Trendy yet timeless: Interior design for a new decade

After a long Minnesota winter, homeowners get the redecorating itch come spring time. When that itch strikes, it is a perfect time to sample current trends and treat yourself to a fresh, fashion forward home.

By Katie Roiger | Submitted Photos H ome sweet home. It’s that place you look forward to returning every day, your refuge from work, your space for shared family memories, and your personal recharging zone. Its familiarity is comfort, and its uniqueness is your palette for self-expression.

No matter how perfect your home already is, around this

time of year most homeowners get the redecorating itch. The Minnesota winter has been long and grueling, keeping you huddled in your living room under a plaid blanket for months. This year, the COVID-19 stay-at-home recommendations tacked another month onto our enforced hibernation. Even if you absolutely loved your décor the first time you arranged it, you might be tired of looking at it by now. If your house furnishings are ready for a change but you don’t know where to begin, don’t stress about what to try next! Spring is a perfect season for sampling current trends and treating yourself to a fresh, fashion-forward home.

Before taking a peek at the currently popular interior design movements, it’s important to remember that you are your own best authority for embellishing your home.

“The most important thing is a house that makes you happy” said columnist Kelly Williams Brown in her book Gracious. “It’s not that the things in the house need to match each other, but they should match you.” If you feel inspired to try this season’s palette but worry that the new colors will force you to scrap your china armadillo collection, never fear! Mankato’s design authorities offer several suggestions for seamlessly blending new trends with personal style.

Todd Johnson, owner of Mankato’s Johnson Furniture, has over 40 years of experience in encouraging customers to trust their own instincts.

“You don’t want to be trendy: You want to be on-trend,” Deb Morin, interior decorator and owner of North Mankato’s cofeeshop and home goods boutique Neutral Groundz poses for a photo inside of her shop. Johnson explained. “The difference would be someone walking in our store and saying, ‘Well I like this, but how long will this be “in”?’ A lot of times we’ll tell the client, ‘It’s up to you! If you like it today, buy it today.’”

Johnson believes that many of his customers let their natural taste be clouded by worries that their personal preferences will quickly go out of style, especially when it comes to colors and patterns.

“Most people will gravitate toward neutrals,” said Johnson. “It’s our job to help them find pieces that they might not have chosen for themselves. Color will put a smile on their face. It puts some sparkle in their eyes, and they feel magic.”

This year, the hottest furniture colors are shades of blue.

“Furniture industry follows women’s clothing,” Johnson noted. “If there’s a color that’s very popular with women, it seems like it [furniture] tends to go in that direction.” Big sectional sofas in blue tones are especially stylish for 2020, as are blue area rugs and even blue walls.

“The color of the year is a kind of a navy,” said Jes Tano, coowner of the Whimsy and Weathered interior design boutique. She and Denise David, her mother and fellow Whimsy owner, have noticed a movement away from the white farmhouse-style look of previous years toward a more widespread use of color.

“Navy is the new grey, for certain,” agreed David. “We’ve had people do a whole dining room in it.”

Deb Morin, interior decorator and owner of North Mankato’s

coffeeshop and home goods boutique Neutral Groundz, believes that when it comes to choosing colors, it’s important not to get stuck hung up on how certain colors are typically used. Although blue and white are both trending, she says that people can be afraid of using them together because they equate the combination with a marine theme.

“Recently I was decorating a bedroom in Mankato and the owner said, ‘I don’t want any blue and white,’” Morin shared. While wishing to honor her client’s tastes, Morin couldn’t help noticing that many of the pieces her client liked best were blue! After some discussion, Morin suggested keeping the bedroom walls neutral, but adding a few splashes of blue throughout the room. The owner agreed.

“We did end up with blue and white, but we did it in the bedspread, pillows, and candles, and mixed it with a lot of greenery just to soften the room,” said Morin. “She loved it when it was done!”

Painted accent walls are fading in popularity, whereas pops of color from single-palette rooms or painted furniture are having a moment in the spotlight.

“We’ll follow trends from the east and west coast as they trickle up to us,” David said. “It used to be grey walls and light furniture and now it’s a reverse. We’re actually seeing some black trim, especially on windows, which is brave but beautiful.”

One of the season’s biggest trends is painted wood. Trim, furniture, and even cabinets are receiving this special treatment. Brighter jewel tones such as green and purple are starting to increase in use, but white and neutral hues continue to be favored.

“A year ago, we were painting so much white furniture it was unbelievable,” laughed David. “The most popular color now is alabaster. It’s a shade of white, but not stark.”

