll start to see them pop up in a variety of home decor styles from shabby chic and cottage to industrial chic or steampunk.

Antler Chandeliers

In 2012, you can expect to see a continued use of antler chandeliers in spaces. These chandeliers are ultra trendy and can be used in home decor styles from rustic lodge to contemporary chic and everything in between.

Of course, it is also worth noting that chandeliers in general are extremely trendy home accessories for 2012. Even if you’re not willing to invest in an antler chandelier, there are other styles that are also trendy including chic drum shade chandeliers, combination crystal and drum shade chandeliers, unexpected solid colored chandeliers (especially black chandeliers) and more.

Elegant, Romantic Pieces

In 2012, you can also expect to see a resurgence of elegant pieces and pieces with romantic lines and detailing. This is will be particularly true when it comes to furniture, which may have more intricate detailing that is almost Victorian or Renaissance in nature. Hand carved furniture, luxurious upholsteries and beautiful, intricate detailing with botanical or even geometric accents will all grow in popularity in 2012.

These are just a few of the many trendy home accessories you’re sure to find in 2012. Keep your eyes peeled for other trends or follow the fashion world for tips on what colors and styles will filter down into the interior design world.   Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |

Don’t get left behind in 2012! Checking out our large selection of  home accessories and stay ahead of the trend.

With home accessories and decor, style is everything. Certain home decor styles are going to start coming into their own during the 2012 year, so it’s worth noting what these styles are. This can also help you stay ahead of the curve when choosing new home accessories for your space. Here are a few of the expected trends for home decor in 2012.

Contemporary Chic

‘Contemporary Chic’ has slowly risen in the past few months and will continue to grow in popularity in 2012. Look for home accessories that feature clean lines and modern shapes, such as the drum shade. Other examples include large oval mirrors, mirror finished furniture, hammered metal vases and bowls, crystal spheres all of which can be combined with neutral color palettes paired with pops of color.

Industrial Chic

A year of the ‘chic’ styles, industrial chic is a style that combines the rusty gold of antique stops with clean, contemporary style. Look at this home decor style as an elegant, refined version of steam punk or industrial decor. It can include items mentioned in ‘contemporary chic’ as well as home accessories such as steel stools, recycled glass light fixtures, apothecary jars, mixed media wall art and more.

Vintage Farmhouse

This style may also be referred to as “vintage chic” or “farmhouse chic,” and includes worn, well loved pieces combined with modern conveniences. Examples could include cloche or bell jars, lace doilies, light fixtures that use old mason jars as glass shades and furniture that features hand carving and well worn, well-loved detailing.

Rustic Home Decor

Speaking of all these vintage styles, rustic home decor will also be making a comeback in 2012. Elegant rustic lodges with luxury items, shabby-chic-meets-rustic or cabin-in-the-woods rustic are all options; as this style can go a number of different ways.

Global Decor

Like many home decor styles, global decor is making the cycle around yet again for 2012. Expect to see plenty of global influences in various home styles, as global elements are easy to incorporate into existing design palettes. Hand carved home accessories and furniture, mosaic mirrors, Moroccan details and so forth.

Trendy Colors for 2012

A number of colors will also be trendy for 2012, but unlike other styles, colors are one of the easiest ways to incorporate a trend into your space without spending a ton of cash. Look for bright hues such as yellow, as well as the new neutral: gray.

It is important to keep in mind that when it comes to trends, less is more. It may be tempting to redecorate an entire space using trendy home accessories and decor, but it can result in a space that feels dated and dreary after just a few months. So keep this in mind, as you don’t want to waste money having to redecorate once your home decor trend has gone out-of-style. Images 1 | 2| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

What’s next in 2012 on home accessories and decor? Find out, get inspired and be the first who knows!

If you celebrate Christmas, you probably also have stockings hanging from the mantle, from the banister on the stairs or wherever you can find a convenient spot. Essentially, your stockings become a part of your holiday home accessories and they set a design tone for your home during the season. Combined with your home decor and furniture, you can create a holiday home to be proud of.

If you take the time to purchase or make beautiful stockings for your family, you’ll want to show them off. What if you have a family of more than two or three? A great idea is to purchase two stocking hangers and a lightweight curtain rod. Hang the stockings from the curtain rod instead of using six stocking hangers for a larger family.

If your stockings seem a bit crowded, opt for creative approach. Use ribbon to vary the heights of the stockings. You can use ribbon of varying texture or colors.

You could even create a bit of an interesting pattern by dropping the end stockings so they “wrap” the fireplace. Remember to use caution and to keep the stockings at a safe distance from the fireplace surround and open flames.

Stockings strung along a banister are a classic way to display them. For a larger family this also might work better than cramming them all on the mantle. Think about “layering” your decorations. You might want to add garland, string lights or even add other home accessories or decor along the stairway. And, don’t forget the wall behind the banister!  Wall decor might consist of wreaths intertwined with family photographs or holiday wall hangings, like seasonal messages of cheer.

