Interior Design Trends: How to Get 'The Look'
Doris Pearlman, MIRM

When it comes to interior design, today's home buyers, especially active adults, are far more sophisticated than their forerunners ... and with good reason. Their mail boxes are filled with countless home-furnishing catalogs. The Internet links them to Pottery Barn, Room and Board, Crate and Barrel, and thousands of other home store editions. Even their local discount stores are styling. Target, for example, has tapped architect/designer Michael Graves to envision sleek, serviceable items from teapots to trash cans.

This marriage of image and information has led to "The Look" — the finely tuned home-fashion statement that both merchandisers and homebuyers seek to recreate.

The key to having "The Look" in your model or personal home? Understand the trends behind it.

Consideration #1: COLOR. We have seen an evolution from the "Very Green '90s" to the "Browning of the New Millennium." In fact, brown is the new black. When brown is combined with green, gold, or blue, it yields the latest look. Trendy pinks, yellows, and purples also are appearing, but should always, always be used with caution. Unsupervised pink can undo a career.

Blue is on the horizon (no pun intended) as a statement for the new decade. It represents a calming influence, something we certainly can use in these uncertain times. Look for blue's most subtle shading — such as the pale blue-green called "oxygen" — on walls. It's very popular. But know that, in general, we are seeing walls bearing stronger colors ... creating an inviting envelope for our lives.

Consideration #2: FURNITURE. Following a close second behind color are furnishing choices. In both traditional and contemporary design schemes, the choices here are news. Traditional schemes now include warm textures, such as chenille, natural linens, and patterns rooted in history. When combined with leather upholstery punctuated with nail-head accents, you have "The Look."

Coffee tables that are stacked two at a time offer another exciting option for gathering spaces. And while I personally can't believe it, designer recliners are reclaiming real estate in family rooms, game rooms, and studies. Lazy Boy® has even created the "new recliner" with design in mind. Slipcovers are frequently part of "The Look." They're being called into action to alter, update, and add interest to formally mundane furniture.  Active adults won't accept ordinary, so give them something special.

Consideration #3: UNIVERSAL DESIGN. Another very important part of obtaining "The Look" is to remember universal design. In the United States, 10,000 people turn 50 every day! That's a very large market segment that should not be ignored.

You may ask, what is universal design? It is a method of design that is meant to change with the buyer. Universal design goes beyond home features such as wider hallways or doorways that allow easy access for a wheelchair. It can be much more subtle. Other examples are levered faucets which make it easy for arthritic hands to turn water on and off; flat bottom bathtubs which give unsteady feet a level surface on which to stand; and higher sinks, washers, and dryers that eliminate the need to bend over to retrieve dishes, buckets, or clothes. These are features that active adults can appreciate, but they work for people of all ages and abilities.

Consideration #4: LIGHTING. Another essential of "The Look" is lighting. Whether it's direct, hidden, reflected, up, under, back, track, or translucent, fresh lighting solutions are a trend to take seriously. And it's not surprising, since light symbolizes safety (a priority in our current culture) and remains a tool to achieve it. We're talking about energy being used to echo as well as emphasize architectural detail, art, and special features.

An example? Chandeliers are everywhere. They can be hung from a volume ceiling in the family room over a cocktail table.  In dining rooms, two chandeliers can be used over the "grand table" to create an even more elegant room. Table lamps have become jewelry for the home. Lamp bases that have crackle finishes, leather wraps, or marble effects, just to name a few, are dominating the lighting world. Lamp shades made with beads, leathers, parchment, and silks add sparkle and character that "The Look" requires. 

It's also important to remember that eyesight changes as we get older. Don't underestimate the importance of good lighting.

Consideration #5: ACCESSORIES. And don't forget the accents.  The repetition of art pieces is in keeping with "The Look." Identical mirrors hung side by side in a dining room are one example. Another is a fine antique — either the real thing or simply the character — as achieved when TV-concealing armoires come into play. Active adults may have family heirlooms that they want to display, so incorporate these accents into your models.

By considering all of these areas, you can recreate "The Look" in your model  homes. Your active adult buyers definitely will notice.

Doris Pearlman, MIRM, is the president of Possibilities for Design, Inc., a nationally recognized, award-winning interior design and merchandising firm based in Denver, CO. The firm specializes in market-driven interior space merchandising and trend-setting designs.  Pearlman, who is active in NAHB's Institute of Residential Marketing and the NAHB Seniors Housing Council, is a featured speaker at Building for Boomers & Beyond: Seniors Housing Symposium 2005 in Chantilly, VA. Her presentation will be "Solving the Paradox of Selling to Senior Women: Powerful But Vulnerable." She can be reached by e-mail or at 303-571-0325. [ return to top ]