2023 TRENDS

Katie Laughridge

Tribune News Service

After the past few years of nonstop neutrals trending, in 2023 we’re anticipating a return of color in home decor, paint colors and bedding. With the return of color, we’re seeing that creating sumptuous, inviting spaces is top of mind for designers and homeowners alike. There’s a focus on creating restorative rooms, with a big trend toward creating luxurious bedrooms and reinventing modern takes on classic textiles.

Here are a few of our takes on the trends you’ll see popping up like crocuses this spring season.

Bold colors in living rooms

Introducing color to your living room can sometimes feel as daunting as it does dazzling. While many might first run to throw a new can of paint on the walls, you might instead look to your furniture. A colorful sofa (or chair or accent table) is an exciting way to liven up a living space.

In this bold and beautiful design, a fern green sofa pops against the warm neutral tones in the pillows and rug. Typically when introducing color, I carry the theme throughout the design. But in this case, this statement sofa is bold enough to act alone. This earthy color story is the perfect backdrop to the dash of blue found in the skirted swivel chairs, artwork and tabletop vignette. Because these colors are all muted in tone,

New plants

„ The breeder’s new Rudbeckia “Goldblitz” is a strong, 28-inch blackeyed Susan with shiny green leaves and abundant blooms. The sun-lover starts blooming about three weeks earlier than other varieties and continues into fall. It’s hardy in 3a through 9b.

„ Astilbe “Dark Side of the Moon,” a National Gardening Bureau Green Thumb Award winner, is a long-lived, shade-tolerant perennial that attracts bees and resists deer and rabbits. Foliage starts out yellow with a dark margin before turning a rich chocolate brown, and its raspberry-colored buds open to reveal pinkish-purple flowers. The plant is hardy in zones 4 through 9 and reaches 22 inches, including the tall flower spikes.

Annuals they don’t feel overwhelming to the eye. It’s a perfect introduction to color without going over the top.

„ The shade-tolerant, downy mildew-resistant “Glimmer” double impatiens from Ball Flora Plant are reminiscent of miniature roses and come in an array of colors, including Appleblossom, Bright Red, Burgundy, Dark Red, Hot Pink, Salmon and White. Plants grow to 10 to 16 inches tall and 10 to 12 inches wide.

„ The beautiful tropical “Royal Hawaiian Waikiki” Colocasia elephant ears, bred by University of Hawaii emeritus plant pathologist John J. Cho was honored with a National Gardening Bureau 2023 Green Thumb Award. Its large, glossy leaves, adorned with creamy white centers and pink veins, are held atop deep burgundy stems on compact plants sturdy enough to withstand wind and rain. Grow it as an annual in zones 7 and under.

„ Starflower “Paper Moon” Scabiosa, another Green Thumb Award winner, is a pollinator-friendly annual from Sahin/ Takii EU. Its 36-inch stems hold round clusters of pale blue, purple-veined flowers that give way to decorative, papery bronze seed heads, which can be used in fresh bouquets or dry arrangements. For best results, grow it in full sun.

Keeping it New Traditional

Bringing traditional into modern day, New Traditional style emphasizes the comforts and conveniences of modern life while still maintaining the refined elegance of traditional design. New Traditional furniture tends to favor shapes and styles that have stood the test of time, but often in a more streamlined presentation and lighter or more practical fabrics (enter: my love of performance fabrics).

In this inviting New Traditional design, the color palette is refreshed with lighter shades of classic blues and creamy off-whites to keep the look familiar but updated.

I find the painted wicker coffee table to be so interesting. This piece gets points for creativity and versatility. The shape could range from preppy to eclectic, depending on the space. This fantastic piece carries classic lines, a hallmark of New Traditional, but the scalloped detailing adds a dash of whimsy.

A texture-rich space

It’s all about luxe spaces and touchable textures this season, though we’d argue that’s a hallmark of good design that’s never gone out of style.

In this look, the wooden texture of the spool chair and cocktail table add dimen- sion to what could have been a textile-heavy space. If you’re feeling more daring in your design, contrast may actually act as your friend. It may seem counterintuitive, but going for high-contrast wood tones can actually work seamlessly. Playing with contrast adds visual interest and gives a design more depth while repeating shades gives the space a feeling of continuity. If your wood tones are all over the place, it can be helpful to create flow with your color palette. Pops of pinky-reds and blue are the anchor to this bold and refreshing living space.

Freshening up the tabletop

Black and white are a first-class combination. These colors have a classical appeal that adds instant sophistication, depth and character to any space. But what happens when we add a little green? When paired with black and white, green creates a wonderfully fresh, modern and energetic environment instantly.

This design is a flawless example. A blockprinted runner in lime is the perfect pair to the texture found in the hand-painted dishes found at each place setting. A pop of light green in the stack of dishes is enough to carry the color through the space, but not enough to overwhelm the design. Carrying the lush verdant color throughout the tablescape is the addition of a fresh fern. The color palette is expertly finished off with natural wood tones, lending to the casual modernity of the space.