The important thing about decorating for the holidays is to get creative and make the season yours. What about leaning a wall ladder along a hallway wall as decorative wall art? Thinking beyond the traditional will capture the spirit of the holiday season and will bring in warmth through your decorations.

Let us know what creative ways you like to hang your stockings! And remember to check back, Arcadian Home and Decor’s blog features fresh interior design ideas daily! (Images: 1, 2, 3, 4)

Updating home accessories and decor is the simplest way to update the overall look of any room in your home. Home accessories, being relatively inexpensive, are an easy way to incorporate changing interior design and home decor trends into your space. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to invest in trends in pieces that can easily be swapped out as they change, rather than investing in large, trendy items. Here are some of this fall’s trendiest home decor items and ideas.

Eclectic Looks

This year, eclectic items that are mixed and matched in a single space are extremely trendy. For example, a living room in which this style is used could include a fireplace mantel that features a Buddha head, apothecary jars, tea light candles, a hanging oval mirror and an assortment of African style carved statues. The eclecticism makes the space visually interesting.

The great thing about this particular home decor trend is that it can be incorporated into a number of styles. There are dozens of different takes and you simply can’t choose the wrong item when it comes to eclectic looks.

Updated Antiques

Antique furnitures that have been updated using modern finishes is extremely trendy. For example, a Victorian settee can be reupholstered using a trendy fabric to create a unique look that is unlikely to be replicated anywhere.

Basket Weaves

Whether open, see-through weaves or chunky, thick weaves are chosen, basket weaves have their place indoors. You can use them to store throw pillows and blankets, pet toys, children’s toys and much more. You can use smaller versions simply as display pieces when placed on certain furnitures, such as side tables, console tables or coffee tables.

Jewel Tones

Home accessories that feature jewel tones—such as throw pillows, small accent furnitures, charger plates, new wall decor or a new throw rug—are a perfect way to incorporate this hot trend into your home decor.

Plus, jewel tones can easily be incorporated into a number of neutral and soft color palettes. With so many jewel tones available (emerald green, sapphire, citrine and more,) it’s easy to find a jewel tone that fits into your existing home decor.

Gray

Though jewel tones are trendy, another hue has recently come into play in the design world. Gray is literally being considered the new neutral tone for many professional interior designers all around the world.

Plus, gray is easy to incorporate into a space. Simple items like repainting small accent furnitures gray or purchasing a few gray throw pillows can help bring this trend into your space without making it too bland and boring. Treat gray as you would treat any other neutral and you’ll do just fine!

Mid Century Modern

The popularity of certain television shows (ahem, Mad Men) has brought renewed interest in the mid-century modern style of design. This style features furnitures with clean lines and home accessories with bold blocks of colors. Plus, it can easily be mixed in with many existing home decor styles including contemporary, traditional and modern. [ Images 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 ]

Looking to re-create some of these styles? Take a look at our variety of accent furniture here!

When it comes to the holiday season, seasonal home accessories swap in and out of home decor faster than you can bat your eyes. This can make it difficult to stay on target, especially when one week you’re seeing Halloween and the next week that same store is full of Christmas decor. Despite the quick wardrobe changes in the store, fall is still here and is just getting into full swing, so it’s not too late to find these five must-have fall home accessories and decor items.

Natural Pumpkins

Natural pumpkins refers to pumpkin shapes that have been created using woven vines, grasses or other natural materials. It does not refer to actual pumpkins (though those never go out of style, either). Keep in mind that since this is a trendy item currently, it can be relatively expensive. Small woven pumpkins can cost you up to you $20 and larger pumpkins can break into the $100 or more range.

Natural Woven Baskets

Going hand-in-hand with the natural pumpkin is the natural woven basket. These home accessories look great in pairs, sets of three or even alone. You can place them anywhere: next to the sofa, on your coffee table, on the bathroom counter, over your refrigerator and so forth. This makes them an extremely versatile home decor item. Plus, you can store items in them such as bath products, knitting supplies or even bread in your kitchen.

Oval Mirrors

This season is all about organic shapes, so the oval mirror is a perfect choice when it comes to trendy home decor items. Oval mirrors come in a number of different sizes and the shape can vary a bit from design to design. Don’t be afraid to choose a chunky, ornate frame for your oval mirror or choose a frame that is simple and chic; you can’t go wrong with this trend and overall, mirrors tend to be trends that never fade.

Autumn Wall Art

It’s not unusual to update the look of a home through new wall art each season. Autumn themed wall art, such as pressed fall leaves or photographs of fall scenes is a perfect way to capture this trend for your own home. Of course, like many home accessories, wall art can be expensive, so don’t be afraid to make or create your own items!

Chunky Weaves

As noted with the baskets and pumpkins, chunky weaves are incredibly trendy this year. Other ways to add this trend into your home is through the use of throw pillows or blankets in chunky weaves. Think cable knits and other knitted designs, which are a perfect way to bring this trend into your home decor. [ Images 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 ]

Fall design possibilities are endless! Check out some of our wall decor here.

