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Trends to Ditch in 2016

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Note: This is part 3 in a four-part series of design trends for 2016. Check out parts 1, 2 and 3 here, here and here.

Our last few posts have focused on what’s in in 2016. This post will focus on the opposite: what’s out, or what to avoid this year in interior designs. We will also give you examples of how to replace or modify these outdated items to keep your home up-to-date.

Avoid:

  1. Rosy metallic (particularly in accessories). This 2015 phase is on its last legs.
  2. Jute and sisal rugs and other similar items, as they have become ubiquitous.
  3. Outdated styles such as “industrial chic” or “oppressive midcentury modernism”—both were overdone in 2015.

Replace:

  1. Kitchen desks with extra counter space. Don’t forget that quartz countertops are on our list of trends to watch in 2016! Consider also replacing tiled counters with quartz slabs.
  1. TV in a child’s room with creative space, such as a cork bulletin board or an area to hang photos. Let’s be honest—our kids could use the break from technology anyways.
  1. Chevron prints with animal hides.
  1. Whirlpool tubs with large showers or soaking bathtubs. We know, we know—that Whirlpool tub looked so darn enticing at the store. But you never use it, am I right?
  1. Over the range microwave with a microwave drawer underneath the countertop. It may take some getting used to, but you won’t have to worry about spilling your soup as you haphazardly lift it over your head to reheat it.
  1. Naked windows with panel drapes, and brass hardware in your kitchen and bathroom with polished nickel hardware.
  1. Faux finishes with a solid coat of paint.

Now that you’ve gotten an in-depth look at what’s hot and what’s not for 2016, keep in mind that interior design trends do not always translate to staging trends. Interior design is about appealing to the client’s personal taste; staging is about selling to the masses through design. So go ahead and use these interior design tips for your own benefit, but if you are selling, you might want to think about appealing to a broader audience with a transitional design approach.

 

Taylor Henley is an employee of Stage to Move. She collaborates with owner and home staging expert Kara Woods to produce blog posts that reflect the expertise and innovative design strategies of Stage to Move.

 

Trends for 2016: Colors

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Note: This is part 3 in a four-part series of design trends for 2016. Check out parts 1 and 2 here and here.

On to the next major category of design trends for 2016: colors.

In general, the top three colors of the year are soft beige pink, navy and indigo blue, and clean modern whites. The 2016 top two Pantone colors of the year are Rose Quartz (soft pink) and Serenity (blue); expect to see these hues pop up in accessories and home décor. Pastels may also play a role, given the soft hues of this year’s Pantone profile:

“Colors this season transcend cultural and gender norms. Vivid brights give way to excitement and optimism, though quiet stability prevails in this season’s palette.”

“Colors this season transcend cultural and gender norms. Vivid brights give way to excitement and optimism, though quiet stability prevails in this season’s palette.”

Clean modern whites are also trending in 2016. Benjamin Moore named “simply white” its color of the year, and Sherwin Williams named “alabaster”:

Benjamin Moore’s 2016 Forecast

Benjamin Moore’s 2016 Forecast

For wall colors, try warm grays this year. Grays pair well with cream and white, and easily accommodates seasonal trends. Gray kitchen cabinets are also a rising trend, according to one source.

For accessories, consider items with texture and dramatic color, such as faux fur and sophisticated florals. High contrast is key; bright accents can lighten the area around a dark wall, and black and white palettes in kitchens can really make your home stand out in 2016.

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Check back soon for our fourth and final post of the 2016 style series: trends to ditch in 2016!

 

Taylor Henley is an employee of Stage to Move. She collaborates with owner and home staging expert Kara Woods to produce blog posts that reflect the expertise and innovative design strategies of Stage to Move.

 

Trends for 2016: Style

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Note: This is part 2 in a four-part series of design trends for 2016. Check out part 1 here.

Part 2 of the “Trends for 2016” series features accessories and designs that are predicted to be popular this year. If you are planning on selling your home this year, consider investing in a few of these:

  1. Quartz composite countertops. Along with natural stone, quartz countertops (rather than granite) come out on top for 2016. Quartz provides unique patterns and colors and requires little maintenance. Caesarstone recently introduced a line of six neutral colors for its durable quartz countertops. Consider also mixing countertop materials in 2016. Granite, wood, and marble combinations all work well together, for example.

