22 JANUARY 13, 2022 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Change is on the horizon as 2022
is poised to be a transition year
for home design. Expect some
of the cool and minimalistic trends
of the past to be replaced with more
approachable designs that convey
comfort, warmth and positivity.
“Darker colors, natural textiles -
like wood, and soft lighting are great
ways to make a room feel warm and
inviting,” says Jen Meska, director of
merchandising at LL Flooring. “Also,
decorate with items and patterns that
bring you joy to add a sense of your
personality and unique style.”
To bring warmth into your home
and enjoy this growing trend for
years to come, LL Flooring off ers this
advice:
DETERMINE COLOR
SCHEMES
For many years, cool color schemes
have dominated home design. White
kitchens, gray walls and black countertops
were top choices by homebuilders
and renovators. People have
tired of these styles and are seeking
to add warm colors and materials in
their home. Colors with yellow undertones
are in high demand, from
wall paint to furniture and beyond.
Warm accent colors are being used
by top designers in decor like accent
pillows and throw blankets, including
soft yellow and rich cinnamon. Brass
and bronze are popular in hardware
and accessories, and mixed metals are
featured to add visual interest.
UPDATE FLOORING
Floors are the foundation of any
room, providing ample opportunity to
update the space to bring in warmth.
Because organic materials typically
convey warmth, hardwood fl oors are
a worthwhile investment. The visually
interesting and intricate wood grains
can be enhanced with any color stain,
although warm hues are trending. The
rich browns in Bellawood Manhattan
Chevron Engineered Hardwood is
a great example, as featured in this
year’s HGTV Dream Home. Not only do
hardwood fl oors like this add a warm
element to a space, but they also feel
warmer on the feet than tile and laminate
fl ooring alternatives.
ANALYZE LIGHTING
Light can add to or detract from the
feeling of warmth in any space. Natural
light sources are always welcome, so
make sure to open shades to illuminate
spaces. Of course additional light sources
will be necessary, so think about how
overhead, task and accent lighting can
best work together in areas. Lamps,
wired wall sconces and picture wall
lights are easy to install and instantly
add style and glow to a room. Finally,
when looking at lights, consider the
type of bulbs you use and opt for options
that project warmer light rather
than those with cooler light tones that
have white or blue undertones.
USE MIRRORS
STRATEGICALLY
Mirrors serve multiple purposes in a
room: They add artistic style, they visually
expand the space and they refl ect
light. Designers often strategically
place a mirror to bounce natural light
or refl ect the exterior landscape, helping
bring the feeling of the outdoors
inside in a subtle yet meaningful way.
A mirror can further add to the warmth
of a space depending on the frame material.
Some popular options for frames
include wood, resin or gold-hued metals.
If you have an old mirror you want to
revive, consider painting the frame in
an appropriate accent color and you’ll
breathe new life into an existing piece.
ADD PLANTS AND
FOLIAGE
A simple way to add life into your
home is adding plants. Humans are
naturally drawn to nature, so adding
foliage brings a warmth to any room.
If you’re not much of a green thumb,
consider low-maintenance houseplants
like snake plant, spider plant and succulents.
If you love the look of plants
but just don’t want to deal with the real
things, shop for plastic alternatives that
closely mimic their real counterparts.
You might be surprised how realistic
modern faux plants appear.
To learn more about top trends for
2021 and how to bring them into your
home, visit LL Style www.llfl ooring.
com/inspiration.
— Courtesy of BPT
AT HOME
Tips for achieving warm interior design
/www.llfl
/WWW.QNS.COM
/www.llfl
