By Angela Crissman

Looking for a way to update the style inside your home and don’t know where to start? Does the thought of choosing a color palette seem overwhelming? Or perhaps you aren’t sure how to create a space that reflects your style and your family’s needs. To find out what’s hot and what’s not in the world of interior design, Lifestyles & Homes consulted a few of Houston’s authorities on interior design. These professionals are sharing their knowledge on everything from top design tips, trends for 2012, as well as important how-to information that will take the fear out of transforming an interior space.

Jennifer Jones

DECORATING DEN INTERIORS

Jennifer Jones says the latest color trends include oranges, yellows and grays, and clear, bright colors. Other big design tendencies are leaning toward the use of wallpaper and mixed finishes in a room. Regarding trends that are “out” in 2012, Jones feels design is an ebb and flow of popular ideas. “You can take what makes the client happy and tweak it to be current using colors, textures and styles,” says Jones.

To help create a well-designed room she suggests using items that you love; always pick the paint color last; be sure the furniture and accessories are the correct scale; make the accessories interesting; and look to the ceiling for accents of color.

Jones cites listening and asking about the lifestyle of a family as top priorities to help create an interior space that is comfortable for everyone. She believes that a space should truly be a reflection of how a family lives.

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Nancy Charbonneau

WOODLANDS FABRICS AND INTERIORS

Design Tips

•    Plan your project out. Organize your thoughts in a binder with concept pictures of spaces you like, paint chips, fabric swatches, snapshots of items that you have seen, things that you already have that you love, and lists of your desires. Sites like Pinterest are making this easier than ever and are a great way to organize. Having visual explanations will help a designer understand what you are envisioning.

•    Find a professional interior designer. A professional can take your desires and put them into a realistic plan to meet your time and budgetary goals. They will save you money in the long run by helping to avoid mistakes.

•    Clear the clutter. Everything should have a place. A clutter free interior is beautiful in itself. Find organizational methods to keep the clutter from detracting from a space.

•    Don’t be afraid of mixing color, pattern and texture. These design elements can really make a space pop and be fresh and vibrant.

•    Add in the unexpected. Nancy Charbonneau adds that she loves it when she hears clients say, “Wow, I love that. I would never have thought to do that.”

Charbonneau says a successful outcome in an interior design project is very much a joint effort between the client and designer. “I help my clients achieve their desired look by listening, planning ahead, being organized, and communicating through all phases of the project.”

Charbonneau says color is making a statement this year. Adding touches of color make an interior space come alive.  Drab interiors are definitely out. Patterned fabrics are back with beautiful Ikats (dyed patterns), Suzani (needlework patterns), and vintage floral and toile patterns that are everywhere.

Color, pattern and texture are definitely big this year. Looking for a fresh new choice for your faucets and hardware? Champagne bronze is the hardware color of choice for 2012. Falling by the wayside are drab color palettes, cluttered spaces, and fussy detailing that requires high maintenance. Ease of living is also in. Keeping things simple and easy to maintain are huge influences in design right now.

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Melanie Worthington

DESIGN FIRM

Design Tips

•To get that finished “magazine” look, work a plan so that the paint is a key accent of the design. Paint needs to be selected mid-design process after the scope and direction of the full design plan is finalized.

•Select furniture, accessories, rugs and draperies that are properly proportioned to the scale of the home.

•A really dark floor can make a room with 9-foot ceilings seem even lower. Lighter floors will open up the space and give the illusion of a higher ceiling. The contrast of darker and lighter colors along with different textures can bring depth to a room in a subtle, sophisticated way.

•The proper use of lamps can make a dramatic difference in the look of a room. Lighting can take a plain room and give it ambiance.

“Everyone has a personal design style, and we take the time to develop a complete and finished design plan that is specific to each client’s desires,” says interior designer Melanie Worthington. A client’s presentation includes artistic room by room drawings, fabric and rug samples, furniture photographs, and actual art and accessories to be used in their areas.

A more modern, sleek look is big right now. Rooms are cleaner, and furniture styles are becoming more transitional and less traditional. Also trending are high impact accessories that are larger and unique, and can make a “wow” atmosphere. Another current style is using bright accent colors in pillows, art and rugs to give a color burst to a room.

Looks that are “in” no longer are heavy, darker wall colors, traditional art, and overly formal rooms.

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Susan Chene

CHENE INTERIORS

Susan Chene’s advice in­cludes trusting your in­stincts —you know what you like, make sure your designer knows also; dark colors do not make a room look smaller; if a home looks cold and uninviting it probably needs color and drapes; using a designer saves money in the long run; and have a little fun with design because most homes aren’t set up for magazine pictures.

Chene says she helps clients create the room of their dreams by listening. “I ask them how they use their home. If they have pictures from a magazine, I find out what they like about those pictures,” says Chene. She emphasizes that budgets and schedules are also very important in the design process.

Chene cites hot trends for 2012 as brighter, lighter colors; animal prints as accents; and the color navy is back. Say goodbye to shutters as the only window covering; drab monochromatic color schemes; and carpeting.