The Ultimate DIY Guide To The 2018 Interior Design Trends
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It’s my favorite time of year when the Interior Design Trend Predictions are made. Every big publication, and interior design website has released their predictions for what we’re going to love in 2018. Farmhouse style shows no signs of ending its reign as the top look for homes in 2018, but there’s some predicted trends that might just make you pull out the paintbrushes and purchase new curtains. We’re highlighting the trends that we can incorporate into our homes this year without breaking the bank, or ordering rooms full of new furniture. This is the ultimate DIY guide to the 2018 top interior design trends.
Sinks Get a Makeover: One of the big trends this year involves sinks. The white and stainless-steel kitchen sinks are going to be replaced by copper, stone, or concrete. Bathrooms are getting vessel or bucket sinks. These are the types of sinks our grandmothers had. Both trends prove the farmhouse style is continuing strong into 2018.
How to DIY it on a Budget: Sinks aren’t generally a small ticket upgrade because a new sink often requires plumbing and countertop upgrades. If you’re ready for a sink update, measure your existing sink and the hole in your countertop to make sure the new one will fit without modifying your counter. Check plumbing connections and clearances before buying the sink, and be prepared to install new plumbing to accommodate the new sink.
If you don’t want to mess with figuring out if the sink will work with your existing counter, opt to buy an all-in-one bathroom vanity that includes the sink and faucet. It’s pricier, but less likely to cause a DIY headache.
All White Kitchens Will Gain Some Color: Kitchen cabinet and design companies are seeing less requests for all-white kitchens, and predict that trend to gain momentum in 2018. Kitchens in 2018 will gain some color—especially blue, gray, and mahogany. Dusty and darker colors of will dominate island cabinets and backsplashes.
How to DIY it on a Budget: If you already have an all-white kitchen, paint your island cabinetry, or the cabinets on the sides of your stove. Using the HGTV predictions for the colors that will dominate in 2018, you may want to check out Sherwin Williams Oceanside for a deep blue-green, or Behr’s Live in the Moment for a lighter blue-green. If you love HGTV Fixer Upper, you will want to check out Joanna Gaines new paint line. The green-hued lineup is a great way to add saturated color to your kitchen.
Green Makes a Comeback: 7 out of the 9 colors in Joanna Gaines new paint line are green, or have a green tint. As the mother of farmhouse design, you can bet that we will be seeing more green in 2018. But, don’t expect it to stop at the walls. Designer Alex Papachristidis, says fabric houses are producing and incorporating more green in 2018. It looks like the palm prints from last year are just the beginning.
While we’re talking color, green isn’t the only shade predicted to be big in 2018. Pantone’s color of the year is Ultra-Violet, bright yellow will find its way into bathrooms and onto accent furniture, and darker yellows (think Ocher and Mustard) are poised to warm up our living spaces.
How to DIY it on a Budget: It’s paint! There’s no cheaper DIY update with big impact than paint. It’s even less expensive to paint an accent wall, as opposed to an entire room. Also, you can’t go wrong by adding a few beautiful houseplants with lovely green leaves to your room. Pinterest loves the patterned houseplant and you can be on trend by putting those plants in our next trendy accessory…
Concrete Accessories and Handmade Ceramics: It looks like our love affair with concrete will only grow in 2018. Concrete cast accessories of all types will reign supreme, from planter pots to boxes, statues to pendant lighting. This organic material will also be found in new construction as a finish in countertops, and walls.
Handmade ceramics are a natural next-step in our quest for unique pieces that have a history. Look for handmade ceramic dinnerware, planters, and vases to make a big comeback.
Here’s a list of the handmade home decor that we’re going to be seeing a lot more of in 2018.
How to DIY it on a Budget: Something tells me that the Parks & Rec Pottery classes are going to fill up fast this year. I don’t know if I will embrace the pottery wheel, but I do think we’ll see unfinished paint ready pottery—something I can embrace whole-heartedly.
DIY concrete planters have been dominating my Pinterest feed for a while now. It seems high time for a $5 bag of concrete to become high-fashion. I’m also loving the concrete accessories on Houzz.
