Interior Design 2011 Trend Report: What's In and Where You Fit from Philadelphia Interior Designer Donna Hoffman

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Before you panic wondering if that family room you remodeled in 2010 will look passe by March, fear not. Top Philadelphia interior designer Donna Hoffman comforts with a reminder that trends are "evolutionary not revolutionary."

"Interior design trends evolve in sweeps and arcs, not jarring, abrupt steps. This morphing pace essentially keeps trends from feeling threatening," said Hoffman, who has been featured on Real Simple and Bucks County Life magazines. Here is her 2011 Interior Design Trend report and easy tips for how to use these home design trends and decorating ideas:

Color:

The 2011 New Neutrals: Consumers still waiver about committing to color so neutrals remain important. For 2011, however, neutrals got an exciting steroidal shot. Called "the Chameleons," these new neutrals morph in different light, inspiring questions like, is that tan or moss? Gray or brown? Pastels take on new vibrancy: Look for silvery blue, silvery violet and silvery pink. Combined with gray, they're restful - with chocolate, they pop. Dried herb and spicy tones get more saturated while corals and oranges remain popular.  

Fabric:

Plain is gone; complex is in. Expect detailed fabrics containing striking patterns, textures and large-scale prints - all in one. Look for multiple-weave cloth with a foreground design in 1 patterned weave and background in another weave. Chenille gives way to boucle in popularity and tapestry gains momentum. The biggest news for 2011: VEL-VET. Velvet becomes dimensional, whether cut or carved, shiny or low texture, antiqued or embroidered. Linen remains big, but with less shine and the look becomes dry, worn, "countrified" and a little nubby.

How to use this info: Continue to buy larger investment upholstery pieces in classic neutrals because these go the distance. However, if the spirit moves you, sprinkle trendy colors or fabrics on pillows, bridge art and accent pieces (perhaps a pair of club chairs, tops). Use those exciting colors, but cut them with cooling doses of neutrals.

Style 2011:

Traditionalists take heart. Traditional is resurging, but with a heavy dose of ... Baroque. "Baroque was huge and widely expressed at the recent industry-leading show in Paris - called Maison and Objet," Hoffman reports. Expect more scrolled and Baroque detailed elements for accessories and fabrics. Thanks to continued economic stress and resulting desire for comfort and romanticism, the Vintage Vibe is on the rise. Look for crushed velvets, lace, intentional fraying and even fading on fabrics. Since no trend is complete without its counter trend, there is a new revival in contemporary. This revival shows furniture shapes that are zig-zag striking or almost sculpture-like.

Accessory Themes:

As sustainability remains on the brain, so do tribal themes. Rugs and decorative objects show animal prints, or just plain old animals. Think elephants, tigers, lions and even objects that look "found in the forest," like tree bark or nests, which made a strong showing. These are seen in artwork, framed prints or baubles. Whimsy is back too with dragonflies and butterflies adorning fabrics and objet d'art.

Displaying Your Accessories. Forget displaying a few accessories on a coffee table. One of the most exciting and notable design directions at the recent Paris show was the "Display Wall." Here, a "built in" wall showcases our collections. These built in display walls are literally built floor to ceiling, wall to wall - with either shelves, nooks or cubbies in which to feature and showcase our accessories. Accessories now become art.

How to use it: Create a feature wall in a plain, architecturally uninteresting room and display your entire collection of cream ware. Hoffman adds with a wink, "Who cares if it's from Sotheby's, Target or the Flea Market? Who'll know or think to ask if it's in a feature wall? Or do as I am on a project now - create a niche to surround and cozy up a sofa with shelves available to display some treasures."

To trend or not to trend. This is the question the design guru hears most often from her Bucks County flock. Her advice is simple: "Know thyself. Know what you love and stay true. If you hate a trend, step back and wait for it to pass. After all, in the end, you are the trend with staying power."

ABOUT INTERIORS BY DONNA HOFFMAN

IDH, located in Bucks County, specializes in home interiors that have 10+ years of staying power. Marrying smart design to your individual design fingerprint - your "interiority" - leads to the rooms clients love to live in, look at - and never want to leave. What's inside matters most. Additional information found at http://www.interiorsbydonnahoffman.com

SOURCE Donna Hoffman