Get inspired with these interior design ideas for 2018

Local designers Jane-Ann Stahl and Bethany Strodtman give tips on how to freshen up your space for the new year

Meredith Wright

Jan 18, 2018

dining room with black wood table, orange/yellow dining chairs, 6 total, area rug, glass light fixture and blue accented walls — Calm colors such as brown, beige, black and white will return to the table in 2018. Foliage and a teak bowl harmonize with the patterned rug and simple wall decor.
COURTESY OF BETHANY STRODTMAN

We’ve all said we’d head to the gym and eat healthier in the new year, but creating the right workspace to be productive is essential as well. Whether you’re a student, a workaholic or anything in between, redecorating your space just might make that dorm room or office feel a little more livable and less like a glorified shoe box. To help yourself out, try incorporating the expertise from interior designers in Columbia.

Colors

Jane-Ann Stahl, a workplace wellness designer at Inside the Lines and owner of Spaces in Balance, says a popular trend is to bring natural colors into the home. “The grays have been really popular over the years,” Stahl says. “Bright colors are great accents, but overall, we are seeing calmer colors in the greens and blues.”

Living room , blue chairs, leather chair, fabric couch, fireplace with white mantel, bookshelves with room decor, glass coffee table, blue and red/pink area rug — Unexpected color pairings such as pink, teal and gold accents can bring a pop of contrast. COURTESY OF BETHANY STRODTMAN

Patterns

Bethany Strodtman, an interior designer at Bethany Strodtman Interior Design, says geometric patterns and the contrast of black and white will be popular. She notes a global influence on many designs. “Even on pillows, you’ll see African-looking patterns, small doses of animal prints, natural woods,” she says. These patterns can create an updated, modern and clean look that can be put on an accent wall or even used on a larger scale.

Natural designs

Another idea is to bring the outdoors inside, both literally and figuratively. Stahl says feng shui, an ancient Chinese practice for creating harmonious spaces, can cultivate a positive energy in any living space. “It’s a calming effect to bring nature in, and it has a lot of health benefits,” Stahl says. “Humans are hardwired to be a part of nature, and when you bring that indoors, it gives a nice experience to people at home.”

green leafy plants lining left stone wall with big window at the end of hallway, orange-walled glassed-in rooms on the right side, tan flooring — Natural elements bring positive energy into an office setting.
COURTESY OF TEKNION

Strodtman notes the gradual shift to natural elements, too. “People are craving real plants as opposed to fake plants,” she says. This trend can be seen in water fountains, materials such as teak wood, natural light and nature photography as well.

Eclectic looks

Take a risk by combining colors and textures to create unique spaces that reflect your personality. “For example, don’t be afraid to put a sleek metal chair with a rustic dining room table,” Strodtman says. Combining different styles doesn’t just have to be two pieces of furniture. A chair with an eclectic look could have copper legs and a wooden surface, and a doorknob could be made of brass and chrome.

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