Home Decor Ideas

This small, one-room apartment in Stockholm, Sweden, is incredibly well planned. With the home at just about 344 square feet (32 square meters), it features a fully equipped kitchen and spacious living room that doubles as a sleeping area.

A small entrance hallway guides you toward each entertainment space, while the light gray walls brighten up the place and perfectly complement the wooden floors. The living room is large enough to accommodate an extendable sofa, reading corner and bed. Plus, the vintage bench and stools add a charming touch to the interior.

It’s a known fact that Swedes love flowers, which is probably why this apartment is sprinkled with plant stands — all the more reason to fall in love with this place!

The kitchen has an array of storage options that make it extremely practical, but it still has a cozy feel. The window offers a lovely view of the building’s inner courtyard, where residents can relax and unwind during warm summer days. Despite the small size of the apartment (discovered by Freshome on Alvhem), the exquisite planning makes it spacious enough for two people to live here.

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They’re the incubators where design starts. The international furniture design shows are where young and established designers and brands display their latest offerings in the hopes that the biggest retailers in the world will buy them — and bring them to you. Here are the most important international furniture design shows for 2018.

Trendset Munich, Germany | January 6-8

This is the winter edition of the “interior, inspiration and lifestyle” show with a heavy focus on home accents and accessories. There’s also a July show, although the winter show is more popular. You’ll find the upcoming spring and summer trends, which Trendset forecasts as “Earthy colours, relaxed patterns, and sustainable materials characterise the widely diverse trends of the coming summer. The deep attachment to the earth gives rise to new ethnic and near-natural designs. Natural and recycled textiles arise from the innovative power and creativity of excellence in craftsmanship.”

Heimtextil Messe Frankfurt, Germany | January 9-12

Messe Frankfurt Theme Park

Heimtextil is the biggest international trade fair for textiles. You’ll find professionals from all fields who work with fabric and textiles, like architects, designers, internal decorators, visual merchandisers and bed and bath retailers. According to Heimtextil, the future trend will be about urbanization and city living.

The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) Orlando, Florida | January 9-11

KBIS hosts this show in conjunction with the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and runs alongside the NAHB International Builders’ Show. It’s the go-to show for design professionals, retailers, builders, planners, cabinet shops and architects who specialize in kitchen and bath design.

IMM Cologne, Germany | January 15-21

IMM, or the International Interiors Show, gets more than 100,000 visitors from around the world. The show is well organized into 11 segments like Global Lifestyles, Pure Talents featuring upcoming designers, and Pure Architects geared toward architects and building professionals. The show is extensive, covering furniture, lighting and home accents, with trend reports for each specific category.

Lightovation Dallas, Texas | January 17-21

This is the main lighting show in the U.S. It’s held at the Dallas Market Center where thousands of lighting industry buyers go to find the latest lighting for their stores, residential and commercial projects.

Maison&Objet Paris, France | January 19-23

Held in Paris, this is perhaps the best show for design inspiration in the world. Held in January and September, in conjunction with Paris Design Week, more than 100,000 visitors come to see the latest trends and order the hottest looks for their design clients and retail stores worldwide.

Las Vegas Market, Nevada | January 28-February 1

You’ll find everything in this design show. It’s one-stop shopping for buyers and designers looking for anything from one-of-a-kind antiques to art to outdoor furnishings and everything for residential and commercial projects. The market brings top design stars to speak about their secrets to success or what the upcoming design trends will be.

Stockholm Design Week, Sweden | February 5-11

This is THE Scandinavian design show to attend. The show takes place throughout the city in some of the coolest galleries and showrooms. Plenty of activities including hip dinner parties, vernissage cocktails and museum nights to keep attendees entertained.

Ambiente Frankfurt, Germany | February 9-13

This is the largest consumer goods show featuring housewares, home accents and more. The items at your favorite home store probably started here. For 2018, 4,460 companies from 94 countries will be displaying their latest designs for sale.

Indonesia International Furniture Expo | March 9-12

You’ll find a wide range of handcrafted furniture and home accents during this event in Jakarta. Manufacturers not only offer their latest designs but will work with international buyers to create custom designs.

