Real Estate NewsHot Design Trends for 2003: Family Focus, Specialty Rooms, Color
Transforming your house to meet the specific needs of your family, adding
specialty rooms like wine cellars, and introducing bolder colors in the home
are all expected to be popular interior design themes in 2003, experts say.
While interior designers and others in the home improvement industry unleash
their annual "what"s hot" and yearly trends list at this time of year, it"s
always tempered with the premise that your home ultimately needs to cater to
your family"s personality and lifestyle - not what"s "in" at the moment.
Unlike the fashion industry in which it"s easy to supplement your wardrobe
when a new style is deemed "in," you can"t change your home quite so
easily - unless you have plenty of disposable income at your fingertips.
That"s why the American Society of Interior Designers recommends focusing on
and implementing design trends with staying power.
"People just can"t run out and change things on a whim, unless they have
unlimited budgets," said Los Angeles-based interior designer B.J. Peterson.
Homeowners want to maximize their space. Rooms - like formal living rooms -
that traditionally had limited use are becoming a thing of the past.
Instead, homeowners are opting for rooms that are comfortable and
functional.
Kitchens will continue to be the hub of the house, complete with not only
cooking and eating areas, but multiple preparation areas, homework and
computer desk areas, pantries, beverage centers, and special dining and
living areas.
Meanwhile, specialty rooms are expected to rise in popularity this year, the
ASID says. Especially popular among empty nesters, these rooms run the
gamut - media rooms, wine cellars, meditation rooms, libraries, sewing
centers, and hobby rooms.
"I have clients who moved into the spare bedroom and transformed their
master bedroom into a media room," said designer Susan Davis, an ASID member
from Mountain View, Calif. "Complete with an 8-foot screen, terrific sound,
leather seating and a comfortable chaise, the room works for movie viewing,
casual entertaining, a teen hangout and an escape to read a book or listen
to music. Though unconventional, it was the perfect use of space for this
family"s way of living."
Indeed, the National Association of Remodeling expects finished basements
used as game and rec rooms, luxury master suites, fully functional home
offices, and playrooms with plenty of storage among the remodeling projects
that will be popular this year.
And 2003 is expected to be a big year for color, the ASID forecasts.
Homeowners are getting away from the boring beiges and choosing colors that
set a mood, create an inviting atmosphere, or spark a response.
Color experts at Pantone Inc., a company that specializes in color
communication and technology for a range of industries, says that if you"ll
be shopping for home furnishings into 2003, you"ll see a lot of calming and
comforting colors.
"The overall forecast for 2003 is one of more muted, traditional and
classical shades," said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of Pantone
Color Institute, a company that specializes in color communication and
technology for a range of industries.
Another color group, Color Marketing Group, a not-for-profit association of
1,600 color designers who forecast colors for all industries, including home
and architectural, says blue will be big in 2003.
"The search for the perfect Blue yields four perfect directions for blues,"
the company"s web site states. "Whether safe and grounded, watery or
atmospheric, Forecast Blues invigorate and enliven consumer products while
providing steadfast assurance and stability during cloudy economic times."
Green will also play a key role in 2003 - green as in earth-friendly.
So-called green design is expected to become increasingly popular in the
home, the ASID says. People are learning more about "earth-friendly"
building product. Bamboo and cork flooring, plant-based paints and finishes,
and salvaged wood are some of the alternative materials being specified by
designers today.
But again, your primary goal, experts stress, is to do whatever feels right
for you and your family - and won"t be an embarrassment five years down the
road.