2011 Décor Trends We’re Excited About

With the arrival of 2011, it's time once again to contemplate which decorating trends will be making an impact in the coming year. Since ringing in 2011, plenty of design bloggers and publications have given their two cents on what trends will reign supreme this year.

We’re now about a month into the new year, and here are some of the most buzzed about décor trends we’re excited about in 2011.

1. Celebrate Classics

What’s old can be new again, and this is the year to integrate classic pieces into your décor. Mixing vintage items with contemporary pieces can breathe new life into the things you already own. Plus, integrating vintage pieces and flea market finds in your design is not only good for the environment, it’s also charming and cost effective.

Wondering why revamping your existing furniture is good for the environment? Here’s why refurbishing is eco-friendly:

• You decrease the demand for virgin lumber, helping to save the forests
• You reduce the volume of furniture such as tables and chairs in a landfill and the carbon emissions from it’s transfer to the landfill
• You improve indoor air quality and the local environment through the use of eco-friendly primers, paints and polishes

• Restoring old furniture can be inherently eco-friendly because many old pieces used over 50 years ago predate the chemistry of today’s toxic products.

Of course, adding a natural fiber rug to a room of newly refurbished or recovered furniture will not only complement your décor and breathe new life into a room, but is sure to stand the test of time.

2. Cultural Layering

Fashion and music can be key harbingers of what's to come in the interior design world. The recent movement towards mixing global styles will take root in the home in 2011. This 'cultural layering' calls for a mix of patterns and styles from cultures all over the world, creating a global aesthetic and ethnic style in your home.

For example, a table or chair created by craftspeople in Mexico can look great right alongside a sustainably produced rug from Nepal. Your kuba cloth will pair beautifully with your Japanese print. 2011 will all about mixing textures, fibers and patterns from around the world within the confines of your own home.

3. Nostalgia for Books

Over the past year, traditional American heritage brands - Pendleton blankets, Filson canvas bags, Red Wing ceramics – have once again become chic. This nostalgia for artifacts from a simpler time extends to books. We've seen them stacked to create side tables, arranged in unused fireplaces to create literary tableaux, and featured in wallpaper designs.

Some of the most popular architectural projects we've featured this year have included floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, and a fellow Boulder company, Juniper Books, is now specializing in building customized book collections for clients.

What better way to reflect the personality of a homeowner than their book collection? Dig out your books from storage and put them on center stage.

4. Bringing Nature Back into the Home

In the New Year, home owners will find more ways to bring tranquility to their interior and exterior environments. The use of natural materials and finishes will always be a trend that doesn’t go out of style. Not only is this a trend that’s good for the environment, it also helps bring nature back into the home.

More and more interior designers (like Robin Wilson and Alison Pollack) are preaching the gospel of how bringing natural materials into the home is not only beneficial to the environment, but also to your health and wellness. After all, your home is your eco-system, and filling it with furniture and décor made from natural fibers promotes your wellness and the wellness of the planet.

>>Find out more about the natural fibers used in our rugs and why vegetable dyed rugs are better.

5. Green Home Décor

Finding more sustainable ways to build, decorate and live will continue to flourish in 2011. This is good news for us at ecoFiber Custom Rugs, since our rugs are produced with minimal impact on the environment. Not only do we maintain an extremely low carbon footprint (our weavers don’t even rely on electricity), but we also promote water quality and sustainable harvesting of the natural fibers used in our rugs.

Interest in the benefits and use of environmentally friendly products continues to grow, making the green movement stronger than ever. This is especially prevalent for homeowners who are looking to build and decorate their homes in ways that support the environment. Purchasing a natural fiber rug is one small step towards a greener, more comfortable home.