If your home is your castle, why not dress it in style fit for a queen (or king)? Usher in a new year with a sophisticated, svelte look personalized by your passions and optimized for comfort. Here’s how to update your Camelot.

What’s hot in 2017 trends for interior and exterior home design? Retro and modern, rustic and romantic, mixed metallics, lucite and black stainless steel are all the rage. So long matchy-matchy décor, hello pops of color and rooms designed for multi-tasking, cuddling and relaxing. It’s a brave new décor from furnishings to al fresco home entertaining.

Look to farmhouse style, industrial furnishings, open shelves, painted furniture, sanctuary bedrooms with upholstered headboards, clever luxurious storage, mid-century accents, succulents, conversation-enhancing furniture, cork walls, terracotta, coastal style and vintage looks (art décor, fifties chic) with a modern twist.

Say adios to heavy window treatments, pastels, inspirational posters, mirrored furniture, tiled countertops, white marble, copper and all-white rooms.  Open living plans are being replaced by defined living areas, each maximized for cocooning.

Rooms With A View

For nearly 30 years John Cannon Homes (JCH) has been Southwest Florida’s premier designer/builder of luxury custom homes with impeccable attention to detail. Their clients want design-pleasing rooms without digital distractions so they can relax.

To accommodate this trend, JCH is building expansive outdoor living spaces with mesmerizing fountains, fire pits and utilizing the new Clearview screens.  Along the theme of escapism, there is a demand for cozy nooks and spaces to decompress, such as intimate master sitting areas, upstairs retreats and for outdoor relaxation – private gazebos and courtyards. Creating spaces to encourage relaxation, family time, or recreation is the trend.

“I have always believed that the kitchen is the heart of the home,” said  John Cannon, President of John Cannon Homes, who believes that the kitchen design should be as artistic as your upscale cuisine. Cannon adds that it’s important to have open, spacious designs that allow you to move around easily.  Large central islands function both as cooking and entertaining, accented by commercial style appliances, wine storage, built-in pantries and innovative storage spaces.

Color

Pantone says greenery is the 2017 star while Behr predict three distinct palettes with personality: Social butterflies flit to Confident (dusky blues, spicy reds, lime greens) while traditionalists yearn for Composed (earthy greens, taupes). Homebodies delight in Comfortable (light pinks, blues, yellows). “Utilizing a neutral color palette allows our designers to showcase vibrant, colorful art that serves as a focal point in the space,” commented Suzan Decker Ross, ASID (Owner- Decker Ross Interiors).  “Our clients enjoy a unique, creative design and appreciate the opportunity to support local artists,” she added.

Furnishings

At Ethan Allen, the momentum is towards individual expressions, ethnic and heritage styles influencing color palette and furnishings Multicultural design is popular in color (jewel tones, exotic prints) and Caribbean/Mexican styles and fabrics. Also trending is their Santa Monica coastal style and a new adult/kids Disney design collection. What else is new?

Living rooms are designed for nesting and home entertainment with deep, cozy sectionals for cuddling and huddling. In the dining room, round tables have exploded as eating dinner is all about catching up with casual, contemporary looks for tables including white finishes, rough hewn tops and metallic bases with an earthy feel. Chairs have gone from formal to rattan and wicker with an upholstery seat for pop of cover. In the bedroom, upholstered headboards (tufted, fabric with buttons, leather) are all the rage for a staycation in the boudoir. Kitchens doubles as a second family room.

Art & Accessories

Art-inspired wallpaper blooms in living room and bedrooms, replacing those tired Zen-motto posters.  Galleria Mistro says art should be displayed cleanly and serenely.

What’s trending? According to owner Louise Del Basso, “Abstract and transitional art are popular such as work by Ria Ray, a new, brilliant California artist we feature,” says Del Baso. “This year, look for art that makes you smile, makes you happy.” Some tips for displaying art well:

•Hang displays so they do not obstruct anything around and give them the wall focus.

•Art has to be hung in a flowing manner with what surrounds it, not fight with clutter.

•Be brave! Move things around and breathe it in for a while before knowing if it will work in your space.

Appliances

Owning Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances assures that your food will always be fresh and you’ll have the most precise, professional-grade instruments to cook with for delicious results every time and a lifetime of moments worth savoring. There’s a curated kitchen collection for every lifestyle and taste, (industrial chic, contemporary, traditional) for those who see their high-tech kitchen as the heart of the home for entertaining or family time.

Closets & Storage

Form and function get a major facelift in 2017, with more decorative options for closets, kitchens, garages, laundry rooms, home offices and pantries according to Wayne Smith at Southern Closets. Known for their durable, elegant custom-made cabinetry, Smith says the trend is high-end full cabinets that are real show places similar to a boutique.

“From LED lighting and illuminated hanging rods to automated wardrobe lifts that move clothes from ten feet high to you, modern technology and sleek design inspire what we do to personalize your spaces for maximum efficiency and storage,” says Smith.

Outdoor Living

In Tampa Bay, life outdoors is amplified by living water walls, firepits, dramatic LED lighting, artistic furnishings, firepits, pizza ovens and the ultimate grillmaster tools.

Doug Driscoll, Chief Visionary Officer of Just Grilliln’ says outdoor entertaining trends include buying pizza ovens and high-quality 304-grade stainless steel American-made grills (Alfresco, Viking, DCS) and taking cooking classes to learn how to use them. Firepits give an elegant 360-degree experience that finishes off a patio or a cabana. For furnishings, comfort, quality, and long warranty drive demand with modern florals and cools in vogue and natural earth colors (HomeART, Kalalou, SPI).

Backyard chic doesn’t stop with dining. According to Joe Argentine (Argentine Landscaping), the home entertainment center has moved outside, with phenomenal audio sound and large projection screens for family movie night or sports events. Exterior flourishes (pergolas, privacy / decorative  fencing, outdoor kitchens, arbors), sculpture, decorative planters, interior style but durable furnishings, foliage (unique palms, conifers and deciduous trees, bromeliads, sedums, cactus, bamboo, ferns, grasses) and living water and garden walls add whimsy and art to alfresco spaces.