Tile Gets Bigger: Subway tiles aren’t out, but bigger tiles are definitely in. Huge tiles will be hitting shelves this year. If you’re ready for a new floor, then these big tiles are great. They require less grout lines and therefore give a cleaner (and easier to keep clean) look.
Still on trend through 2018, the textured wood-look floor tile. This year we are going to see a shift to lighter colored wood-look tile from the high-contrast dark woods of last year.
How to DIY it on a Budget: Tile has never been a low-budget renovation, but look for sales around President’s Day where retailers often include installation in the pricing. I’ve also seen some contractor’s liquidation stores pop-up that sell leftover tile donated by contractors that can be a great way to get tile for a small-space at a big discount.
Dark Florals: Look for dark or large scale florals to rise in popularity this year. I’m excited for this trend (as you can see from my free floral phone wallpaper), and expect to see it on curtains, accent chairs, and bedding. This trend is part of the expected shift from industrial chic and ultra-modern trends to more traditional style.
Designer Kathryn M. Ireland sees are resurgence of chintz with the same florals on the walls, drapes, and bedding on the horizon. And Houzz predicts over-scale, high-contrast florals in 2018. Bottom line, it looks like we’re going to see florals everywhere, and I couldn’t be happier!
How to DIY it on a Budget: This trend looks easy to interpret on big and small scales without breaking the bank. Add a stripe of floral fabric to the bottom of your curtains (see how to lengthen your curtains here). Make a great set of napkins for your table, or create some beautiful throw pillows.
Mixed Metals and Black: Copper light fixtures, matte silver faucets and black cabinet hardware play well together in 2018. Homeowners are getting tired of being limited by a single brass fixture. Look for new metals to hit the market this year, especially matte finishes. Black hardware will become the go-to color for bathroom faucets and showerheads because it goes with everything and it doesn’t require polishing to keep it clean.
If you’re ready for new lighting, the trend in 2018 is pendant lighting over chandeliers, and vintage or vintage look over industrial chic.
How to DIY it on a Budget: Replacing cabinet pulls and handles are budget friendly updates that refresh a kitchen or bathroom—especially when you don’t have to change out the light fixtures to match!
Contradictions in Trend Predictions: Every year there are predictions that completely contradict each other and 2018 is no exception. Shiplap is a trend that has peaked, but millwork (shiplap and other wood) feature walls are going to be huge. Ultra-modern style is on the way out, but geometric style back-splashes and wallpaper is in. Bold florals and chintz are in, but so is the “less is more” bedroom with simple finishes and one color. There will always be decorating “rules” that you should break.
What this means for the DIY-er: It takes time to decorate your home—especially on a budget. Thankfully, trends don’t fade too quickly and even contradictory trends rule at the same time. You can embrace some new things without worrying about your old things going out of style. In Vogue’s 2018 Trend Predictions, Ryan Korban said:
“People want their spaces curated and not decorated. The idea of a decorated home feels old-fashioned to a new generation of design enthusiasts. A series of collected objects as decor is the new approach.”
I’m not sure this is such a new approach. When you’re a self-taught designer, working on your own home, you’ve probably never had a “decorated space.” You’ve been working with a curated collection of furniture purchased over a period of time, moving accent chairs from room to room, and choosing new throw pillows over a new couch.
Another interesting trend that was mentioned is converting formal dining rooms into office spaces and creating spaces for reading and watching tv. I would argue that we’ve always had to find ways to work at home, and we’ve always been drawn to creating cozy spaces in our homes.
So, keep doing what you’ve been doing! Add a few new things to your interior design plan this year, but don’t get too caught up or worried about the trends. It’s only when we stop working on decorating that our home starts to look dated.
Check out these lists of design trends:
The 9 Hottest Interior Design and Interior Décor Trends You’ll See in 2018
10 Home Design Trends to Watch Out For in 2018
Interior Design Trends Expected to Take Hold in 2018
Will These 10 Colors Be Big in 2018?
5 Kitchen Trends That Are Poised to Take Over in 2018
The Top 6 Home Décor Trends of 2018, according to Pinterest
Interior Design Trends that Will Define 2018
Featured Image by Charlotte Crosland Interiors
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