Cold winter days mean more time inside for many of us. They certainly do for me. Anticipating the long stretch of indoor life, I started making small changes to cozy up my place — added a new rug and pillows, updated some light fixtures, switched around some art. It rekindled my interest in home design and fed my Pinterest addiction. It also led to searching handfuls of online lists predicting home design trends for the coming year, another potential addiction. Finding so many overlapping trends (and a few one-offs), I decided to compile my own top 10 list citing the most commonly predicted ones along with some personal favorites.

Poring over several sources including Trulia, Pinterest, Dwell, Lush Home, Zillow Porchlight, Realtor.com and the Star Tribune, I narrowed it down to these ten. We'll see what 2018 brings!

Minimalism

Nothing new here. Minimalist design has been around and will remain. Simple shapes, a sense of airiness and a less-is-more quality will still appeal to designers and home dwellers in 2018.

Statement Ceilings & Walls

Sometimes referred to as the "fifth wall", ceilings will become eye-catching conversation pieces with bold paint, patterns and dramatic lighting. Patterned wallpaper and surprise splashes of color on walls are expected to gain momentum.  

photos via homedecor17

Instagram-ready Decor

What's that? Unexpected and unique decor that photographs well. Think vignettes of simple shapes, with contrast, pops of color and muted tones.

Greens

All shades of green, from jewel tones to sage, will give life to sofas, pillows, walls, ceilings, doors and more. Chartreuse and avocado are personal favorites.

Natural Materials

Woven fabrics, natural stone and light woods add warmth and coziness. Not totally new but we'll see an increased interest in sustainable materials and eco-consciousness. 

Mixed Metals

There seems to be a consensus on this one. Mixing metals in light fixtures, faucets, decor and kitchen hardware will be more than welcome in 2018. Black too! 

Lavender

Millennial pink morphs into light lavender with a nod to Ultra Violet, Pantone's color of the year.  Spotted on furniture, accents, walls and doors.

Statement Tile

Patterned, bold and personalized tile in small doses may begin to replace tired solid squares and subway. Imagine adding interest to small baths, kitchen backsplashes and tiny mudroom floors.

photos via cocokelley and Dwell 

Gen Z Yellow

Sunny and bright and a personal favorite for accents or for making a happy statement on a wall, ceiling or bathroom floor. Evokes 1970's mustard gold.

Curves

Think curved plush furniture, arched doors and circle shapes. Perhaps an iteration of the geometric pattern craze? We'll see.

Additional Noteworthy Trends

• Quartz kitchen countertops (granite is out)

• Concrete in unexpected places

• Spa-like bathrooms

• Jewel tones

• Light or white-washed hardwood floors

• Dark kitchens (with blue or gray cabinets, white on white is out)

• Artisan light fixtures

• Pattern on pattern

• Oversized wall art

Heidi Swanson is a Realtor® based in St. Paul, Minnesota. She writes a blog to share information on a variety of real estate related topics including buying and selling, market conditions, homeownership trends and more. Reach her at heidi@lyndenrealty.com or 651-503-1540.