Mood Boards Are Essential to Good Design—Here’s How

Follow the Pattern is a brand new column from furniture maker and upholstery expert (and Home52’s Resident Design Wiz) Nicole Crowder. Nicole is here to show us how to breathe new life into old furniture, reuse and repurpose materials, take chances wit…

Follow the Pattern is a brand new column from furniture maker and upholstery expert (and Home52's Resident Design Wiz) Nicole Crowder. Nicole is here to show us how to breathe new life into old furniture, reuse and repurpose materials, take chances with color and pattern—and develop a signature aesthetic. Today, she shares her best tips for sourcing the fabric of your dreams.


I believe that every creative decision starts with a vision. We envision everyday what our homes and apartments could look like: the color palette for our walls, the wood flooring or backsplash tiles that will adorn our rooms, and what beamed ceilings could do for our living rooms. Eventually, this imagination filters down to the palms of our hands and materializes as our physical spaces.

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13 Decorating Rules We Love to Break

The other day, I was on the treadmill, distracting myself with one of my favorite home decor podcasts”), and my attention latched on to something the hosts were chatting about: design crimes, specifically the ones they’d like gone in the new year. High…

The other day, I was on the treadmill, distracting myself with one of my favorite home decor podcasts”), and my attention latched on to something the hosts were chatting about: design crimes, specifically the ones they’d like gone in the new year. High on the list of offenders were karate-chopped pillows, overly styled coffee tables (ya know, the kind with no space to put down your drink), and matchy-matchy decor. I chuckled at most of them, but it did get me thinking: What “design crimes” am I guilty of in my own home? And is it an offense if it works for me?

At the start of each year, design trends are on the minds of a lot of people. Which ones are we happy to turn our backs to? Which new ones will capture our imaginations (and wallets)? As a home editor, I’m obviously very invested, but I’m also firmly on Team Do-What-Makes-You-Happy. Trends expand our creative possibilities and rules give us a framework for action—to determine the height of your pendant light, for instance—but there’s nothing wrong with letting a trend (or many) bypass you completely, or taking a rule and stretching its boundaries.

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7 Kitchen Trends We’ll Be Seeing Everywhere in 2022

There’s a good reason why many people refer to kitchens as the heart of the home. Sure, they get a lot of foot traffic daily—from family dinners and intimate date nights to post-school study sessions—but more than that, they act as a microcosm for our …

There’s a good reason why many people refer to kitchens as the heart of the home. Sure, they get a lot of foot traffic daily—from family dinners and intimate date nights to post-school study sessions—but more than that, they act as a microcosm for our daily lives, routine, and outlook. The forms our kitchens take—and the way they morph year over a year—says a lot more about us than just what color we’re loving lately. They reflect back on our priorities, our struggles, and our goals, both for our homes and our lives.

For that reason, the expert-driven trends below for 2022 are really more than just trends. Granted, there are a few mixed in just for the pretty factor they provide but the majority of these new kitchen upgrades are a prime example of our collective shifting priorities amid life in a pandemic. From the return of color—and a reinvigoration of a positive perspective—to the prioritizing of natural materials and do-it-all finishes, they encapsulate a time and a place that we all hope is filled with more love, laughter, and yes, good food—just like a kitchen (and life) should be.

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My Trick for Quicker Sleep? It’s All in the Bedroom Color.

For quite a few years now, bedroom design has erred on the side of light and bright—you know, white walls, creamy drapes, minimal art and decor—but I happen to think that’s far from the only way of doing things. Last year, I painted the back wall of my…

For quite a few years now, bedroom design has erred on the side of light and bright—you know, white walls, creamy drapes, minimal art and decor—but I happen to think that’s far from the only way of doing things. Last year, I painted the back wall of my bedroom in a deep, brownish gray (Otter Tail by Behr, to be specific), and I loved it so much that I knew I’d likely never go back to a bright white bedroom.

With two coats of paint on just one wall, my bedroom immediately felt more like the sanctuary almost everyone is reaching for when they design a bedroom. It felt cozy, warm, and altogether… sleepy. Think about it: Sure, some spas are light and bright, but aren't the most relaxing experiences (like massages and facials) in dim rooms with delicate wind chime music? You know I’m right.

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8 Vibrant, Soothing & Unexpected Bathroom Paint Colors to Try

If your space is starting to feel just a little bit… blah, and you’re looking for a simple (and affordable!) refresh—well, you’ve come to the right place.

One of our go-to solutions for giving a home a quicker-than-anything makeover? Painting the wall…

If your space is starting to feel just a little bit… blah, and you’re looking for a simple (and affordable!) refresh—well, you’ve come to the right place.

One of our go-to solutions for giving a home a quicker-than-anything makeover? Painting the walls, of course—specifically our bathroom walls. In such a small space, paint can have truly transformational powers to add depth, create zen vibes, or even fake light and airiness. There are so many directions one can go in when it comes to making over this space; practically any color is fair game.

