home design Archives | Cardinal Financial https://www.cardinalfinancial.com/blog/tag/home-design/ Mortgage. The right way. Mon, 08 Apr 2024 18:57:02 +0000 en-US hourly 1 2024 Interior Design Trends: 10 Ways to Upgrade Your Home https://www.cardinalfinancial.com/blog/2024-interior-design-trends/ Mon, 08 Apr 2024 18:57:00 +0000 https://www.cardinalfinancial.com/?p=34909 Homeownership might be a long-term commitment, but your decor doesn’t have to be. From throw pillows to accent walls, there are plenty of simple ways to incorporate trends that will stand the […]

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Homeownership might be a long-term commitment, but your decor doesn’t have to be. From throw pillows to accent walls, there are plenty of simple ways to incorporate trends that will stand the test of time. If you’re looking for home decor inspo this spring, check out our favorite 2024 interior design trends. 

  • Statement lighting
  • Quiet luxury
  • Arches
  • Yellow accents
  • Biophilic design
  • Velvet
  • Monochrome rooms
  • One-of-a-kind pieces
  • Country western influences
  • Colorful tiling

1. Statement lighting

statement lighting

If you’re on social media, you’ve probably heard of the Big Light Debate. If not, it’s essentially the dispute over what creates a better vibe in a room: One big light (typically an overhead light fixture) or a series of little lights (like lamps, string lights, and candles). In 2024, the little lights are winning by a landslide. 

Pro Tip: When it comes to selecting your little lights, vintage lamps are a great way to cultivate a unique look while embracing sustainability in interior design.

2. Quiet luxury

quiet luxury

No, you don’t have to earn a high-end salary to participate in this trend. In fact, it’s a bit of a misnomer to call it a trend at all. Quiet luxury is all about selecting a few timeless pieces for your home that you can build the rest of your decor around. So, to cultivate this aesthetic, you don’t need to change many elements of your style. Take stock of what you already have and consider items you’ve been meaning to replace. Nothing against that fast furniture bookcase, but if it’s nearing the end of its lifecycle, maybe it’s time to replace it with a higher-quality piece that you can enjoy for years to come.

3. Arches

arches

Angular lines are out, and curved silhouettes are in. Luckily, arches can be introduced into your home without changing the architecture itself. Arched mirrors, headboards, and even painting an arched backdrop behind a focal piece of furniture are all fairly simple ways to try this 2024 interior design trend.

4. Yellow accents

yellow accents

Pantone’s 2024 Color of the Year might be Peach Fuzz, but yellow tones are having a moment, too. Especially in kitchens and bathrooms, a pop of the right shade of yellow can infuse your home with warmth, light, and energy. Accent walls, upholstery, and cabinetry are some popular ways to incorporate this sunny hue throughout your space.

Pro Tip: Yellow is a notoriously hit-or-miss color for interior design. Check out some tried and true shades to help guide your decision.

5. Biophilic design

biophilic design

We started seeing biophilic design gain popularity in 2020, and it’s still going strong in 2024. You don’t need a green thumb to bring elements of nature into your interior design, though. Plant-patterned wallpaper, curtains that allow in more natural light, and even simply incorporating nature-inspired hues of green can all help you achieve that post-hike happiness in your home.

6. Velvet

velvet

Texture has been having a moment for a while now, and this year’s star texture is velvet. Curtains, bedding, and throw pillows are some simple ways to introduce this trend in your space.

7. Monochrome rooms

monochrome rooms

This 2024 interior design trend is a marriage of minimalism and maximalism. You simply pick one, non-neutral color, and decorate an entire room (or corner, if you’re low on square footage) with solely that shade—from the walls to the furniture to the art. Pick any color you like!

8. One-of-a-kind pieces

one of a kind pieces

The best part about this 2024 interior design trend is that you likely already have items around that can be used to incorporate it. That masterpiece your kid made that’s hanging on the fridge? Time to frame it and upgrade it to wall art status. Whether it’s vintage pieces, handmade items, or work from local artisans, one-of-a-kind decor is replacing cookie-cutter style this year.

9. Country western influences

country western influences

It’s no surprise to learn that if Beyoncé’s doing it, we’re all doing it. Country western influences are trending in 2024. No need to go full cowboy mode if that’s not your style, though. Cowhide rugs, leather accents, and wooden furniture are some subtle ways to create that rustic feel.

10. Colorful tiling

colorful tiling

Whether it’s on your floors, walls, or countertops, colorful tile is trending as a way to create a vintage aesthetic in any space. Shades of green, pink, and purple are popular choices, especially in your bathroom or kitchen.

