Global Economy Influences Home Decorating Trends

There's one good thing that could be said about the global economic recession: Its influence on home trends is making 2010 the year of returning to family activities and preserving the past.

Economic stress has people nostalgic for times past. Thus the colors of 2010 are likely to have an aged, heirloom quality to them, and to be applied with distressed or antique finishes. Look for aged greens, smoky blues and earthy browns in both paint and fabric, signs of past decor styles but also connections to the global environmental movement.

The earth-friendly movement also is fueling the current trend toward repurposed and recycled furniture and accessories. Home decorators are realizing that they can help protect the earth's resources by reusing, repainting and refinishing furnishings instead of discarding them and buying new things. Likewise, the trend toward decor styles that use furniture in its original, distressed finishes, such as Cottage Country and Shabby Chic, will intensify this year.

As people continue to question the consumerist lifestyle, there's a greater desire to revisit the past. Part of this is seen as an attempt to reconnect with old-fashioned values best expressed in an old New England saying: "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." Home decorators are on the lookout for family heirlooms that show their interest in their ancestry.

In fact, some decorators are going all the way back to the dawn of humanity for their style inspirations. Patterns and colors with a global or tribal sense are becoming quite popular. These include African, Native American and Aboriginal designs and patterns, in everything from dinnerware and drapery to bold geometric rugs and  area rugs. Look for these patterns to be portrayed in colors such as tomato red, amber bold and ocean blue, tempered by desert sand neutrals.

A new awareness that life's most important aspects aren't related to money has spurred people to simplify their lives. This simplification is reflected in a preference for a neutral palette, surprisingly based in varied tones of gray and white. The grays can be anything from warm putty to cool steel, but they're not depressing because of their accent colors. Buttery yellow or deep taupe are being used to add a dash of visual hope to the neutral palette. The potential frumpiness of a gray palette is further offset by widespread use of glass, crystal and subtle washes of champagne and matte gold metallics. These understated metallic finishes give the neutral palette some sophistication. Expect to see them in home accessories, artworks and lighting.

While gray and white may hold sway for those who prefer neutrals, vibrant shades signifying hope for the future will freshen the color palette. Warm tangerine, grass green sunny yellow and vibrant violent will spark accessories and fabrics throughout 2010. These happy colors will give a retro flair to floral patterns and enliven plaids, stripes and geometrics.

The influence of conservative economic strategies, coupled with new social resolves to care for the earth and for loved ones, is having a dramatic effect on the home decor trends for 2010.