In addition to creating a chic appearance, painting wood is a solid choice for homeowners who want to try adding color to their homes but don’t want to commit to an entirely navy room. Best of all, homeowners don’t need to buy anything but a few gallons of paint to bring this fashion into their living spaces.

In addition to blue tones, Morin has noticed that elements of 1970s color schemes are coming back into style.

“I’m talking the oranges and the browns,” Morin laughed. “You’re seeing that and you’re seeing a lot of tan – very natural and almost hippie-ish, I want to say!”

Morin thinks that the resurgence of 1970s earthy tones is due in part to the current movement toward natural décor and sustainably-sourced products.

“It’s kind of a modern trend,” Morin said. “You see the macramé plant holders coming back, and a lot of natural woods. Bamboo is very big. I’m showing it right now in table-toppers such as plates, silverware, and bowls. It’s beautiful.”

Right now, Morin’s favorite piece in stock at Neutral Groundz is a coffee table made from the root of a teak tree. Not only does its simple design highlight the gorgeous material, but its sturdiness makes the piece multifunctional.

“It’s very heavy, but it can be used indoor or out if people want it on the patio,” Morin explained.

Fortunately, home decorators don’t have to choose between the equally widespread painted wood and natural wood trends. If the wood pieces in a room are similar but don’t match each other exactly, this can create a pleasing overall appearance. It might sound counterintuitive, but mixing the two finishes is the most popular way to furnish this year’s homes and provides a depth of texture that is key to creating interest.

“We’ve had a ton of raw wood accessories: Frames, trays, risers,” said Tano. “It’s just very soft and it bounces off white [paint], but it’s warm and cozy. It’s a super, super strong trend for us.”

“It’s a very complimentary mix with the painted furniture,” David added. “You could have a painted buffet and two raw wood end tables.”

What if you like the natural wood look, but can’t find identical pieces? Not to worry. When it comes to pairing wood furniture, Johnson’s advice is straightforward.

“Don’t try to match anything!” he said. “If you try to match and you’re off by a shade or two, it looks worse than if you hadn’t.” Instead, he recommends choosing pieces that are a few shades lighter or darker than each other. “It still ties everything together,” said Johnson.

The current inclination towards color works to the advantage of those who still prefer more neutral overall looks.

“Bring your color in with your accessory pieces because you can always change those out as the trends change,” suggested Morin. “You can change a candle, you can change pillows, you can change throws, you can maybe get a new picture on the wall - those things are easily changed, whereas not all of us want to repaint.”

The same principle can also apply to furniture. While chairs, ottomans, and other smaller pieces provide opportunities to highlight a fun color, bigger pieces make a great canvas for a changing rotation of accessories.

“If you have a neutral sofa, all you’ve got to do is take those blue and cream and burgundy pillows off and pick up a different pair of pillows,” said Johnson. “Now your color’s not going to be that blue or that burgundy anymore if you want to introduce yellow, or turquoise, or some kind of green. With a neutral sofa, you can do that.” Neutral doesn’t have to mean unremarkable, however. One of Johnson’s favorite upholstry tricks is to pair a soft hue with a rich texture or subtle pattern.

The same principle applies to area rugs. A brightly colored or patterned rug on top of a muted surface is a

While chairs, ottomans, and other smaller pieces provide opportunities to highlight a fun color, bigger pieces make a great canvas for a changing rotation of accessories. The same principle applies to area rugs. A brightly colored or patterned rug on top of a muted surface is a playful and complimentary look that works for both hardwood and carpet.

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playful and complimentary look that works for both hardwood and carpet.

“Don’t be afraid to use rugs on carpet,” advised Tano. “If you really want to change a room but don’t want to change the carpet, play with an area rug.” Placing an area rug under a larger piece of furniture changes the entire look of a carpeted room and adds another layer of texture. As an added bonus, modern rugs have become affordable and user-friendly.

“It used to be that big rugs were never washable,” David said. “Now, even a rug that fits under a dining room table can be washable. It’s going to make the room a lot softer and prettier, but it’s going to save your carpet in the long run.”

Homeowners can also tie in color splashes with another nod to the 1970s: Wallpaper! Entryways and single walls in bedrooms or bathrooms are the most common choices for papering. While the trend may seem retro, the patterns and technology are anything but. White and black minimalist prints, thin lines, soft florals, and plaids have replaced the loud, geometric designs of previous eras.

