There were rules that governed interior design. They were hard and fast: things matched — the curtains, the carpet, upholstery. Not so, anymore. There’s a lot more room to maneuver and what’s trending now is a mix and match approach to interiors, according to Stacey Fuldner, an interior designer with Coverings by Design in Washington.

“Patterns are in,” Fuldner said. “Now you can sort of pull and mix in pieces from different places and fabric and patterns. There’s just more freedom in design.”

The days of big, bold patterns dominating a room are over, however. The current trend is to use them as accents — pillows, curtains, a bold color painted behind built-in bookshelves — on top of more neutral colors like taupes and grays decorating walls and upholstery.

“More people are accenting with pops of color,” Fuldner said.

There are subtle shifts in design all over the home — it’s not only relegated to the more formal areas of the house. Here are a few rising trends that are changing the way homeowners are redecorating.

 

Wallpaper

Wallpaper is making a comeback, but not on the same scale as it’s previously been used. Instead, while still bold, wallpaper is making a smaller splash in smaller rooms, like bathrooms, according to Fuldner.

 

Brass

A few years ago, brass was out and nickel was in as the color of choice in room accents. Now brass pieces like lamps and fixtures are making a comeback — so get the polishing rags out.

 

Carpet

Neutral seems to be running the show these days, as carpet is staying in the neutral tones too. But one new aspect for carpet is patterns. HGTV has released a selection of carpet with patterns like herringbone and medallions, which are making their way onto floors as both carpet and custom-made rugs. The burgundies and hunter greens have yet to come back in style.

 

Kitchens

In Beaufort County, granite is the countertop of choice — it’s tough, easy to maintain and can offer some pretty stunning natural beauty. In close running, however, are manufactured stone countertops that have a contemporary, uniform look with all the appearance of stone.

 

Tile

Still in the neutral range, tile is getting big, literally, with larger tiles — 12-inch by 24-inch — the popular choice, Fuldner said. Subway tile, like that found in New York City subways, is experiencing a comeback and its versatility lends itself to floors, walls, backsplashes and even fireplace surrounds. Another trend is wood-look tiles, which combine the look of natural hardwood with the durability of porcelain tile. That’s what the floors are being replaced with during Washington eatery Marabella’s current renovation, according to Fuldner.

 

Flooring

As with tile, hardwood floors are going big. The narrow planks of old have been supplanted by wider planks in the five- to seven- inch range.

“The hand-scraped floor is definitely more popular right now,” Fuldner said. “The piano finish, high-gloss finish, has not been asked for in awhile.”

Luxury vinyl tile is another popular choice: the pieces click into place like hardwood floors, but it’s a hardy system, commercially rated system, she said.

 

While these might be the prevalent trends in interior design, it doesn’t take a complete makeover to give a drab and dreary room a breath of fresh air, Fuldner said. Those looking for a quick update have a few ways to improve on a budget.

“Painting the walls is the easiest way to freshen up a room,” Fuldner said.

There are other options, too. Rearranging the furniture in a room can give it new life, as can adding a statement piece like a large rug or a new/different piece of furniture.

“You can do really simple things to change up a space,” Fuldner said.