Spring officially starts on March 20th this year—but you don’t have to wait until then to bring your rooms out of the depths of winter. Often, taking down holiday decorations and resetting your home can leave your spaces feeling a bit flat and uninspired, but the good news is that a few fresh ideas are all it takes to breathe new life into your space.
We asked some of our favorite interior designers and creators what they’re loving for spring and beyond. From metal finishes that offer a welcome departure from the status quo to romantic details showing up in bedrooms and upholstery alike, here are seven trends they say will define the season.
Bed Canopies
Credit:
Marco Zamora
“This year, romantic design will come back in full swing and one of the best ways to implement this design style is with a bed canopy,” says designer and creator Marco Zamora, who is known for reimagining his rental homes with clever and doable DIY projects. “I’ve been adding bed canopies to my designs over the last three years, and I love how transformative they can be to a room.”
You can achieve the look with a classic four-poster bed, or follow Zamora’s lead and install ceiling-mounted curtain rods or slim poles, then drape your fabric of choice over them.
Contrasting Welts
Credit:
Brian Wetzel Photography for Vestige Home
If you’ve been eyeing the patterned sofa trend but aren’t quite ready to commit, Nicole Cole, interior designer and founder of Vestige Home, suggests a more subtle (but equally impactful) alternative: contrasting welts. “This is a great way to highlight the shape of a piece, or to give a little extra, quieter design detail if you aren’t yet ready to jump into a full floral couch moment,” she notes.
While you may be able to find ready-made pieces with unique piping, opting for custom reupholstery gives you far more control over the fabric choice. Looking for a more budget-friendly option? Try the look on throw pillows instead.
Pewter
Credit:
Marco Zamora
Brass has reigned as the metal finish of choice for well over a decade, but, according to both Zamora and Fariha Nasir, designer and DIY creator at Pennies for a Fortune, pewter is primed to replace gold at the top of the podium. “I’m really excited for more pewter and silver,” notes Nasir. “We saw a lot of them over fall and the winter holidays, and they still have their moment now.”
Nasir recommends incorporating the finish through small accents, like trinket dishes or a pewter jug filled with freshly clipped flowers. “I’m excited to repurpose my seasonal silver finds to bring them into spring,” she adds. And if you just can’t quit brass, don’t worry. “Pewter patinas beautifully and emits a warm glow that pairs great with other warm metals such as brass and copper,” says Zamora.
Circadian Rhythm Lights
Mike Humphries for Weeks Design.
Lighting is essential for a beautiful space, and according to designer Janine Weeks, the best thing you can do for your rooms this spring is switch out your lightbulbs. “Design is a backdrop for living and nothing is better than living in a home that marries good design with modern technology that creates a safer way to live,” she explains. “Circadian rhythm lights create a better at-home work environment and encourage better sleep hygiene.”
Weeks recommends a low-EMF and flicker-free product like the BioLight Recessed Full Spectrum Light from BlockBlueLight, which adjusts from dusk to dawn and even has a night mode that emits no blue light.
Intricate Flooring
Credit:
Marco Zamora
Natural plank wood floors will forever be a classic, but Zamora is excited by the more artful tile floors he’s spotting as a trend. “Intricate flooring will dominate the design world this year, be it parquet wood, terrazzo, mosaics, or terracotta,” he explains. “We will see these throughout the house in kitchens, bathrooms, and living areas.”
“Secret” Doors and Hidden Millwork
Credit:
Brian Wetzel Photography for Vestig Home; Styling by Kristi Hunter
If you’ve been dreaming of a secret passageway or hidden compartment since childhood, now may be your moment—at least if Cole has anything to say about it. “We’ve been using jib doors and other hidden millwork over the last couple of years,” Cole says. “They’re an effective way to add access to another room or incorporate extra storage without disrupting the overall flow of a space.”
Her firm often uses large banks of custom millwork to create seamless, concealed shelving. “Plus, I love how delightful the ‘secret’ is,” she adds.
Statement-Making Personal Pieces
Credit:
Madeline Tolle for Avenue Interior Design
Andrea DeRosa and Ashley Justman, co-founders of Avenue Interior Design, believe personal and storied objects will take precedence over neutral, off-the-shelf big-box decor with mass appeal.
“We are big advocates for surrounding yourself with signature elements, accents, and accessories that you feel connected with; pieces collected over time, and details that feel personal rather than prescribed,” they say. “Spaces do not need to be perfect or trend-driven to be beautiful. When a home feels honest, it naturally feels more alive.”