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  1. Porcelain floors. Porcelain is less expensive than hardwood and wears better than real wood. According to one stager, “Porcelain can be found in traditional small tiles or long, linear planks. It is available in a variety of colors and textures, including the popular one-color combos with slight variations for a hint of differentiation.”

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  1. Fireplaces. Fireplaces universally signal warmth and even romance, according to one source. Technology is making this amenity even more accessible—look for fireplaces in more than the traditional living spaces (including outdoor spaces!) in 2016.

 

  1. Ceilings as 5th walls. This year, use ceilings as a way to add style to your home. Check out the room below as an example:

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  1. Black metals. According to the Wall Street Journal, this “decidedly unflashy material is appearing as simple hardware, bathroom fixtures and even flatware.” Designers blend it with wood and glass, or even create entire pieces of matte black metal.
  1. Old world ornamentation. In the past few years, interior design has gone from overdone drapery to naked windows to, finally, back to some softness. “Fringe, cording, and tassels soften the austerity of modern upholstery.”
  1. Rounded furniture and accessories. Smooth, rounded pieces of marble, and softer, rounder pieces of furniture are on the rise in 2016.

Check back soon for part 3: colors of 2016!

 

Taylor Henley is an employee of Stage to Move. She collaborates with owner and home staging expert Kara Woods to produce blog posts that reflect the expertise and innovative design strategies of Stage to Move.

 

Trends for 2016: Amenities

Note: This is part 1 in a four-part series of design trends for 2016. Check back soon for parts 2, 3 and 4!

Now that we are starting to settle into 2016, we at Stage to Move wanted to share with our readers our analysis of interior design trends for the new year. Whether you are looking for a new home or renovating your current one, here are some trendy amenities to keep an eye out for this year.

  1. Sustainable appliances. Unseasonably warm temperatures this past fall reminded everyone of the importance of taking care of our planet, and 2016 is sure to reflect that. Look for green design products and long lasting materials with style. One stager recommends keyless entries, free-standing bathtubs and two master suites for multi-generational living.
  1. Indoor/outdoor living. Outside is coming in, and inside is going out! Consider incorporating natural materials such as copper, marble, and brass into your home. “Glamping”—“glamour camping”—is also in. Built-in sunrooms and porches offer the best that nature has to offer in the comfort of luxury living.

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  1. Indoor fitness. The fitness craze has yet to abate, and one-stop spaces for exercising, meditation, yoga and spa treatments will continue to be popular in 2016. One stager adds that showers are also getting an upgrade in 2016, with features such as programmable temperatures and water flow and waterfall fixtures.
  1. New technologies. Dedicated charging spaces, preferably in the kitchen or in the immediate vicinity of the entrance to the home, are all the rage this year. Advanced security systems such as smartphone-monitored nanny cameras and motion sensors are also on the rise. You may also want to check out new functionalities in cabinet drawers and kitchens for a simpler upgrade.

Check back soon for part 2: style trends for 2016!

 

Taylor Henley is an employee of Stage to Move. She collaborates with owner and home staging expert Kara Woods to produce blog posts that reflect the expertise and innovative design strategies of Stage to Move.

 

New Year, New Home, New You!

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Are you reaping the financial benefits of an improved economy? Are you thinking of selling your home and using the profits to upgrade to a nicer space? You couldn’t have picked a better time to do so.

First, the value of your home is steadily increasing. In 2015, the value of all homes across the U.S. increased $1.1 trillion, growing 4.1 percent over the past year alone. In the latest Zillow Home Price Expectations Survey, more than 100 economic and housing experts pinned home value growth for 2016 at about 3.5 percent.

Second, the supply of listings will rise with each passing month during the spring. According to Keeping Current Matters, a resource website for realtors, “The #1 reason to not wait until spring…The supply of listings increases substantially after the new year (including new construction) which lowers the demand for your house.” Getting your home on the market right now can give you an edge over spring competitors.

Of course, don’t forget an essential ingredient: home staging. Staging can relieve the stress of selling your home; stagers maximize your home’s appeal to buyers to help you sell your home quickly and for the best price possible. Choose Stage to Move to make selling your home as easy as possible this year. New year, new home, new you!

 

Taylor Henley is an employee of Stage to Move. She collaborates with owner and home staging expert Kara Woods to produce blog posts that reflect the expertise and innovative design strategies of Stage to Move.