“Plaid always sounds busy, but it’s not,” said David. “The way its designed is very, very clean, just because it’s a larger scale.” The idea behind modern wallpaper is still to add texture and color without overwhelming the viewer. Plus, if you don’t like it after a season, it’s a breeze to remove.

“It’s got a built-in adhesive and the tack isn’t too strong,” David explained. “If it’s not where you need it to be, you just pull it off and put it back on. It’s made for this generation.”

After learning about 2020’s exciting trends, it may be tempting to immediately dive into a full-scale home overhaul. Realistically speaking, however, it’s important to begin by determining your overall goal, which is largely defined by cost.

“The first thing to do is to set a budget of what you are willing to spend,” said Tano. “Everybody wants to love their space and if you can set a true budget with yourself, then you just design your space around that. If you’ve committed to buying new furniture, then buying new furniture may change what you do for accessories. If you’re committed to keeping your [current] furniture, then you may need to commit to new accessories because otherwise you won’t have a big enough change.”

Once you have a workable budget, the next thing to do is to decide what

elements of your home décor could most use some alteration.

“Walk into a room and pay attention to what you do,” Morin said. The human eye can scan a space in seconds and frequently does so unconsciously. Morin recommends taking a thoughtful trip through your house and observing how each room makes you feel. What do you like about your current décor? What do you want to be different?

“We always ask people, ‘What do you have a kinship to?’” shared David. “For us, that means what will stay and be worked into the new design plan.”

Some of Tano and David’s clients feel stuck with pieces that are either too new, expensive, or sentimental to scrap. In these cases, the Whimsy owners recommend that their clients research ways that other decorators have turned unwieldy items into showcase-worthy arrangements.

“Let’s say you have a leather recliner and your husband loves it, and there’s no way you’re getting rid of it,” David joked. “A recliner with a beautiful throw, a nice pillow, and a basket tucked next to it is much better than just the recliner. You want to try to find the look that you can update around what you’re keeping.”

“Over the years, we hardly get anyone coming in asking for curio cabinets, grandfather clocks, beanbags, or cedar chests,” Johnson said, but acknowledged that many instances occur where a client may feel compelled to keep some of these older pieces. “There’s always a designer or salesperson who can help you keep that in place. There’s no right or wrong. Your focus will always be those newer pieces of furniture that will help bring the room to life.”

As always, the magic is in the details.

“It’s about how you pair things together to create your own style,” Tano said. “A lot of people go into a furniture store and buy a collection of furniture, but it’s the little things that go with them that make it a home and not a store.”

Even the number or positioning of accessories makes a huge difference when it comes to creating appealing arrangements.

“When you’re grouping things together, do them in odd numbers rather than even,” said Morin. “The textures that come out with that are what people are attracted to. Let’s say you have a grouping on a table. Maybe have a book with some plants sitting on top of it and some things next to it, but you’re still working in odd numbers.”

Often, accessorizing is the fastest and cheapest way to incorporate trending color and maximize the “Wow!” factor. When it comes to creating visual interest, Tano and David swear by fake botanicals.

“I love faux plants!” said David. “I just don’t feel like I can have enough of them. They warm a space up and you don’t have to commit to watering them. We bring faux plants to every house we do.”

Want a fresh look but can’t commit to painting the walls or changing the furniture? Swapping out the hardware on light fixtures and cabinets creates an amazing difference in overall appearance.

“Gold trimming is huge on anything,” said Tano. “Some people even call it antique gold – it’s almost like a matte and it doesn’t have that shininess.”

Homeowners with a roomier budget can even consider extending this trend to their appliances. Maggie DeGrood of DeGrood’s Appliance says that certain companies are making it possible to customize refrigerators, cooktops, and dishwashers so that customers can mix and match their colors.

“You can get gold handles on a black fridge and really make it super creative,” Degrood said.

Switching out light fixtures is an equally easy trick to update your home’s appearance.

“Frosted globes are out,” said David. “Either try taking the globe off and just leaving the bare bulb, which is very in, or get a $5 clear globe. It’s super inexpensive.”

Finally, one of the best decorating hacks of all is also the simplest: Declutter! Remove excess knickknacks from the tops of dressers and bookshelves, and use attractive baskets to store magazines, games, and other objects that can easily junk up a space.

“Jes made me take down everything I had on top of the cabinets,” David laughed. “The trend is a very clean look.”

No matter what your budget or time frame, 2020’s trends are easily accessible to those who want to update their living space. When you pair new looks with favorite possessions and remember to have fun with the process, you are guaranteed a lovely, welcoming, and interesting home every time.

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