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Home décor and design tips for 2012

home decor trends
home decor trends

Staying on top of trends can be a daunting task, whether it's fashion, beauty or home décor and design. To make things easier, Yahoo! Canada recently spoke with Kimberley Seldon, interior designer and owner of Kimberley Seldon Design Group to get her expert tips for home décor trends for 2012.

What's hot for 2012

"I think the biggest trend that we're seeing for 2012 is colour and pattern," says Seldon, and people aren't afraid of mixing the two either. Much like we're seeing a lot of bold colours on the runways, a lot of Canadians are using this approach in their home as well.

When it comes to the hottest colour of the year, Pantone's Tangerine Tango, it's all about moderation. Seldon suggests using such vibrant colours in smaller rooms like a craft room, hobby room or home office, versus larger principal rooms like a living room or a dining room or a kitchen.

Incorporating accents

"When the [bolder] colour is introduced into a neutral colour setting, that's when you get an accent with real punch," says Seldon, with the photo above left being a prime example of this. "That shows how you can incorporate the colour in a softer, kinder way," says Seldon.

Updating or renovating on a budget

One extremely affordable way to make your home look like a million bucks it to give it a good, thorough spring cleaning. Clear out the items you no longer need, put clutter in its home and clean all those spots (like baseboards and ceiling fans) that you normally ignore the rest of the year.

According to a survey commissioned by Glade, when visiting someone's home, the top two things Canadians notice is how clean the space is and how it smells. A deep clean can go a long way when it comes to making a big impression.

"Another thing I think that's really affordable," says Seldon, "Is to introduce colour, pattern, [and] trends in affordable ways like new pillows."

In the photo above right, you can see how something as simple as coloured dishes (in this case, blue) can help to bring more energy into a space, without breaking the bank.

Tips for newbies

Seldon finds that even decorating newbies instinctively have a sense of what styles they love and want to include in their homes. If you're still feeling stuck on what to do, hiring an interior designer can be a good place to start.

"It would be very self-serving if I suggested that you hire an interior designer, but I do believe that that's a really good choice to make," says Seldon. Most decorating firms offer a 2-3 hour consultation, where they can come into your home give you recommendations for changes to make or window covers and paint colours to use.

"Spending a little bit of money upfront can give you a long-term plan very quickly and translate into more money down the road because you won't be replacing the things that you may have made a mistake with."

Expect to pay anywhere from $200 to $1,000 for this consultation, depending on your decorator's experience level.

Make the most of small spaces

"The smaller the home, the more discipline it takes to keep it presentable," says Seldon, "Editing and purging are critical for creating a peaceful environment." Cleaning is a part of that equation as well.

"Colour and pattern introduce energy. For that reason, you can use them to make a big statement," she says, adding that in a small space, a little goes a long way.

Other considerations to keep in mind

"I think you want to have a signature scent for your home," says Seldon. "I wouldn't suggest that you put a different scent in every room on the main floor, because just like if you changed your decorating scheme in every room it would result in visual confusion."

Seldon adds that using a signature scent can help to underscore the theme of your decorating and create a relaxing environment in your home.

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