8 Home Design Trends To Ditch in 2018

If you need a reason to revamp your home, then use the new year. Besides a fresh coat of paint, removing pieces that are no longer work for you should be your top priority. Imagine a new condo in Nuvali, Laguna. Do you think it would have design elements from last year? Not a chance.

Before you start opening large trash bags or making an inventory for a garage sale, you need to look into the trends that didn't make 2018.

1. Bamboo panels

Say goodbye to your dreams of hardwood floors made of bamboo. Wooden boards made of bamboo are less durable than boards made of lumber. Consequently, the trend is slowly ebbing as a sustainable home design. The trend’s popularity from the recent years resulted in the expansion of bamboo fields. Most farms and foliage became bamboo plantation to accommodate the demand, 

The production of bamboo also exhibits high carbon emissions. Since most of the material is produced elsewhere, mostly in Southeast Asian countries, it is far from its market. To become an ethical homeowner, you must choose materials locally produced.

2. Bare shelving

Open shelves and wall storages are aesthetically pleasing...in photos. In real life, it’s a hassle to maintain the stack of items on each level. It's bothering to place things on top of the other. Imagine how long it would take for you to wipe off the dust on each item.

3. Brass

Brass stands on the same level as rose gold. It's at the point where everyone has a hint of brass or faux gold in their home. The color and material still have its glam, particularly unlacquered ones. However, using it to all the elements at home - water fixtures, furniture, and hardware - makes the area less organic.

You can replace some of the items in your home with other elements. You venture to other metallics or paint the details with dark mattes or pastel neutrals.

4. Exposed lights

Bare lights were also part of the vintage home styles. However, the trend can is now oversaturated. You can see track lighting in stores, studios, and offices. To avoid looking crowded and gaudy, you can incorporate recessed lighting instead. It keeps the room looking clean and minimalist.

5. Granite surfaces

It’s much better to embrace low maintenance materials than those that need constant polishing. Granite had its moment in 2017, but it’s time to trade it for something visually appealing like marble. You could also try quartz. The material is sleek and full of luster. Though granite is versatile, it can be quite dull and dated.

6. Industrial pieces

Industrial pieces of furniture and decorative elements are still acceptable in contemporary design. These parts have character and personality which helps bring out the theme of the place. Unfortunately, some manufactured pieces can seem unnatural.

You must avoid the faux industrial look when decorating. It makes the area outdated and feel artificial. If you want to incorporate items that have a story to tell, go for vintage artworks, statues, sculptures and antique centerpieces.

7. Rustic details

Reclaimed wood, pieces of furniture and the charm of the countryside has no place in 2018. The new year focuses on the sleek and the sexy. Combining old and dated pieces of wooden furniture, dark varnishes and salvaged treasures can be too much. 

If you want to make the trend work for you, it helps to combine elegant and polished pieces. A wooden coffee table works well with a curved pastel loveseat. Stained kitchen cabinets are best with a marble or quartz countertop.

8. Stark white rooms

Next to black, white is the second versatile color in the areas that drabble with the design. The color is full of light which effectively illuminates the dark parts of a home. Painting with white is a cheap way to add illumination in a room. However, the color is already oversaturated.

Designers and trendsetters are looking for ways to break off the pale color. Adding neutrals and other dark colors is a powerful way to enhance the look. Using a different material is another way to refresh your current home style.

There you have it! If you have these eight design trends in your home, think it thoroughly and assess your current home style. Some of them may still work for you. If not, consider including them in your yard sale or trade them for the sleek and polished pieces of 2018.

Going Green and Eco-Friendly? Try These Tips!

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A well rounded and balanced house and lot in Sta. Rosa Laguna, Philippines, or any other properties in other parts of the country, is pretty similar to how you envision your dream lover: As beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside.

To be more concrete regarding this metaphor, the outer facade of a house entices your neighbors to get in into your abode while the inner façade of your home would give them a subtle hint of what kind of neighbor you are. As it is, the aesthetic value should be present in the exterior part of our homes as well as the interior.

However, with today’s modern design, most people are under the erroneous impression that sustainable and aesthetic design is synonymous to high-tech design elements and engineering processes that they would incorporate into their homes.

However, this is a major misconception. Although high-tech elements offer an edgier and intricate design that would enhance the overall look of your homes with its intricate design, they hardly ever come cheap. Additionally, these techy modern designs may add aesthetic value, but it would give your home a stuffy and unwelcome feeling—almost as if toddlers and kids are unwelcome.

Choose to go green and be eco-friendly! By doing so you are not only adding to the aesthetic value of your homes, you are doing Mother Nature and yourself a huge favor as well. Opt to decorate with tangible sustainability in mind. Use less energy, less water, and less renewable resources while still managing to make your home look beautiful.

Here are some ways you can start.

Utilize eco-friendly floors 

A popular choice for ecological design is Bamboo material. Utilizing this as the flooring for your homes gives the entire house an overall cooler feeling. Additionally, this flooring material is as durable as oak, and since it is actually a grass, it is rather quick to grow, renewable and very sustainable thereby any qualms of hurting the environment on your part should be disregarded. Instead of traditional hardwood flooring, choose this as your flooring as your eco-friendly home design option.

Go green with your plumbing 

Harmful chemicals are present in plastic that is a compound present in PVC. To avoid a potentially dangerous health issue, opt for utilizing clay as an option for your underground pipes.  For green alternatives in piping above ground, using aluminum and galvanized steel is a great start.

Make use of natural paints in coloring walls 

Most paints contain VOC (volatile organic compounds) which is anything but eco-friendly. Green paints are natural paints whose composition consists of all natural components such as plant extracts and oils and miners. These are not only eco-friendly but safe as well. Look for paint that is low-VOC or zero-VOC.

For heating and air-condition, use renewable energy

Although quite pricey, installing solar panels is actually a worthy and smart investment. They augment the resale value of your home and would substantially decrease the amount of your monthly electric bill. This green home design became rather popular as it reduces energy consumption and actually creates and stores energy for use. For heating and air-conditioning, utilize natural gas.

For sidings, choose materials that are environmentally friendly 

Wood, stucco or aluminum sidings are just some of the choices you have for a green home design option. They will instantly make your home feel cooler and cozier. Do not use PVC vinyl siding—this releases toxins and is not reusable nor biodegradable.

Use tankless system or solar energy

Utilize energy efficient heaters which are a feature present in solar and tankless water heaters. Your energy bill will thank you for it, and hot water is always available at your disposal.

Invest in furniture made from recyclable or renewable materials 

Choose organic cotton bedding, curtains made of recycled polyester and maybe sheets that are made of hemp. Your living room could feature couches made from bamboo, recycled wood or teak. There are a lot of green options to choose from.

Going green and eco-friendly is a smart choice. It exemplifies your conscious effort in keeping the environment at the forefront of designing and decorating your home. And that, in itself, is already doing your part in keeping Mother Nature healthy.