A Room-by-Room Guide On Incorporating The Latest Décor Trends

There are so many home décor trends at any given time; 2014 is no exception. Sometimes it’s hard to know which trends are for you, or which trends would work where. Here is a room-by-room guide to help you figure out which of this year’s home decorating trends you might want to incorporate into your space. (Like this take on the tropical trend, for example:)

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So sit back and enjoy these inspiring photos…then get to work on incorporating the trends of 2014 into your own homes.

ENTRYWAY.

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Incorporate vibrant colors, patterns, and textures. Gone are the days where baskets must infiltrate a space by the hundreds, or where a single color scheme must be strictly adhered to. Express yourself and inspire your guests through a variety of vibrant colors and diverse patterns and textures in the entryway this year. You won’t be disappointed you did.

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Embrace Scandinavian style. A bit of simple charm, some well-chosen pieces, and lots and lots of white a la Scandinavian style create an open, fresh, and welcoming entryway.

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The Year of The Standout Art Piece. Artwork is highly personal, of course – what inspires one may not even cause a pause of thought in another. This year, try to choose one piece of artwork that stands out to and inspires you, and display it as the show-stopper décor in your entryway. It’ll give you a boost every time you come and go…and maybe your guests will enjoy it a bit, too.{image from site}.

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Give a nod to vintage metals. Brass is particularly hot right now, but really all metals with a vintage feel lend an unexpectedly luxe touch to an entryway. Pair small metal statuettes with books, vases, or flowers on an entryway table for a lovely welcoming setting.

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Darken your walls for more drama. We’ve all heard, and likely lived with, the mantra that lighter colors are ideal for walls because they visually expand a space. But darker walls increase the drama, and what better way to welcome someone to your home than by an unexpectedly cozy entryway in moody blues or greys.

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Incorporate creative – yet functional – storage. Previously in home décor, a filing cabinet had one function, a dresser had one function, and a sideboard was meant to do its own thing. Trending lately, however, is a beautiful mix-and-match of these pieces and their functions. Give an old dresser a facelift, for example, and let it shine in the entryway. It not only looks chic, but it offers great storage to boot!

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Keep decor simple and to-the-point. As our lives become fuller and more chaotic, it’s nice to come home to a simple, straightforward space. Keep your entryway free of clutter and adorned with only the essentials for stylish organization. This modern way of living is both eco-responsible and refreshing.

LIVING ROOM.

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Incorporate Pantone’s 2014 Color of the Year: Radiant Orchid. If you really want to stay on-trend, deck your living room halls with this beautifully rich shade of purple. In small doses or a complete overhaul, the shade is lovely by itself and plays off many other hues beautifully.

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Go green. Home décor this year is all about plant life. Throw some greenery into your space – a little goes a long way. A potted fern, a vase with stems, or even a tin can with a faux (albeit very real-looking) rubber plant for the black thumbs among us.{image from site}.

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Paint it white and keep it simple. Scandinavian style is so trendy right now, largely in part of its sophisticated yet genuine simplicity. White walls and floors, sparse but well-selected furnishings (such as these gorgeous caramel leather armchairs and square metal coffee table), and the smallest pops of color add up to refreshing factors of chic in the living room.

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Pop in some turquoise. Not only is the color in and of itself very cheerful, it’s also aesthetically vibrant. In almost any color scheme, including the chocolate-and-white palette of this living room, turquoise (or similar aqua) brightens and freshens without being distracting.

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Throw down a soft, inviting area rug. While we want our living rooms to represent us and our styles, it’s not all about us. This year’s living room trends involve creating a warm, inviting space in which you and others will want to gather and enjoy time together. A flokati (or similar) rug is a great move in this direction.

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Incorporate Non-Neutrals. Many of us live and die by the neutral sofa. “It goes with everything,” we rationalize. But maybe this is the year to make a non-neutral statement! Choose something vibrant, like this classy fuchsia sofa, and make it the star of your space.

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Hide away storage. Let’s face it: not all our living rooms are enormous. You might have to get creative with your small-space storage solutions…which is why this year’s decorating trend of being creative with functional storage is perfect. Opt for stylish baskets, boxes, or shelves that can merge seamlessly into your existing décor to give your living room a “homey” feel (as well as plenty of places to stow stuff).

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Take a Twist on Classic Décor Ideas. We all know black and white is a classic color combination. But to keep things fresh and modern, how about turning the classic color combo into an edgy, eye-popping style this year? Black walls and bold chunky stripes on furniture is a great way to start.