A delicate designer bed

Shining like a crown jewel, this month’s designer bed is created by our lovely designer, Anne. It features crisp neutrals with just a dash of color, which can be found in the Asian toile and tape trim.

Luxe bedroom living

While we prepare for spring as the weather remains chilly, we love to play up neutral plaids and pop them with an earthy yet rich mossy green. A dash of cow hide (a printed fabric, not the real deal) adds a touch of whimsy in this otherwise sophisticated look. (adapted from nellhills.com. Katie Laughridge is the owner of Kansas city interior design destination nell hill’s. For more information, contact Katie at info@nellhills.com.)

©2023 Tribune content agency, LLc

Deck From C1

4 Increase your home value

The National Association of Realtors’ 2021 Cost vs. Value Report states that a wood deck produces an average 65.8% return on investment. Composite decks produce an average return on investment of 63.2%.

Yes, composite is more pricey, but it requires less maintenance in the long run. The return on investment changes depending on deck size. Smaller decks see higher resale value and typically cost less to install. Remember, however, that a higher home value means increased taxes, so keep a close eye on your tax bill.

5 A satisfying DIY project

„ Snapdragon “Double Shot” Orange Bicolor, from Hems Genetics, has uniquely strong, branched stems that hold white-backed, double orange-red flowers that fade to a dusty hue as the season progresses. The All-America Selection winner grows to 18 to 20 inches tall in full or part sun.

Edibles

„ “Sun Dipper” tomato from PanAmerican Seed was named Best New Edible Plant of 2023 by the National Gardening Bureau. Its peanut-shaped, orange fruits, meant to make dipping easier, are perfectly suited for a crudite platter. I grew the indeterminate plant, bred to resist fusarium wilt, tobacco mosaic virus and root-knot nematodes, in my trial garden last summer. It was the only tomato that performed well during the year’s too-hot, too-dry season.

„ Another new tomato, “Vivacious,” available to grow from seed this year, is notable for its enhanced nutritional value.

Breeder W. Atlee Burpee claims the roughly 3-inchlong, plum-shaped, orange fruits are high in beta carotene, with just one tomato said to provide 40% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A. Each plant promises to produce roughly 70 tomatoes throughout the season.

„ How about a seedless pepper? “Pepper Pots Sugar Kick” from Proven Winners is a miniature, sweet orange snacking pepper that grows seedless when isolated from other pepper varieties to prevent cross-pollination. The upright plants grow to 20 to 30 inches tall and are suitable for growing in both containers and the garden. Harvest green fruits in 54 days or orange ones in 74 days.

„ “Sweet Jade” squash, a single-serving-sized kabocha with sea-green skin and dark orange flesh, produces high yields and has a long storage life. The fruit of the All-America Selection winner, harvestable in fall, weighs just 1 to 2 pounds apiece.

If you have the carpentry skills and gumption, you can build your own deck. You’ll save between $15 and $35 per square foot by making this a DIY project, but remember to include room in your budget for materials, tools, staining and permits. (In most cases, a pro handles all this for you.) And you’ll have to follow the most up-to-date building codes in your area — something else a pro is normally qualified for already.

Lightning round:

Don’t forget the upkeep costs

On average, a deck costs $4,100 to $11,600. The biggest impacts on cost include materials used and deck size. Overall, expect to pay $30 to $60 per square foot for a deck.

Keep in mind, though, that decks require care to keep that space as functional, safe and beautiful as possible. Maintenance can vary depending on what your deck needs. Power washing costs $150 to $400 yearly, depending on deck size. Resealing costs $20 to $40 per gallon of sealant if you do it yourself. Tweet your home-care questions with #askingangi, and we’ll try to answer them in a future column.

CATHY

HOBBS Tribune News

Whether it’s a small closet, large pantry or linen closet you want to keep tidy, organization is key to maximizing space and productivity. One philosophy that works: Everything should have a place, and be in place.

But what is the best way to achieve this sense of functionality and order? Here are some of our top organizational tips.

1. Keep items in clear containers or jars. Being able to see what you have is half the struggle to help prevent purchasing items you already own.

2. Practice the one in, one out rule.

3. Purge seasonally. Instead of the once-a-year cleanup, consider evaluating what to keep and what to toss more often.

4. Buy bins, baskets or containers to store small items.

5. Scan it! Gone are the days where boxes of documents or file cabinets full of paper are a necessity.

6. Just say no. Say no to items or inherited heirlooms you simply don’t have space or a need for that will sit in a closet or attic and collect dust.

7. Take new items out of boxes. Boxes are bulky and take up a lot of space.

8. Go slim. Huggable hangers and collapsible items can help maximize space.

9. Create cubbies or shelves to house items of various sizes.

10. Consider built-ins (be thoughtful and purposeful). (cathy hobbs, based in new york city, is an Emmy award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design home staging expert and short-term rental/vacation home designer with offices in new york city and The hudson Valley. contact her at info@cathyhobbs.com or visit her website at cathyhobbs.com.)

©2023 Tribune content agency, LLc