One of the best home accessories you could ever hope to buy is wall art. Wall art can be a great way to accent a room or display a collection. It’s also a great way to get around the restrictions specific to apartment-dwelling since most won’t let you paint your walls. But never fear… there are ways to get creative with your wall art and here are a few:

Mscott via Domino

Here’s a foyer with wall art hung in the salon style. This style goes way back to the 17th century when art collectors would mount their pieces in one room, right next to, and on top of the other, so as to fit in as much work as possible. The reemergence of this style is much more paired down and refined and it is a great way to exhibit a large collection of art.

The English Muse

This captivating vignette is a great example of wall décor. Rather than hang dozens of framed photos, the designer has chosen to go with a mood board look. Recreate the look by tacking on your favorite photos, pieces of fabric, tear sheets and mini posters onto a message board. Hang it above your office desk for daily design inspiration.

Quint Essence

This is a great example of using a very large, blown-up picture to create the effect of an accent wall. These are typically stretched out pieces of canvas that are adhered to the wall.

Blogs.Babble from Elle Decor

Bet you’d never thought of using a map of the world to decorate your wall. It’s a trend that has increased in volume over the years.

Blog.2 Modern

Another trend that has emerged in recent years is the salon-style hanging of plates. Sometimes they are grouped along with paintings, or with mirrors, as you can see here. It’s a lovely practice that is exceedingly practical. Get the look by stocking up on vintage or antique plates from your local flea market, group them to your liking and hang them exactly as you would hang a painting.

The Decoroligist from Domino Magazine

There really are no words for how insanely gorgeous this office is.

Chateau Delu

Kelly Wearstler, design queen, capitalizes on the plate wall trend, seen here at the Hotel Viceroy in Santa Monica, CA.

Art is a great way to accent creativity in your home and it’s even better way to display your own creativity in how you choose to hang or display your wall art.

Images: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |

How do you like these ideas? Comments are welcome! Check out our wall art section for more ideas to decorate your home!

Annabelle Dawson, from home and design website mydeco.com, unveils a cool new trend with the geometric shapes, stark patterns and animal graphics she spotted at London’s Design Festival:

Last month I was rushing madly between exhibitions during London Design Festival 2011, ogling the latest designs and innovations, and catching up with our own creative mydeco.com boutique designers.

Kirath Ghundoo

My first stop was a long-awaited trip to 100% Design at Earls Court where, inside the vast space, commercial and sleek design companies jostled with smaller artisanal designers showcasing in the 100% Futures stalls. Wandering through these aspirational stands, I was hit by the abundance of highly patterned surfaces, pieced-together asymmetric and geometrical shapes, and bold, stark designs. It was clear a new trend was emerging – one I would like to coin ‘Graphique’.

And this style doesn’t seem to be confined to smaller home accessories like pillows and framed prints, but is actually more emphatic and striking on lampshades and even chairs and wallpaper.

Sjguest

At 100%, mydeco.com boutique designer sjguest encapsulated this trend with her Zigzag cushions and unusual Frog lampshades. Meanwhile, her friend Lorna Syson was showing her new ‘Bradbury’ and ‘Juneberry and Bird’ lampshades which embrace geometric shapes and graphical depictions of birds.

Lorna Syson

Kirath Ghundoo (a talented surface pattern designer joining mydeco.com very soon) revealed her abstract, energetic and colorful pattern wallpaper panels (top), which can be mixed and matched due to the inconsistent nature of the design. I think Kirath’s prints would make an exciting focal point to a restrained interior or a fun, tactile addition to a child’s playroom.

Over at my favorite show Tent London, in edgy Brick Lane, the ‘Graphique’ trend was also out in force but with a softer, more organic and handmade feel. mydeco.com boutique designer Melanie Porter featured armchairs, lampshades and even clocks in her signature knit. With patchworked patterns varying from stripes to angular Union Jack motifs, her unique pieces are playful and quirky.

Mel Porter

DesignBark had collaborated with BYPLY on a customised wingback chair collection. Complementing the chairs’ angular form, DesignBark had screenprinted a series of sharp, angular, asymmetric shapes in bright pinks, purples and blues onto the side panels, creating eye-catching pieces of furniture.

DesignBark

Literally around the corner, Cheshire Street is home to Ella Doran’s dazzling (and award-winning) geometric geo wallpaper, trays and coasters.

Ella Doran

However, where this striking Graphique trend really shines (pun intended) is on lampshades, which designers seem to be using as a canvas for wacky and psychedelic patterns. Check out our compilation of ‘Graphique’ lighting products, below, and get the look in your home.

Graphique lighting

Did you  like My Deco’s  brief report on the 2011 London Design Festival? Comments are welcome! Don’t forget to check out Arcadian Home Decor for more inspirational home accessories and decor! Image credit: { 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 }