home design ideas Archives

Home Design Trends For 2022

Written By: Chris Ladd

Spring is right around the corner, and as we begin to thaw out from the winter, many of us start thinking about creative ways to update our homes. Below are a few design trends we’re seeing that we recommend if you’re looking to improve your living environment or get your house ready to put on the market…

Biophilic Design…

connects inhabitants with nature. They incorporate plants and nature into a homeowner’s everyday space. They can reduce stress, enhance creativity and expedite healing. Not only do biophilic designs emphasize natural elements, such as natural lighting, but they also focus on creating a healthy and productive space. Recent studies showed biophilic designs have positive effects on a person’s mental and physical well-being.

Curved Furniture…

has a way of softening a room, letting you take a break from décor that has hard edges and angles, like built-in shelving, coffee tables, and fireplaces. Curved lines are a fantastic way of breaking up the straight lines of your home as well as adding softness to the space. Curves act as artwork and a great conversation starter whenever you have guests visiting your home. They are meant to be seen and to make a statement as soon as you enter the room.

A Sustainable Home…

is one that reduces the overall impact on our environment. This includes updates that are energy-efficient, avoiding environmental toxins, and using materials in a responsible fashion while having a positive physical and psychological impact on the inhabitants. Renting furniture or shopping second-hand for home products and décor is a fantastic way to practice being sustainable and can also save you a lot of money. Facebook Marketplace is our favorite platform for finding quality second-hand furniture and products.

Opting for eco-friendly construction, such as environmentally friendly flooring is another great sustainability option. Purchasing these construction materials locally saves time and reduces the carbon footprint by minimizing the distance they need to be shipped.

Installing solar panels on your property is not only the gold standard for sustainability, they can greatly reduce your monthly utility costs. While many strides are being made to make solar panels more affordable, they are still pretty expensive and cost-prohibitive for most. Check with your local utility company to see if they offer any incentives or credits for installing solar at your home.

Recent studies show that 85% of consumers have gone greener in recent years. By doing so with your home, it will absolutely help it stand out when it comes time to sell it. More and more homebuyers are searching specifically for greener homes…

Outdoor Furniture…

is becoming more popular as a way to spend more time entertaining guests outdoors, and creating true extensions of our home’s interior. The recent pandemic has made homeowners and renters reconsider the importance of their outdoor space. Whether it be a giant garden or small balcony, now enjoy more time outdoors and make the most of what they have. Homeowners are looking to extend their spaces and have more spacious areas to relax and take in some fresh air. Natural fabrics and colors are becoming more common. Colors sage green, cashmere, and cream are particularly popular for outdoor living areas.

Dark Kitchens…

are making a comeback! Interior designers we work with are using more black floors, black marble countertops, black appliances, and shiny black cabinets in their kitchen designs. A dark kitchen design provides a unique and elegant look, especially with gold or brass accents.

70’s Home Décor…

is making a comeback but with a modern twist. Instead of the bright orange color, we are focusing more on warm earthy tones. Bold colors, curvy shapes, velvet, and rattan furniture are coming back in 2022 but better than before. Expect to see lots of retro furniture, warm hues, and leather accents along with geometric patterns. Decorating with items from decades ago can make your home feel unexpectedly edgy and fun. Bringing in older furniture is a sure way to add depth and visual intrigue that your home may be lacking.

Wallpaper…

is a trend that started a few years ago but has been growing and is expected to be huge in 2022! Tropical and botanical prints are leading this trend for wallpaper designs. Dramatic graphics, huge wall murals, florals, and archival designs are also popular. Not only will these design types capture the attention of guests, but they will also provide a unique feel for any room. Wallpaper is an affordable way to really make a space your own and allow your home’s interior to stand out.

What’s more, many of today’s wallpaper products are now peel-and-stick as opposed to the old school days of having to use messy wallpaper paste. This also makes things MUCH easier to take down as well.

Natural Textures…

brings something cozy and inviting throughout your home. Dried flowers and grasses remain widely popular decorative accessories. Faux or fresh plants blur the boundaries between outdoor and indoor living. In 2022, we expect to see an increased usage of natural materials – ranging from décor to furniture. Calm, nature-inspired colors especially in more communal spaces like the living area. Natural shapes, greenery, and raw materials are all elements that really help ground the home.

If updating the interior design of your home seems completely foreign and intimidating, we’re here to help! Don’t hesitate to reach out to us and we’ll be happy to provide staging and design advice…

6 Decorating Tips for Your Home in 2020

Written By: Holli McCray

Here’s to new living spaces in 2020!

It’s a new year, which means new opportunities to design and decorate your living space the way you want to live. Many people relish the idea of decorating, while others dread the very thought. Whether you’re the proud owner of a new home or looking to spruce up your forever home, you’ll want to avoid these common design mistakes.

Sentimental Décor

Everyone loves their grandma, but maybe not her outdated collection of figurines. Not only is sentimental décor a pain to dust, it typically adds clutter to the room which can add unwanted stress to your life, so ditch the kitsch. According to organizing guru, KonMari, keep only the items that bring you joy.

Displaying Art

If you’re an art lover, you know, there’s no such thing as too much. But practically speaking, too much art and/or family photos on display can crowd a room. We believe in keeping family at the center of every home, so save your table space and opt for a gallery wall (or two). Displaying your favorite photos or artworks on a gallery wall instead allows you to switch them out whenever you’d like. The experts at HGTV suggest organizing the rest of your photos in albums by decade or event and keep them nicely arranged on a bookshelf.

