Home Decor

Spring design trends

Jessica Crawford
Cotton & Co.

(3/2021) What a Winter! It’s been several years since we’ve seen a Winter with so much snow and so many snow days. If you’re anything like my family, I’m sure you’re feeling a little bit cooped up and ready to welcome Spring, or at the very least, signs of it. I’m looking forward to the crocus and daffodils popping up in my garden, cracking windows for fresh air and hearing the sweet chirp of baby hatchlings.

Don’t get me wrong. I love looking out of our old farmhouse windows, at a blanket of freshly fallen, undisturbed snow, once or twice a winter. It’s very romantic and peaceful. But at this point, I think it’s safe to say, I’ve enjoyed enough of this scene. The dressing and undressing my kids in and out of layers and layers of snow clothes endlessly. And cleaning up wet puddles of melted snow around the house that’s been dragged inside. I’m ready for a bit more sunshine and longer, greener days.

Most of the vendors at my shop have now made the switch to Spring. There’s still some snowy evergreen sprays here and there. But I’ve seen much more color and brightness and bunny-everything entering the shop over the past couple of weeks. As if we all are thinking we can collaboratively wish away Winter, and usher in Spring. In all fairness, Easter is in about a month, and since I was a little girl, that has always felt like the turning point for the first real bit of Spring.

As part of doing my due diligence for work, I like to spend time here and there over the year researching and looking up what’s trending. In terms of styles, design, colors, etc … In looking into Spring trends this year, I was intrigued by the colors that Panatone was trending for the next season. Panatone is a company that sets a lot of the tone for trends in the design and fashion based industries. The colors that they have voted as on-trend for the season are an interesting mix. Looking at the color palette, at first glance, there’s a considerable amount of vibrant colors: a deep pink (Raspberry Sorbet), bright yellow (Illuminating), bright, deep blue (French Blue), a muted Kelly green (Mint) and even a bright, dark purple (Amythyst Orchid).

And then tossed into the mix are some more muted, yet still quite colorful tones. A periwinkle blue (Cerulean), which is nothing like the Crayola crayon with the same namesake. And this I am an expert on, as it’s been my lifelong favorite crayon color. However, I digress. Pantatone also mixed in a soft orange (Marigold), light minty green (Green Ash) and a blush coral pink shade (Burnt Coral). They also voted and provided a few "classic core colors’: a charcoal shade (Inkwell), a pale peach color (Buttercream), a sand color (Desert Mist), a neutral and light brown-green (Willow) and lastly a steel grey (Ultimate Grey).

I’ll admit, when I first researched this color palette, it took me a few minutes to appreciate it and breathe it in. It felt like a lot. And a little bit all over the place. Then I stared and reflected and pictured each color as an item in my home. How would or could I utilize these colors in my home? Would they jive well together, or would they need to utilized in separate spaces? Upon reflection, first let me say, I think these colors are a perfect cure for the past year that we’ve all experienced. It is no accident that they selected so many vibrant colors. It’s widely accepted and believed that bright, cheerful colors affect moods in positive ways. They lift spirits and joy, and I am certain that’s why so many vibrant shades were presented on this year’s trending color palette.

I am also a firm believer in intermingling bold and bright colors with natural nuetrals and then pops of patterns and textures. This allow you to use color and texture in your home without it being overwhelming or too much. This season’s color palette is pretty perfect for that. Bursting with bold, bright tones, softer ones to offset, and then standard and tried and true neutrals.

Bohemian is an extremely popular up-and-coming trend. This style mixes lots of colors and textiles with unique, natural textures. This color palette would help make a great boho inspired space. That could mean painting an accent wall or statement piece of furniture in one of their bolder choices, and offsetting with something in one of the softer, complementary tones. For instance, a bold pattered chair, incorporating some of the brighter tones. And then offset with a more soft or neutral throw, small area rug or pillows. You could accompany this with some natural reed blanket baskets off to the side, and a basket wall in the background. Basket walls are a personal favorite of mine.

These on-trend colors remind me of a space in my own home that I’m currently brainstorming and developing. I have hunted and found a gorgeous late-1800’s velvet Victorian loveseat in a gorgeous, rich coral. I’m pairing it with a vintage upholstered wingback chair, that’s a charcoal black with a beautiful, ornate bird print silhouetted against the black. The birds themselves are a pale pink and mint color. I’m flanking the chair with a natural, vintage rattan etagere. And behind the coral loveseat, I’m planning on a vintage basket wall, with an ornate jute rug at the feet of the loveseat. The accent walls surrounding these pieces will be painted in a deep midnight blue. And we’ll be suspending a gorgeous two-tone natural caned and deep blue velvet pendant light from the ceiling. While it’s not exactly the color palette Panatone put together for design this season, I can sense the overlap and am reigning in inspiration from it.

If there’s a time to surround yourself with cheerfulness, brightfulness and joyfulness, this is it. Not only are we hopefully, fingers crossed, at a turning point for the world we’ve been enduring and surviving for the past year, we’re also at a change of seasons. I say, go for it. Buy that bright yellow throw and pillow set, paint a wall a bold and fun color, snag a fancy and regal statement chair, purchase a one of a kind piece of furniture, dare to use a funky pattern or even wallpaper. Ever feel like you need a hand or someone to bounce ideas off of? Stop by the shop, we’re always happy to help you put a space together. We’re open every weekend, Friday-Sunday. Be sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram pages for regular shop updates.