The year 2008 marks the parade of grays, glass, a palette of colors, and going “green”.  Gray has definitely made a comeback after being out of vogue for a while.  You might also want to replenish your home with full colors and crystals which are the decorating trends for the Year of the Rat. 

Why follow decorating trends

If you’re planning to do some home decorating projects in the next few days or weeks, following decorating trends not only makes you upbeat with the latest styles in home decorating but you’ll also be earning bigger savings.  For one, hiring a decorator is no longer necessary when you can simply flip through pages of magazines or browse the web for ideas.

Additionally, your research can lead you to discount stores or popular shops where the latest goods are sold.  Several businesses work in partnership with publishers and online sites to provide you with information on where to shop to earn big discounts.

2008 Spring Trends

The year begins with a fresh start for decorating trends that have been inspired from the past years’ trends: “green”, crystals, bold colors, and grays.

Go green

The “green” mentality is still the focus of most designers up to 2008 to foster an Eco-friendly style.  You can indulge in bamboo decors, rugs, to real-life bamboo plants that you can place by the windowsill to create that fresh atmosphere.  One of the reasons is that bamboo represents so much vibrance, with its pointed green leaves and upright, wooden stalks.

You may also use other eco-friendly accents to complement your bamboo decors, and witness how your interior design will exude with life.  You may want to do away with plastic decoratives for now, and might rather replace them with oversized blooms, birds, or sculpted leaves left on wall coverings and fabrics.

Closely working in harmony with eco-friendly green items are natural, woven blankets that you can use as accents to sofas, recliners, chaise, loveseats, or even your bed.

Glass and crystals

Who wouldn’t fall for those sparkling faux diamond crystals that glitter in your eyes?  A variety of chandeliers and lamps are earning a niche in the 2008 decorating trends, as if they haven’t had since centuries ago.  Crystal lighting inarguably brings elegance and naturally creates a feeling of opulence in a room, no matter how simple the other decorations generally are.

Go ahead; get that floor lamp with crystal embellishments you’ve been eyeing for since last year.  It’s one that never goes out of style.

Exotic influences

You can make second thoughts about keeping those bold animal prints from 2007 hanging on your wall.  The year 2008 is an exciting year for other exotic influences – those that opt for pale to lighter pinks, warm browns, violet, or pastel gray.  Let’s not forget this shade which has significantly taken the backstage role in the years past, mostly because it was overshadowed by black.  Grey forms a sensual appearance, a hue which can dance with other colors in the palette, especially orange, pink, and silvery greens.  Let’s face it – gray is simply quite a versatile color you can never go wrong when paired with something else.

If you prefer that old, ethnic look the animal prints would still capable of giving justice to interior design.  However, Spring 2008 calls for lighter versions of classical decorating trends.  Trendy ethnic decors from Japan, Moroco, and many parts of Asia are predicted to dominate the interior decorating scene this year.

The point is to establish a sophisticated but relaxing and natural-looking atmosphere that will not only improve the look but also the aura of your abode, so you can definitely say “There’s no place like home.”