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9 Home Decor Trends that Surprised (& Delighted) Us in 2021

2020’s home trends were… kind of all over the place. Mirrors and furniture made with spray foam insulation (what?), lots of squiggly lines, colors reminiscent of the ’80s, and every kind of hunkered-down-in-your-home DIY project imaginable. But we’ll…

2020's home trends were... kind of all over the place. Mirrors and furniture made with spray foam insulation (what?), lots of squiggly lines, colors reminiscent of the '80s, and every kind of hunkered-down-in-your-home DIY project imaginable. But we'll cut last year some slack because let's be real—we were all over the place.

Thankfully, 2021 mellowed out in the decor department, and we've seen a return to more palatable colors and more intentional choices. More than anything, though, the trends have pointed in one direction: the past. Design and decor is always cyclical, and we know that what was once cool will probably become cool again. That certainly is true if we look back at what was popular this year, and look back we will! Read on for 10 of the most surprising interior trends we saw in 2021.

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The Predictions Are In: 12 Home Decor Trends We’ll See in 2022

Over the past 18 months, many of our homes have received more love, care, attention, and introspection than in the last five years combined. And who could blame us? Time hunkering down indoors meant we all naturally turned our attention to our interior…

Over the past 18 months, many of our homes have received more love, care, attention, and introspection than in the last five years combined. And who could blame us? Time hunkering down indoors meant we all naturally turned our attention to our interior surroundings, sussing out once and for all what works for our lifestyles and what reflects our personalities best in our homes. Because of all this TLC, we’ve seen a surplus of home decor and design trends cycle in and out over the past year or so—some picking up steam and becoming full-blown phenomena (we’re looking at you, dramatic marble), while others are just on the cusp, waiting to catch fire with homeowners.

At the end of the day, trends are about more than just a color or pattern du jour—they’re a great reflection of where we are as a collective society, what we’re prioritizing, and what we’re impacted by. As we look forward to 2022—and the fun trends we’re rounding up below—consider this permission to lean into these expert-approved ideas as much (or as little!) as you want. If the past year-plus has taught us anything, it’s that home should be a reflection of the people who inhabit it, a place to create your own version of happiness. Here’s what you have to look forward to in 2022 and beyond.

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The Furniture Material that Continues to Dominate Year After Year

In the past few years, we’ve seen geometric accent walls, ’80s-inspired colors, and all things squiggly soar with viral popularity, but peter out almost as quickly as they arrived. While those trends faded, others were establishing themselves as interi…

In the past few years, we’ve seen geometric accent walls, '80s-inspired colors, and all things squiggly soar with viral popularity, but peter out almost as quickly as they arrived. While those trends faded, others were establishing themselves as interior mainstays, like layered neutrals, zellige tile, and of course, cane furniture.

Woven textures are as classic as it gets so it should come as no surprise that cane furniture has remained so popular. Cane, in particular, has reigned supreme, possibly for its ability to blend in with so many different decor styles and design eras. Read on for more about the material and why we simply can’t get enough.

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How to Host Overnight Guests Even When You Have No Room

If you live (or have ever lived) in a city apartment, you know that spare bedrooms are few and far between. Even when a second bedroom is in play, it’s usually home to a desk, a stationary bike, an extra rug, holiday decor, and maybe a futon for guests…

If you live (or have ever lived) in a city apartment, you know that spare bedrooms are few and far between. Even when a second bedroom is in play, it’s usually home to a desk, a stationary bike, an extra rug, holiday decor, and maybe a futon for guests to sleep among your ancillary items.

I currently reside in a one-bedroom apartment in Jersey City with a farty little French bulldog, a (luckily) very neat boyfriend, an outsized collection of power tools and DIY supplies, and more decor than an apartment of this size will ever need. We also have room for a sectional couch, which feels like a luxury, compared to the shoebox-sized apartments across the river in Manhattan. It’s also where any guests we host sleep for the night, because I loathe an air mattress.

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The Furniture Pieces You See Everywhere (But Don’t Know Their Names)

There have been many unexpected and unintended consequences of the pandemic, that much we know. One we might not have been prepared for? A surge of interest in vintage and secondhand furniture. Says Anna Brockway, Chairish Co-Founder & President, “…

There have been many unexpected and unintended consequences of the pandemic, that much we know. One we might not have been prepared for? A surge of interest in vintage and secondhand furniture. Says Anna Brockway, Chairish Co-Founder & President, “we're seeing continued interest in our 'ready-to-ship’ furnishings due to the supply chain snarl that is impacting the availability of newly made goods.” 1stDibs Editorial Director, Anthony Barzilay Freund, has observed the same phenomenon, noting, “we’ve seen an even stronger turn toward vintage pieces, in large part because they are on the dealer’s floor and ready to be taken home.”

The market can be daunting, though—especially as a beginner in the world of vintage furniture. Dealers can significantly mark up prices, and if you’re not sure what you’re looking at (or know if it’s legitimate), it’s enough to throw in the towel and run right back to a big-box store, cross your fingers, and hope the armchair (or sofa or coffee table) arrives in the quoted 6-8 weeks.

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