2024 Interior Design Trends: What’s Out

What interior design trends should you avoid? Ultimately, whichever ones you don’t like. But if you’re looking to stage your home and want to boost your appeal for a younger buyer, you may want to avoid these dated decor trends.

  • Ruffles
  • Minimalism
  • Coastal aesthetics
  • Fast furniture

From throw pillows to accent walls, there are plenty of simple ways to incorporate design trends into your home this spring.

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How to Make a Guest Room Cozy for the Winter https://www.cardinalfinancial.com/blog/how-to-make-guest-room-cozy/ Fri, 09 Dec 2022 10:04:00 +0000 https://www.cardinalfinancial.com/?p=32336 Whether you’re hosting for the holidays or just looking to make your spare space feel more like home, it can be hard to narrow down how to make a guest room cozy. […]

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Whether you’re hosting for the holidays or just looking to make your spare space feel more like home, it can be hard to narrow down how to make a guest room cozy. If you’re not sure where to start, try these seven simple steps to making the most of your extra rooms. Warning: They might be so cozy, your guests won’t want to leave.

Pro Tip: Do your guest room plans include renovations? An FHA 203(k) loan could help you finance them.

How to make your guest room cozy in 7 steps

  • Boost your bedding
  • Let there be (bedside) light
  • Dress the windows
  • Provide plenty of storage space
  • Supply comfortable seating
  • Lay out the necessities
  • Don’t forget the flowers

1. Boost your bedding

Your guests can only be so cozy without a good night’s sleep. When setting up your guest bedroom, splurge on higher-quality bedding. Think plush pillows, fluffy comforters, and crisp sheets. You can even provide extra blankets and pillows so your guests can adjust the bedding to their preferences.

Pro Tip: If you’re freshening up the bedding in the laundry before making the bed, consider using scent-free detergent to avoid irritating any potential allergies your guests may have.

2. Let there be (bedside) light

Ever tried to find your way back to bed in the dark in an unfamiliar room? It’s decidedly not cozy. Whether your guests enjoy winding down with a book at night or just don’t want to trip over their suitcase at lights out, bedside lighting is a must for a welcoming atmosphere.

3. Dress the windows

From offering additional privacy to providing welcome winter insulation, window dressings are an important part of making a guest room cozy. Opt for a fabric that still lets in some natural light to keep the room from getting too dark and musty, especially as daylight becomes limited during the winter.

Pro Tip: Looking for window dressing inspo? Check out more ideas here.

4. Provide plenty of storage space

It’s hard to settle in when you’re living out of a suitcase. Closet and drawer space is always a smart addition to any guest room, but even just an uncluttered corner of the room to store luggage is an easy way to help your guests feel at home.

5. Supply comfortable seating

What says “home” more than a designated chair to throw your laundry on? When it comes to cozy guest room ideas, a comfortable chair or bench is a must. Bonus points if your setup includes a table and lamp for reading, enjoying that first cup of coffee in the morning, or just savoring some quiet time between holiday socializing.

6. Lay out the necessities

Make it easy for your guests to find everything they need to make themselves at home. Put out towels and washcloths, don’t hide outlets behind furniture, and include your WI-FI information in a prominent location, like on the bedside table or a desk. And if you’re really in the hosting spirit, a water carafe by the bed could save your guests a 3 AM trip to the kitchen.

Pro Tip: A designated laundry hamper for used towels and linens will make your post-visit cleanup easier, along with clearing up the all-too-familiar “Where do I put this towel when I’m done with it?” dilemma for your guests.

7. Don’t forget the flowers

So, winter may not be the best time for fresh flowers. That doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate some elements of biophilic design into your guest room decor! From faux plants and dried flowers to seasonal stems like juniper and cypress, bringing the outside in can help reduce stress and anxiety (who couldn’t use some help with that over the holidays?), add dimension to the space, and generally make your guests’ accommodations feel less temporary.

Got any other cozy guest room ideas?

If you’re not sure how to make a guest room cozy, just ask yourself who will be staying in it. Are they bringing pets with them? Consider including some pet-friendly features like a water bowl or an out-of-the-way location for a litter box. For parents traveling with small children who will be sharing the space, a room away from the main areas of the home could help reduce the chances of disrupted sleep schedules.

Accessibility is also important to consider. Your budget may not include a full ADA overhaul of your home, but there are plenty of simple adjustments that can make your guests more comfortable.