Design Shanghai, China | March 14-17

It’s billed as the leading design event in Asia. The setting is the vibrant city of Shanghai. You’ll find the future home design trends here, organized into five design halls of Classic & Luxury, Collectibles, Contemporary, Kitchen/Bathroom and Office/Workplace.

Salone del Mobile Milano, Italy | April 17-22

This show is a must-visit for any design lover. With more than 2,000 exhibitors and more than 270,000 attendees coming for the week, it’s essential to book your hotel well in advance! Various events happen throughout the city, with a massive 1,000 events scheduled. This is the place to find the top contemporary design trends.

International Contemporary Furniture Fair New York City | May 20-23

Following Milan, Italy’s big contemporary fair, New York city follows. It takes place at the Javits Convention Center where, according to the fair organizers, “36,000 interior designers, architects, retailers, representatives, distributors, facility managers, developers, manufacturers, store designers, and visual merchandisers” attend the seminars, buy the latest products and take inspiration from what’s in store for home design.

NeoCon Chicago | June 11-13

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the show is the place where contract, hospitality and commercial or workplace professionals and designers source the latest products for their projects. The most beautiful commercial buildings, hospitals or businesses may have sourced their design products here first.

London Design Fair, England | September 20-23

London does something extraordinary every September. It creates a design festival with access to both trade and the general public. Hundreds of events and art installations are scheduled through the week. The 100% Design and Decorex are the trade-only portions of the festival.

Biennale Interior Belgium | October 18-22

Held every two years since 1968, the Biennale Interieur is an important show for the most avant-garde and contemporary design trends in the world. The nonprofit organization wants to showcase the most innovative designers in the world and presents a carefully curated collection of the latest talents and products.

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ASP Arquitectura completed a spectacular rehabilitation of an apartment on the lower level of a building in Mexico City. The design aimed to create a seamless connection with the surrounding landscape.

According to the architects, three indoor-outdoor transition elements were built with reinforced concrete, each with a distinctive personality. The first is a pool of water that greets visitors with movement and sound. The second consists of a garden of energy stones, while the third is a vegetable garden, designed to blend the gully’s natural vegetation with the terraces.

The indoor layout has a linear axis that links the common, semi-private and private areas. The northeast section has two terraces joined by a pergola; the first houses a living and dining area with a vertical garden built of wooden boxes reclaimed from the shoring system used in the construction. The second terrace rests on a lower overhang, suggesting a closer relationship with the landscape.

The southwest part houses a more private garden that connects to the bedrooms, TV room and kitchen, culminating in a contemplative space known as the Garden Box. This open module is designed for an intimate interaction between the spectator and the garden. Information provided by ASP Arquitectura Sergio Portillo. Photography courtesy of Rafael Gamo.

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Modern takes on vintage interior design can be done. Image: Suk Design Group LLP

Vintage interior design is tricky. On the one hand, it’s easy to see why some would long to re-create the feel of elegance that is synonymous with homes of the past. On the other, it’s all too easy for a design to come off looking like it belongs in Grandma’s house. This is one occasion where striking the right balance is crucial.

We’re here to help you find that balance. We’ve compiled our best advice for pulling together vintage interiors that still feel appropriate for today. Read over these tips and incorporate them into your own design. We have no doubt you’ll be able to reach the perfect equilibrium between modern and traditional.

Stick to well-made antique pieces. Image: InUnison Design Inc.

Choose well-made antiques

Antiques are the backbone of any vintage home. Regardless of which decade is your personal favorite, they are the key pieces that help cement the vintage feel in your design. Their unique sense of history transports viewers back in time in a way that newer creations simply can’t match.

That said, just because a piece is older doesn’t mean it’s worthy of being included in your design. If you’re going to include an antique, it needs to be in decent — if not excellent — condition. As a rule, if you don’t think the piece will stand up to daily wear and tear, keep looking for a sturdier option.