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Accommodate your true lifestyle. Do you work from home but don’t want to be shut away in a separate room away from the family all day? Or are your winters long and bleak, leaving little opportunity for your children to go outside and play? Make your living room functional for your actual lifestyle – add a standing desk or home office space into the corner of your living room. Mount a playground swing in the hallway. The reality of home décor in 2014 is that it must accommodate your actual life.

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“Do more of what makes you happy.” Like the sign on the wall of this perky, eclectic living room says, this should be the motto for 2014 home décor in every room, don’t you think? We’re all unique; let’s let our décor tell that to the world. (Or, at the very least, our houseguests.)

KITCHING & DINING ROOM.

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Create a clean, all-white kitchen. This idea has been around for a few years, but it continues to be a staple of 2014 kitchens. All-white kitchens represent cool, contemporary cleanliness and are ultra-chic this year. Again.

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Float it up. Floating, or levitating, the kitchen cupboards up off the floor is a trend of many contemporary kitchen spaces. This adds a sense of lightness to a typically cabinet-heavy space, as well as makes it architecturally unique.

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Leather, leather, and more leather. This trend applies to all rooms, actually, but classic leather is definitely on-trend right now. Opt for shiny, polished leathers or worn, historic ones – either way, the warmth of leather fits right in anywhere. As a bonus for leather on dining chairs: easily cleanable.

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Color your kitchen appliances. This may seem like a step back in time, but you’re actually completely on-trend when you add a pop of color (or two) to your kitchen via appliances. It’s all about showing who you are through your style.

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Open up those shelves (if you haven’t already). The trend of open shelving everywhere in the home, but particularly in the kitchen where unique and colorful and functional objects abound, continues. If you can’t commit to exposing your entire kitchen supply, consider turning just one or two cabinets into open shelf units, and display only your most aesthetic of kitchenware.

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“Hide” the kitchen all-together. Hidden behind a façade of contemporary cupboard doors could be a fully functioning modern kitchen. This is particularly effective in an open floor plan, where the kitchen is integral to the living area’s square footage but not necessarily the desired function of the space. Hiding the kitchen behind smooth surfaces is a trend of many modern kitchens today.

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Food prep can still be edgy. Lest you fall into the trap that so many do of thinking the kitchen is solely for food prep (and the occasional chef’s pre-meal food consumption), we’re here to encourage you to jump on the new wave of incorporating edgy, standout artwork anywhere in your home. Including the kitchen.{found on site}.

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Metalicize! Metals, with their shine and cool and collected industrial vibe, should be part of any 2014 home makeover. The dining room is a great place to introduce metals, whether on the dining table itself, dining chairs, or even overhead lighting.

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Consider bolder walls. While not for everyone, bold prints, patterns, or colors on the walls are a wonderful way to showcase your style. This can be done with wallpaper, which has made a comeback in recent years, paint (e.g., stripes, ombre, stenciled designs, etc.), or even printed fabric. The sky really is the limit here and, for many, the bolder the better!

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Mix and match. Or mix and don’t match. Mismatched dining chairs are a perfect way to exhibit a broad sense of style in one fell swoop. Favor industrial style? Then choose a variety of metal and wood chairs. How about mid-century modern? No problem, there are plenty to choose from. Whatever you decide, have fun with it! Just try to keep at least two characteristics similar across the board.

BEDROOM.

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Keep it fresh with clean lines. Even if your style is not completely contemporary, some clean lines will go a long way in catapulting your bedroom décor into 2014. Experiment with repetition of those lines, like these square shadow boxes in this bedroom.

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What would the Swedish do? A light and airy bedroom might be just the refuge you’re after, and one fantastic way to achieve this is to overhaul the space in (trendy) Swedish or Scandinavian style. Remember: lots of whites, hardwood floors, and some simple natural touches will transform your bedroom into a sanctuary this year.

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Throw in a geometric pattern or two. Whether on the walls, floor, or somewhere in between, geometric patterns are a major modern trend. They provide a classic look and add visual interest without looking stuffy or traditional.

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Remember the bold and the beautiful. Bold colors don’t have to be confined to just an “accent” this year – they can embody the entire color scheme! This red and chartreuse bedroom is evidence of this trend’s success; the white with black trim touches also add sophistication and help to ground the space.

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Plant a plant. Soften the corners of your bedroom, or take advantage of the natural lighted windows by throwing in a few bits of live greens into your bedroom. It’ll go far to make the space breathe and feel more zen-like, no matter what your style.