  • If your home has multiple floors, set up the guest room on the ground floor
  • When selecting a bed for the room, make sure it’s not too high (or low) off the ground
  • If possible, set up the guest room with easy access to a bathroom
  • Consider installing grab bars in the shower
  • Remove rugs from the guest room as these can be difficult to navigate with mobility aids
  • Leave open spaces at tables and other seating areas

If all this seems like a lot, don’t get overwhelmed by the guest room possibilities. At the end of the day, all your guests really need from you is a willingness to host. Whatever you can comfortably manage on your schedule and budget will be enough. Happy holidays!

Hosting for the holidays? Try these seven tips to make your guest room cozy for winter and beyond.

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8 home trends from 2020 that are here to stay https://www.cardinalfinancial.com/blog/8-home-trends-from-2020-that-are-here-to-stay/ Mon, 29 Mar 2021 17:15:00 +0000 https://cardinalfinancial.com/?p=24548 Dedicated office space, home gyms, and entertainment areas are a few of the trends that influenced our homes in 2020 because we spent so much time in them. If you’re looking to […]

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Dedicated office space, home gyms, and entertainment areas are a few of the trends that influenced our homes in 2020 because we spent so much time in them. If you’re looking to buy, sell, or renovate in 2021, here are 8 ideas you’ll want to keep in mind!

In 2020, we all had to get creative with how we used our space. (You know what we’re talking about — Pelotons in our living rooms and Zooms in our master baths). Some homeowners made their houses more livable with renovations during the pandemic, while others made minor upgrades to improve their existing space. Here’s a list of eight trends that homeowners adopted over the past year that can give you some inspiration for your next remodel, DIY project, or even your house hunt!

Refinance

1. Dedicated Home Offices

With offices shut down and so many of us working remotely in 2020, it’s no surprise that more homeowners needed a sacred space to get work done. Some chose to partition off common areas, like living rooms and kitchens. Others permanently set up shop in their guest bedrooms, basements, or bonus spaces so that they could buckle down in peace. Many companies are now embracing the benefits of having employees work from home, so it doesn’t look like this trend is going away anytime soon.

2. Better Kitchen Storage Solutions

They say the kitchen is the heart of the home. With families preparing breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks there in 2020, things got a little chaotic. Many homeowners have opted to create better kitchen storage solutions, like built-in appliances, deep pull-out drawers, or a spacious island for seating and food prep. After all, it’s a lot easier to jump on the banana bread bandwagon when you have an organized pantry or substantial counter space.

3. Space for Entertainment

Typical entertainment options like concerts and movie theaters were limited in 2020, so some homeowners figured out ways to bring the fun to them. Home theaters became particularly popular (and not hard to DIY), as did recreational rooms with features like climbing walls and indoor bowling lanes. Hey, if you’ve got the basement space, use it!

Are open floor plans losing their appeal? Some home design experts expect buyers to look for homes with more walls—and fewer shared spaces—in the future.

Purchase

4. Home Gyms

While gyms were closed down or operating at limited capacity in 2020, health became more of a priority than ever. There’s been plenty of demand for in-home fitness equipment over the past year. Many homeowners have renovated a guest bedroom or basement area into a dedicated fitness space. With a little out-of-the-box thinking (say, installing a climbing wall next to the bench press?), some exercise enthusiasts have turned a rarely-used room into a sanctuary to get their sweat on.

5. More Walls, Less Open Concept

Open floor plans have been all the rage in recent years. But many homeowners discovered their spaces felt, well, too open during the pandemic. After all, it can be hard to focus on your video conference when your pets and kids are all up in your business. Creative room partitioning served as a temporary solution during quarantine days. But some home design experts expect buyers to look for homes with more walls—and fewer shared spaces—in the future.

6. Upgraded Outdoor Spaces

With all the time we spent inside our homes in 2020, it was only natural to want to get outside. Creating a comfortable, enjoyable outdoor space has been top of mind for many homeowners. Decks and patios are current popular renovation projects, while buyers focus on finding homes with lots of backyard space.

7. Going Green and Saving Green

Keeping a home energy-efficient is a perk for both the environment and the wallet. Some people invested in “green” initiatives over the past year, like airtight windows, new insulation, or HVAC upgrades. These improvements can help lessen the risk of heated or cooled air leaking outside, resulting in wasted energy and air. Updating the air-conditioning system can also improve a homeowner’s air quality.

8. Spa-like Bathrooms

Believe it or not, the bathroom became a popular escape for many homeowners in 2020. To level up the tranquility, some homeowners invested in soaking tubs, steam showers, built-in Bluetooth speaker systems, and massaging showerheads to create a sanctuary for de-stressing.

