Color Trend: Cobalt Blue

Cobalt blue is one of my favorite recent color trends. It can be applied to almost any space, in a large (paint all the walls) or small (add a throw pillow or two) amount. It's a classic color that sometimes borders on navy, and is appropriate for every style from traditional to contemporary and everything in between. Colors such as coral, pink, and gold are perfect compliments to create a complete scheme that includes cobalt. Finish it off with pops of bright white molding, accessories and accent pieces of furniture.

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Mixing Metals

Gold is back with a vengeance... But silvery finishes like polished chrome are still very in style. Hence where the trend of mixing metals has recently come into play. When done right, mixing metals in an interior can look very cool. It tends to create a bit of an eclectic feel, which is one word that describes my personal style perfectly.

The best way to bring this trend into your home is through accessories. Trends are fun to follow (not all of them), but follow them in a non-permanent way so that when they're no longer trends you can easily alter your look. Therefore, incorporate different metals through items such as lamps, candle holders, side tables, pillows, and mirrors. HomeGoods is my favorite place to look for reasonably-priced home accessories -- check it out!

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Layered Area Rugs

For a while now (about a year and a half to be exact), we've been shopping around for an affordable area rug for the living space in our apartment. Of course there is plenty out there to choose from, but nothing is quite as affordable as I would like. I didn't want to spend a few hundred dollars committing to an area rug that was going to be used to decorate our "temporary" apartment. Being that we're renting, I've tried to decorate our place with as little money as possible. Certain pieces can go with us wherever we go, but others might not translate so well.

Nevertheless, we finally came up with an inexpensive solution for our area-rug-less-space. During a recent trip to Home Goods, we found multiple woven cotton area rugs in a variety of colors and patterns. They were small, mostly 3'x5' or 4'x6', but filled with fun colors. For $12.99-$14.99 a piece, we were able to get a few. Now they are scattered around our apartment to form various little vignettes here and there. Another plus is that they wear very well!

So instead of opting for one large area rug in a space, try incorporating multiple smaller rugs for a fun eclectic look.

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Red Home Decor

You might be looking at the title of this post thinking, "Red home decor?", with a skeptical feeling. Yes, red is a bit bright, but in small doses it can add a new life to your home. I like to treat red as a "neutral" of sorts. It coordinates with just about anything, and can be incorporated into any type of space (living room, dining room, bedroom, etc.). Incorporate red into a neutral room through pillows, throws, small accent furniture, or accessories. Or offset it with a complementary color such as navy or aqua for a more active color scheme.

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Decorating Shelves

Unsure about how to decorate open shelving? Incorporate a variety of decorative items to add visual interest. Start by instantly adding color or pattern to a space by painting or wallpapering the inside back of a bookcase or set of shelves. Simplify the overall look of your shelves and prevent them from looking cluttered by adding only one or two decorative items per shelf. If you have multiple items to display, try setting them up in groups of two or three for a more organized look.

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Interiors with Gold

This may shock some of you, but gold is back -- especially in interiors. Every furniture store and design magazine is featuring contemporary pieces and spaces that have a touch of the shiny metallic finish. It's easiest to incorporate gold in small doses such as light fixtures, end tables, and furniture accents (for example, chair legs and dresser knobs). Stick with pieces that have clean lines and simple shapes to keep this look fresh and updated.

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Colorful Winter Decor

For most of us winter is a bit too cold, a bit too dark, and much too gray. When decorating your home for the winter season consider adding some colorful accents to help lead you happily into Spring. Try incorporating fun, new colors into your holiday decor. Experiment with variations of purple, blue, green, and yellow, for an update on the traditional red and green or blue and white color schemes. Switch out ornaments, stockings, garland, and other accessories to easily add pops of color. Adding colorful throw pillows is another easy way to incorporate color into your home as the seasons change. Little changes can make a big impact!

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Stylish Home Offices

I don't know about you, but working from home would certainly be a dream come true for me. Wouldn't it be nice if your commute to work consisted of a few steps (literally)? If you're one of the lucky ones who is able to work from home, then these home office design tips will be sure to catch your eye.

First and foremost, it's important to create a space that is solely dedicated to work. Whether you are able to designate an entire room, or a portion of a room (have an extra closet?), figure out a place that will allow you to step away from everything else at home and focus on your business. Once you've determined where your "office" will be located, it's time to get creative with layout, organization, and decor. Start with a color scheme and stick to it. This will visually separate your office space from everything else. Stay organized with labeled bins, boxes, drawers, and file cabinets (check out Design Sponge's DIY wallpapered file cabinet). Most importantly, make your home office a place where you feel comfortable and enjoy spending time in.

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Bathrooms With Color

Bathrooms are typically the smallest rooms in a home, which means that they provide the ideal opportunity to experiment with bold color and pattern. If you're feeling extra daring, re-cover your bathroom walls with a vibrant wallpaper or paint color. If that seems a little too risky, then start by incorporating color in smaller ways. White beadboard, tile, or wainscoting are great ways to break up the amount of color on your walls. Install it on the bottom half of the walls and select a bold paint or wallpaper for the top half. Finally, the least risky way to bring color into a bathroom (or any space for that matter) is through accessories. Select a bath mat, towels, and artwork in coordinating colors for an accent that can easily be switched out.

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