When evaluating condition, there are a few signs that let you know a piece was built to stand the test of time. Keep an eye out for the following:

• Weight: Heaviness is often a sign the piece was made from real, natural materials rather than a more modern, mass-produced variation.
• Sturdy joints: Pay special attention to whether the joints feel secure. If they feel shaky, look into the cause. A loose nail can be replaced, but wood rot is not as easy to fix.
• Rust or other discoloration: This often needs to be determined on a case-by-case basis, but while a little rust or fading due to light exposure can be dealt with, too much may not be worth the restoration.

Make true antique pieces your focal point. Image: Stokesman Homes

Make them your focal point

When you do find antiques that fit the bill, make them the focal point of the room. A focal point — for those who need a refresher — is the first thing a person’s eye is drawn to when they enter the space. Putting a true antique into this role will help set the tone for the rest of your design.

For this reason, furniture becomes the perfect candidate. As always, we recommend allowing the furniture in a room to take center stage because it helps make the function of the space crystal clear. Consider allowing a vintage dining table, accent chair or bed frame to take center stage.

If that’s not your style, larger decorative items are also a solid choice. You may want to think about searching for a larger mirror or piece of wall art to help carry the room. Well-kept rugs are a good option to keep in mind.

Balance modern pieces with vintage finishes. Image: Lisa Stevens & Company Inc.

Add in vintage-inspired details

Though antiques are lovely, it’s unrealistic to assume you’ll build the entire room around them. Plus, in all honesty, doing so may end up making the space feel like more of a relic than a nod to the styles of days gone by. The best vintage designs are the ones inspired by tradition, yet still feel appropriately tired to present day.

To pull this off, you want to round out the room with modern-day acquisitions that showcase vintage-inspired details. For example, you may want to look for a piece with contemporary, clean lines done in a weathered finish. Alternatively, you could find an item that’s done in a trendy color or finish, yet is also more ornate.

When mixing and matching modern and traditional design elements, consistency is key. Unless you’re a fan of truly eclectic styles, you want your vintage and your vintage-inspired items to fit well together. Make sure to carry similar detailing throughout the entire room, so the space feels both cohesive and intentional.

Be sure to include vintage colors and patterns. Image: Torie Jayne

Copy vintage patterns and colors

Finally, color and pattern are great ways to really drive home that vintage aesthetic. There’s nothing like some polka dots to transport you instantly back to the 1950s or rich, saturated reds to harken back to the Victorian era. Including these elements in your design often has a large payoff for comparatively minimal effort.

Doing this right does require a little legwork. You want to research your preferred time period to really get a sense of the styles that were popular back then. If you can, try to find an image from the era to use as design inspiration so you can truly see how these trends were utilized at the time.

Follow our tips to pull off vintage interior design the right way. Image: Nautilus Homes

It’s not hard to see why people love vintage interior design. There’s something so appealing about paying homage to the elegant aesthetics of the past. That said, there’s a fine line between paying tribute and creating a time warp. With the help of the suggestions above you should be able to create interiors that are reminiscent of the past without feeling frozen in time.

What do you think of vintage interior design? Would you ever consider including this style in your home? Tell us in the comments.

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Welcome to a creative loft in Toronto, Canada, that houses an unexpected layout. Designed by Studio AC, this 550 square foot (51 square meter) apartment merges industrial elements in a fun, contemporary manner.

The designers were asked to develop an entertaining and functional studio for a young professional. They planned the space around an eye-catching element, which they call “the bed box.” Curtains, an arched entryway and an elevation change signal the small bedroom and ensure privacy.

“The shell of the unit was comprised of a grey brick that we painted out white to blend seamlessly with the new work bench along the window wall and kitchen island,” the designers said. “The work bench features a long continuous surface that provides flexibility for the clients, whether they are working, displaying art or hosting a party.”

In the kitchen, a dark accent wall adds character to the space. Despite the exposed railings and pipes, the studio displays a warm vibe throughout. This feeling is achieved through wood finishes, dim lighting and an overall playful layout. Photos courtesy of Andrew Snow Photography.

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