Takeaways

Has 2020 changed the way you think about your home space? Whether you’re interested in buying a new home, selling your current one, or upgrading your existing space, these 2020 home trends can add plenty of value.

What were some of the home trends you noticed in 2020? Tell us your thoughts on Facebook or Twitter!

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4 Modern Home Trends That Are Sweeping the Nation https://www.cardinalfinancial.com/blog/4-modern-home-trends/ Wed, 06 Sep 2017 20:20:15 +0000 https://cardinalfinancial.com/?p=1833 These 2017 home trends are some of America’s favorites right now. As mortgage experts immersed in the housing industry, we always notice trends. Whether these 2017 home trends have been around for […]

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These 2017 home trends are some of America’s favorites right now.

As mortgage experts immersed in the housing industry, we always notice trends. Whether these 2017 home trends have been around for weeks or years, all four of them seem to have really gained popularity this year—and we’re sure they’ll continue into 2018. Oddly enough, some of these 2017 home trends are opposite, showing that you really can’t predict what’s going to be the next big thing. Check out these four 2017 home trends and find out if you’re a part of the décor wave that is sweeping the nation.

The open concept floor plan

One of the biggest indicators of a modern home (versus a traditional home) is the open concept floor plan. Many 2017 home trends can be classified as “modern” but the open concept leads the way. In the past decade or so, homeowners are opting for big, open spaces and are moving away from the compartmentalized rooms of the past. Do you remember growing up in a home that had a formal living room, a formal dining room, a small kitchen, etc.? Each room was probably its own, walled-in compartment of the house. Now, homeowners are knocking down those walls and opening sight lines throughout the home.

We like to think this trend is valuable because it brings people together in the home. For example, many homeowners want to be cooking a meal while they’re talking with their guests, so dine-in kitchens are becoming incredibly popular. (It’s no longer just about the breakfast bar. Now, kitchen islands are large enough to accommodate a sink, a stove top, and seating for five to six people!) Out of these 2017 home trends, the open concept floor plan works best for allowing conversation to move seamlessly throughout the home, which truly adds a sense of community and togetherness. As homeowners continue to show interest in modern home styles, we’re sure to see open concept floor plans become the new normal.

Tiny, compact, and minimalist

Let’s be real, tiny houses are nothing new. These small homes have been simultaneously fascinating us and stealing our hearts for years. This year though, it seems the concept of tiny living has been influencing homes of all sizes.

Tiny homes rule the industry in minimalist design and clever storage solutions, but these trends are not exclusive to tiny homes anymore. The clean, straight lines, monochromatic color palettes, and simple textures of minimalist design can easily be spotted in any modern home. And while they make the most sense in tiny houses, storage hacks and space-saving tips have been adopted by all kinds of homeowners with busy, on-the-go lifestyles.

This trend feels very futuristic because it is. It’s influenced by the modern furniture style that’s so popular right now and it’s complemented by the evolving needs of modern, hardworking Americans. The homes of the future are multipurpose and smart, energy-saving and environmentally conscious. If you favor a clean, clutterless home, space-saving techniques that make your busy life easier, and smart technology tools throughout the home, this is the 2017 home trend for you!

Upsizing

While tiny living is picking up speed, there’s another, opposite trend that’s growing—literally. In 2017, we’ve also seen some homeowners seek bigger homes and follow a trend called upsizing. Many of the homes we see on TV, online, and in magazines are big, open, and full of bright, natural light. Could it be that the homes we see in the media are influencing upsizing decisions of homeowners across the country?

Think about the concept of paying more for convenience. How many times have you paid a little extra for more benefits, more access, more features, more space? The psychology behind upsizing is similar. A bigger house gives you more options and provides the convenience of having everything right at home. Why go to the gym when you have the room for equipment in your basement? Why rent a hall when you can host parties right in your 500-square-foot family room? It’s ease and convenience all in one, but certainly at the cost of a bigger price tag.

Modern farmhouse style

You don’t have to be a country dweller to love this trend. The name says it all. Modern farmhouse takes the faded, weathered, and worn textures of the classic farmhouse and gives them the modern treatment. You’ve probably seen this look before. Tell-tale signs of this style include colors like cream, shades of blue, and sage green; gingham and checkered prints; chicken wire and metal baskets; and industrial fixtures with brushed finishes. This cozy trend is loved by all kinds of homeowners—from city slickers in high-rise lofts to families in suburbia.

Do you love these 2017 home trends? Got the photos to prove it? Share photos of your home on social media and tag Cardinal Financial!

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