January 15, 2016
By Dance Aoki
With a brand new year recently ushered in, now is the time to harness the motivational energy of the season by reinventing not only some personal goals and ambitions, but also the look and feel of the hearth and home.
Sylvia Flores, owner of Furniture Trends & Designs, suggests undertaking an interior design reinvention on a regular basis.
“It’s important to redefine your space. It gives a spark to your home,” she said. “The only way to enjoy your home is to redefine it often.”
For the coming year, Flores suggests taking a minimalist approach to revamping home decor while also paying attention to the pieces of furniture that will define each room, whether it’s an armoire, a piece of artwork or an armchair. Once the look of each room has been identified, Flores said she keeps a collection of unique, classic lamps and other accessories in stock that will complement any style or theme.
House Beautiful predicts home decor in earthy green colors inspired by matcha green tea will surge in popularity during 2016. Lighting will also play an interesting role, as unique pendant lights will likely replace the beloved chandelier.
The Wall Street Journal predicts that rosy metallics, natural fabrics like jute, mid-century modernism and industrial chic will see a sharp decline in popularity this year. Instead, interior designers will be trading their natural fiber rugs and distressed metal stools for black metal fixtures, rounded furniture and traditional, old-world ornamentation like tasseled pillows or tapestries.
Flores said many of Guam’s interior design trends aren’t always driven by the styles and colors that become popular stateside. The island’s homemakers and homebodies enjoy furniture that reflects their unique personality and interests.
Ben Labajo, store manager of Home Deco, said customers have shifted their color palates in recent years. In the past, safe earth tones such as brown and black have been popular colors for furniture in all rooms. Today, more and more customers are purchasing furniture that has lots of character, usually in bright bold colors like orange and blue.
“People are looking into different choices and they’re willing to make that choice,” Labajo said. Many of his customers know that the more expensive items are made of high quality materials, so they are better suited toward their personal tastes and also last a very long time.
Flores predicts the next trend in interior design will be antique natural materials or taupe walnut finish. Labajo said bold colors will continue in popularity, as well as expressive patterns and prints.
Labajo said one of the most important things to do before going shopping for new furniture is to do some research and to know exactly the kind of materials and the quality of the home decor.
“The material of the item, what kind of fabric, leather or wood is a big factor to consider,” Labajo said.