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Geek out with high-tech in the bedroom. Anything “high-tech” is most likely a more permanent change than, say, adding a throw pillow to a space. But if you love gadgets, this trend is likely to make your heart go pitter-pat. Under-bed lighting and a modern sliding bed surround are just a couple of ways to introduce technology into your bedroom to meet this trend.

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Put the “chrome” back in “monochromatic.” Shine and reflection is everything these days. Embrace mirrors and gloss with reckless abandon. Well, maybe not reckless. But definitely abandon. Mix warm, matte finishes with high-gloss and reflective surfaces for an ultra-chic, modern look.

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Don’t be afraid of mixed patterns. If you’ve had a hard time working up the courage to mix and match patterns, this is the time for you to practice in the privacy of your bedroom. Choose large, medium, and small patterns in similar color hues (not necessarily the same color!) to add interest and style.

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Challenge tradition. Your bedroom is the perfect place to try out new styles and trends; this one in particular requires a little more courage than most. Paint half the window frame. Stack books into makeshift tables. Float your bed in the middle of the room. Hang a single sheet of boldly retro wallpaper. Do those things – and any others – that express your unique self and style. That’s the name of the style game this year.

BATHROOM.

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Opt for spa-like details. Consider woods, bamboos, stone, and other natural or nature-inspired materials for your bathroom furnishings and fixtures. Space permitting, you could incorporate an ergonomic chair to allow for spa-inspired relaxation in your new zen space.

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Go for the grey. Grey is the new tan, as far as neutrals are concerned. Now’s the time to freshen up your bathroom with a serene and sophisticated grey hue.

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Heighten the technology factor. “High-tech” doesn’t have to apply strictly to the kitchen or home theatre room; even the bathroom can benefit from this tech-heavy trend. For example, this remote control toilet with programmable nightlight. Sounds like technology is getting somewhere…

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Upgrade faucets and fixtures. Faucets with minimalist designs, contemporary clean lines, or techy attributes (such as touch-activated faucets) are a relatively quick and easy way to bring your bathroom into the 21st century, specifically 2014.

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Say ‘Yes!’ to chromatherapy. If you’re in the market for remodeling your bathroom this year, consider swapping out your old commercial grade tub for a chromatherapy model. It’s a hot trend for 2014, providing plenty of health benefits to make it worth your while.

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Add in touches of luxury. Luxurious textiles are an important part of any room this year (who doesn’t want to sink into something soft?), and the bathroom is no exception. Consider incorporating thick, soft towels and washcloths, velvet bench covers, or even sheepskin rugs for the ultimate luxuries.

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Bare it all. Minimalist bathrooms have been a global trend, and this year is no exception. I especially love the “floating” wall-mounted vanities in this look.

OUTSIDE (BACKYARD).

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Incorporate bright, cheerful furniture. Just like when you’re decorating inside your house, the outdoors can always be brightened with some bold and colorful furniture. This trend can take a variety of directions, from colorful furniture itself to bold furniture cushions to fun throw pillows – whatever adds a pop of personality and life to your outdoor space is a good choice.

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Remember that less is more, even outside. Minimalist style and exterior decoration is on-trend for this year. Not only does this emphasize the outdoor living space you already have (because it’s not hidden among the ever-unruly expanses of brambles and bushes), but it also makes life much easier for you with lower maintenance. I’d call that a win-win.

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Light it up. As outdoor living becomes more and more desirable and prevalent, firepits (or similar fire features) are increasing in residential backyards. This trend is not only aesthetic, but it also provides a perfect venue for creating many wonderful experiences and memories.

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Install an outdoor kitchen. It can be as complex as a fully plumbed kitchen or as simple as a place for the hibachi grill or anywhere in between…but a backyard with an outdoor kitchen component is a backyard that will be enjoyed for more than just the summer months.

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Consider a retaining wall for decoration and enclosure. Although it’s not the same as a fence for safety and privacy, retaining walls are beautiful backyard features that are becoming more and more popular recently. These walls enhance your landscape opportunities and provide a sense of security and structure to the outdoor expanse.

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Design the backyard to fit your family. Your lifestyle, including the outdoor activities you like to do as a family, should dictate much of your backyard’s design for 2014. Consider devoting separate sections of the yard to different activities, such as relaxation, kid’s play, grassy field, patio…whatever speaks to you and will provide optimal outdoor enjoyment.