The best decor trends complement an already-established style. The worst decor trends make you want to gag every time you log on to Pinterest.
2011 brought great trends to interior design, like classic gold accents and salon-style walls -- decor choices that complement shabby-chic and Ikea-chic furniture alike. But then there was the taxidermy, the chevron stripes, and the terrariums -- things that are nice in moderation, but horrifying when marketed to blood-hungry Target shoppers or sold for $1,450 at Anthropologie.
Here are five good design trends we're looking forward to experimenting with in 2012.
1. Playful Wallpaper
Wallpaper has a historically bad rap, often associated with stiff, regal grandmotherly design. But contemporary graphic designers have reinvigorated the art with bright and playful patterns. Tempaper sells stylish, stick-on (read: landlord-friendly) wallpaper that is just as convincing as the real thing.
2. Tango with Tangerine
It's the Pantone color of the year, and interior designers have embraced the bold orange with open arms. If you don't want to paint your whole home in the tropical tint, try introducing the color into your dining or bedding collection.
3. Tongue-in-Cheek Accessories
Show off your sense of humor in 2012 with quirky, modern knickknacks -- from bookends and doorknobs to desk lamps and table centerpieces. Design website Fab.com frequently brings in cool, goofy brands, like Molla Space.
4. Navy is the New Neutral
Black and white is classic and timeless and oh-so-Chanel, but it's also the most boring color combination in the world. 2011 might have been the year of grays, but the big neutral of 2012 will be navy. Which is about as exciting as it gets for neutrals.
5. Ikat's Cradle
While Ikat has been around for ages, the pattern is set to make a big splash in 2012. We welcome the tribal graphic's ability to go from bold to subtle, especially after the great chevron invasion of 2011.
