Messy Decorating Losing Favor

Interiors are becoming more classic and using cleaner lines. The sloppy look is out, designer Maxine White said. Some other current trends in interiors:

Furniture today has simpler lines, and pieces are less ornate. Woods are not overly grained.

Painted walls and softer colors are hot with a toned-down palate of greens to golds and taupes ranking high in popularity, White said.

There are a lot more interesting things for wall treatments than sponge paintings, noted South Pasadena designer Cynthia Bennett.

Subtle wall coverings like textured bark are making a comeback.

Hammered copper and polished nickle in bathroom fixtures and fittings are the rage, Bennett said.

Although neutral, softer colors are popular in some camps, European fabric companies are showing brighter colors in yellow, blue and red.

An eclectic mix is popular. Even in a contemporary room, it’s wonderful to have an antique piece, White said.

In spite of the trend toward classic, subtle interiors, Bennett is seeing a return to craftsmanship and murals (not just sponged walls) in homes. “There is an interest in something unique,” she emphasized. “People will pay for hand-carvings, beautiful stone work, custom tiles for counter tops, walls and floors.”

Bringing the outdoors inside is important in redos. Slate and limestones of all kinds, in addition to hardwoods, are being used for floors. Dark floors are coming back into fashion because they look dazzling with classical furniture styles and antiques, designer Ann Fletcher of San Marino noted.

In bathrooms, clients are opting for elaborate tiles on the walls. Cottage industry tiles are returning and people are willing to pay for them, Bennett said. There is also interest in borders and embossed tiles as decoration.

Designers are seeing more craftsmanship in materials and designs. There are more details in door styles and more exotic woods including pecan, mahogany, maple and cherry being used in cabinets. Lighter woods are most popular today.

The overstuffed furniture look is out. Larger-scale comfortable furniture is popular, but it is not overstuffed, Fletcher said. It is amply padded but the lines are softer.

French doors are still popular and will always be in. They are the best thing you can put in to update a house.