Latest Trends in flooring Design & Home Decoration

Rules in decorating today are simple--there are no rules. Consumers want individual style. More and more people are making choices that please them, and you should be no exception.

So buy the French Country armoire even if the rest of your home is contemporary. Display your grandmother's quilt even if it's your only antique.

But there are definitely trends you'll see in home furnishings in the year ahead. Shaw's Research & Development designers and colorists seek out the latest style and color trends, and here is what they say are the latest and greatest trends in home decorating.

BLUE is America's favorite color and is forecasted to be "the" color for the millennium. Coastal or classic, traditional or chic. Just like your favorite pair of jeans, blue goes with anything.

Denim Blue is becoming established as a stylish floor color choice. It also remains a popular trend for slipcovers and continues to be a hot fashion item. New blues to watch for are indigo, sky blue, baby blue, watercolor blue, deep ocean, periwinkle, and steele blue.

New directions for nature's favorite color, green, are lighter and brighter like lime and frog green. You will also want to look for cooler greens like serene tranquil colors inspired by water that will make your home a more relaxing atmosphere.

Organic greens like olive, moss, sage, herb, and even green-cast beighes are well established in home furnishings. Green on the floor is used as a "neutral." Green comes in many soothing hues and creates harmony for bright accents, just as the beautiful greens of nature are the perfect backdrop for the brightness of a flower.

Red's popularity is obvious in fabric, paint, furniture, and in, most of all, accessories. Colors in this family vary widely--from fiery to subdued.

Maroon is one of the newest fashion colors to arrive on the scene. Used with brown leather, it creates a warm sophistication, suggesting opulence and elegance.

The versatile brown mixes with a host of colors, including aqua, pink, and maroon, for chic and cozy combinations. And chocolate continues to be almost as popular in decorating as it is on the dessert tray. Psychologically, chocolate is an appetizing color, so look for it to continue to be an important color for walls and floors.

Golden neutrals have been top sellers recently. Will they continue to be as popular in 2004? Absolutely.

Sisal golds are top sellers, while the newest golds are redder in cast. Butterscotch and pumpkin are also being used in both residential and contract applications.

Small scale patterns act neutral, but add texture to a room. Many different patterns are gaining ground in home decorating, including stripes, geometrics, circles within squares, polka dots, and simplistic florals.