“Whenever I see a home that has gray-tone wood flooring, gray cabinets, gray walls, tile, and countertops, I think not only does the space look dull but also dated,” says Becky Wright of the Sorry Girls, YouTube creators in Toronto, focusing on DIY, sustainability, and interior design. White hues and muted, gray interiors were the providence of shabby-chic and cottage-style interiors of the ’80s and ’90s. Even Joanna Gaines, who elevated the farmhouse style on Fixer Upper, breaks up the grays with saturated greens and bold blues.
If you’re not sure how to proceed or if you should take the plunge with a bold color, Wright recommends opting for white, which is easier to paint over if you later change your mind or want to personalize with any color furniture. You can also try your hand at peel-and-stick wallpaper with an interesting pattern. According to a recent home decor trends survey by Klarna, global payments and shopping service, there has been a 92% increase in purchases of peel-and-stick wallpaper, particularly in jewel tones and patterns.
Carpeted stairs
Wood kitchens, with plenty of backsplash options to complement the look, are not the only place for the natural material to shine. Wood is making a comeback all over the home, including the stairs. As a result, carpeted stairs, especially those clad in beige, look very meh. “Often carpeted stairs can look worn down if they’re original [to the house],” says Kelsey MacDermaid, also of the Sorry Girls. “They’ll either see it as not their style or potentially unhygienic. Ripping this out and painting, staining, or adding a runner to the stairs would be an updated win.”
If a big stair update is not in your future, at the very least replace the carpet with something new. For modern carpets, choose textured and tactile carpet patterns. These designs are woven at different heights to create plush three-dimensional effects.
Marble in the kitchen