Dried Flower Arrangements

Years ago, dried flower arrangements used to be a lot more common. But if you ask a design expert like Nate Berkus, “how exactly do you clean them?” Instead of collecting dust and aggravating allergies, opt for house plants and fresh flowers. Adding a little green can also clear toxins in the air and bring a space to life.

According to Rutgers, studies have shown that fresh flowers have an immediate impact on happiness and a long-term positive effect on moods. Study participants reported feeling less depressed, anxious, and agitated after receiving flowers. Flowers also create intimate connections. Giving and receiving flowers creates positive contact between family and friends. (Hint: Remember this tip for Valentine’s Day!)

Matchy Matchy

Too much of a good thing, can be a bad thing. According to Young House Love, Ideally, you want a room to “coordinate” but not “match.” Rooms that coordinate have varied textures, prints, materials, and tones that work together and appear balanced and cohesive. Rooms that look collected over time (and feature a variety of tones, textures, and materials) always look eons more stylish than rooms that look like they could have been purchased all at once from one store.

Dark Walls

If you’ve been on Pinterest lately, you know that dark walls are in. Kitchens, dining rooms, powder rooms, and more are enrobed in rich shades from gray to navy to black. You may even be tempted to paint an accent wall to change things up, but we’d like to caution you against going too dark. According to Country Living, deeper hues, while warm and cozy, can have the unwanted effect of making a room feel small or cave-like. Dark colors can also heat up quickly in the sun—and that sunlight can cause fast fading. Plus, they’re pretty unforgiving when it comes to imperfections (meaning you’re going to see every lap mark and drywall chip) which can be difficult to touch up or paint over if you eventually decide you want to lighten up again.

Outdated Kitchen

Don’t let your rooms feel dated by hanging onto dated (or even worse, damaged) cabinet hardware. Make small changes like switching the hardware on your kitchen or bath cabinets for a big impact. Kitchen cabinet hardware affects the look and feel of not just your kitchen cabinets, but the entire room. The shape of and finish on your pulls, knobs, and handles can put the final touch on your kitchen design. The very same cabinet might have a vintage feel with porcelain knobs, or a contemporary look with brushed nickel pulls. You can give your kitchen a very personalized treatment with something custom, like artistic glass knobs, or handworked metal in oil-rubbed bronze. Think of the hardware like jewelry for your cabinets. Let it speak for your style – be that contemporary, modern, vintage or traditional. Check out some of Bob Villa’s favorite examples here.

The most important thing to remember about designing and decorating your home is to remain true to you. Fads and trends may be hip, but you’re the one who’s going to have to live with it. That said, we are always here to help you with decisions about updating your home and how it can affect its resale value. Don’t ever hesitate to reach out to us!

4 Budget-Friendly Home Improvement Ideas

Written By: Holli McCray | 5 Minute Read

Make these simple and affordable home improvements now to help boost the value and appeal of your home!

Even if you don’t plan to sell your home anytime soon, The Holli McCray Home Marketing Group always recommends staying current with home updates and improvements. These 4 budget-friendly “DIY” home improvement ideas will not only boost the appearance and appeal of your home, but they can also help your home sell faster when it comes time to put it on the market. Here are a few tips to get you started…

1. Add A Backsplash

It’s incredible how much a new backsplash can change the look and feel of a kitchen. Many DIY backsplashes even have adhesive backings to make it easier than ever to add this upgrade to your kitchen. The Spruce has some helpful hacks to get you started!

And backsplashes aren’t just for kitchens! Consider adding a backsplash in the bathrooms to dress them up a bit. 4 inches is the standard height of a bathroom sink backsplash, but some may be much taller. Adding a backsplash behind the bathroom sink is a simple way to add color, texture and more visual interest into a room that may otherwise be overlooked! The Home Depot is here with some tips to make this bathroom backsplash project as easy as possible.

2. Re-Caulk & Clean Grout In The Wet Areas

DO NOT overlook the potentially grimy caulk and grout around your home even if it seems like a daunting task to refresh it. It’s not that difficult! You might be accustomed to what it looks like, but it may be a turnoff to those who visit your home. Start by cleaning the grout and then add straight, clean lines of caulk around the tub and sink. This task does require some elbow grease, but it’s simple, affordable, and you’ll be amazed at what a big difference this can make to the overall look and feel of your home for just a few dollars. The Coupon Project tells you how to re-grout a shower for under $50.

3. Add Extra Outdoor Seating

Create an outdoor seating area by adding a table and chairs to your deck, patio, front porch, or fire pit area. This creates an illusion of more space and brings the eye to an area where future potential buyers can picture themselves entertaining family and friends. Peruse Knoxville Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, or a local consignment/thrift store before buying new furniture. You’d be surprised at how many budget-friendly furniture options are out there and they can make SUCH a big difference in your outdoor space.

4. Paint Trim & Baseboards

We came across this helpful article by DIY Decor Mom on painting the trim and baseboards around the home. This small project can make a HUGE difference in the look of your home, giving it the appearance of a lighter and brighter space. If you aren’t sure which color to choose, we generally recommend using a bright white with most homes.

The best part about this project? All it takes is some time, a few rolls of painter’s tape and a gallon or two of semi-gloss paint!

If you’ve been working hard to update your Knoxville area home and are curious if now may be the right time sell hit, don’t hesitate to reach out to us!