Dressing Up the Home

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Dressing Up the Home

Look to the world of women's fashion to see what's next for home design.

It’s no secret that the world of fashion is a source of inspiration for interiors. If a look makes a hit on the runway, it’s a pretty good bet that consumers will embrace it in their homes as well. Plus, many of the top apparel designers — and even the top models — have branched out into interiors, creating everything from lines of furniture to window treatments.

What’s happening in fashion today is a return to traditional style, but with a twist. Casual dress is getting an upgrade with touches of elegance.

"Jeans have a crease in them again, and we’re putting them with a cashmere sweater," says interior designer and author Sharon Hanby-Robie. "In the home, we’re taking that comfy family room sofa and pairing it with silk embroidered pillows and cashmere throws. What I’m seeing is that we’re tired of living in a sloppy manner. We want to dress up."

Jeffrey Dross, senior product manager and trends analyst at Kichler Lighting, says he noticed in last year’s runway shows that designers were almost exclusively showing dresses in their collections.

"They were traditional, but not in a formal way," he says. "There was a playfulness. In interiors, we have gone to as free-form a sofa or table as we’re likely to get in a home. Now, people are looking to formalize it just a little, but it has to be comfortable, just like these dresses. … We’ve gotten down to the bottom of the relaxed casual interiors. (Designers) are not going to get rid of comfort, but they’re going to start bringing in little corners of tradition again."

Interior designer and HGTV host Krista Watterworth notes that the 2007 runway shows highlighted the calming, elegant look of soft grays and ocean colors, punctuated with bright accent colors such as yellow and orange. Those same accents, in a variety of citrus hues, can give a room some visual sizzle on pieces such as pillows, mirror frames, wall art and lamp shades.

The runway shows also showcased prints such as lace, brocade, geometrics and floral patterns, which can make a dramatic statement on upholstery, window treatments, wallpaper, bedding, table settings and accessories.

Print patterns are also evident in carpet, says Emily Morrow, director of color, style and design for Shaw Industries, the world’s largest carpet manufacturer. Shaw’s couture carpet collection includes Calabria, which features a circle-within-a-square pattern "that is very fun," Morrow says.

"It ties into the Hollywood retro look of the ‘60s, like a vintage Halston dress with color blocks," she says. Another popular pattern is based on eyelet lace. In the coming year, Morrow says to look for a return of the vibrant colors of the ‘80s, "but with a new twist."

Of course, nothing says fashion — or memory point — more than an unexpected, offbeat accent that catches the eye and sparks conversation, says Mimi MacKenzie, a home and entertainment guest host at QVC.

"I think the experimental edgy side will be in small simple pieces," she says, "similar to how animal prints were used 10 to 15 years ago."

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