Environmentally Friendly
Green living has gone beyond cloth tote bags and reusable water bottles and has now spread to the world of home construction. Eco18.com predicts that in 2012, green building will be more popular than ever. As consumers demand eco-friendly buildings, home developers will turn to LEED certifications to prove their homes are good for the planet. These LEED-certified homes will be more green than the standard, built with materials harvested from renewable resources and stocked with energy-efficient appliances. The Beasley and Henley Interior Design Blog sees the green trend continuing in the textile field. With the prices of eco-fabrics dropping, expect earth-friendly linens and cottons to turn up on pillows, furniture, and draperies.

Grey is the New Neutral
Pantone, the authority on color, declared tangerine tango to be the color of 2012. A bold, reddish-orange that has proven popular among fashion designers and consumers alike for the past few years, expect the shade to hold appeal for years to come. Daring homeowners can swath an entire wall of their home in the color, but tangerine tango also works in smaller doses—on accent pillows, artwork, and accessories. The Beasley and Henley Blog, meanwhile, predicts 2012 will be the year of grey. When paired with bright colors like yellow or green, grey becomes both contemporary and comfortable.

Make Room for Style, Quality and Comfort
Based on the popularity of products on display in their 87 showrooms, the Boston Design Center believes 2012 will be the year of casual, elegant spaces. Stuffy living rooms have fallen out of favor as people look for more comfort in their home. Expect spaces to become family friendly, with deep sofas designed for lounging and coffee tables sturdy enough to support the weight of feet. Well-designed furniture and fashionable printed fabrics lend an elegance to these spaces. On-trend furniture looks airy; graceful legs and slim profiles keep pieces from feeling too heavy. Graphic cutouts on the backs of chairs and the sides of tables add visual interest. The overall look is easily adaptable, at home in both urban and suburban settings.