The Best Decorating Trends of 2016

Rugs entered new territory: the kitchen. Oriental, kilim, and rugs of all sorts made a big and colorful statement underfoot in this high-trafficked room.

Chip and Joanna Gaines's farmhouse style has spread well beyond Waco, TX! The charming look was seen in furniture and decor filling homes across the country in 2016.

Yes, these rustic wood planks are actually tiles! And it's a growing trend that we predict will carry over from 2016. Who wouldn't want to get the great price and durability of tiles with the warm look of wood?

The more organic and close to nature the decor, the better. Laurel & Wolf designer James Tabb explains, "Woods, stones, textiles. The closer to nature you can keep these materials, the more comforting they are in you home."

Nurseries have been becoming increasingly sophisticated over the past few years, but 2016 saw the rise in dark wall colors. Deep navies, rich hunter greens, and dark grays are the new baby pink and blue.

For a quick and affordable kitchen makeover that yields dramatic results, many people are keeping their old cabinetry but updating it with black paint. The dark color served as a neutral palette, allowing for the furniture and accessories to really shine.

Feng Shui came back in 2016 with homeowners looking to optimize the energy in every space, including in the bedroom in the hopes of improving their sex life.

Art doesn't always have to be at eye level. This year, designers like Ian Stallings Design got creative when decorating this study. This stylishly hung duo of pictures proves that wall space near the floor doesn't have to be bare.

Brass hardware was hot in 2015 and peaked in popularity in 2016. The warm metallic added a trendy pop to bathroom and kitchen hardware.

Silver was long the standard for hardware and appliances, but matte black made a name for itself in 2016. The dark and dramatic trend even popped up on cutlery!

Acrylic tables are great not only because they're stylish and mod, but also because they give the impression of taking up less space — perfect for people living in a tiny apartment. But even those living in giant castles are jumping on the trend, like Kate Middleton.

Laundry rooms came center stage in 2015 with homeowners putting more thought and time into creating a high-functioning, beautiful space to wash and fold their clothes.

Browsing personal closets was as much fun as browsing a boutique this year thanks to a trend toward beautifully curated wardrobe spaces. Fold and display with style and care, making sure all your favorite pieces are visible. Not only will you use what you have when you can see it more, but your closet will also be so beautiful you'll want to leave the door open!

Blame it on the success of HGTV's Fixer Upper, but rustic, wooden signs are hotter than ever.

2016 was the year of interesting tile patterns. From herringbone to mermaid, bathrooms and kitchens were boasting geometric masterpieces.

Designers know that books aren't for reading – and the masses of DIY decorators caught onto the trend this year as well. In every room, on every flat surface, beautiful books can be used to add color and design depth. Ian Stallings Design put a mix of hardcover reading and a sideways leatherbound edition to bring this bookcase to life.

Wallpapering an entire bedroom can get pricey, which is why more people than ever this year took a cue from Decorist designer Katja O'Brien and wallpapered an accent wall, such as the wall behind the headboard, to create the most impact. Introducing pattern and color to a single wall also reinforces the bed as the focal point.

Art looks just as great in the garden as it does in the house, and homeowners figured that out this year. Case in point: this hand-painted graffiti wall is the perfect way to infuse color in a green yard.

With more people working from home than ever before, the home office was a hot trend. Many homeowners said bye-bye to sterile and cluttered spaces and hello to cozy-glam workspaces that reflected their personality.

The gallery wall has been at the top of most people's design to-do lists for some years now, and 2016 was no different. Instead of peppering favorite works of art throughout your home, consider gathering them into a dramatic gallery wall.

Nothing packs wow factor like a painted ceiling. We loved all the creative overhead designs we saw this year. You could go graphic with a mural like the one in Ann Lowengart Interiors' bedroom or keep it simple by covering the ceiling with a few coats of bright lacquered paint.

Midcentury style never really goes out, but mod lighting from the era was having a moment in 2016. It was seen everywhere from the dining room to the bathroom.

Since an art collection can take lots of money and many years to acquire, savvy decorators are choosing inexpensive prints instead and getting creative. The designers at Pulp Design Studios came up with a creative solution, painting the portion of classic prints just below the eyes with black paint. The result adds a cool, avant-garde feel that's guaranteed to be a conversation starter.

Area rugs are always popular, but this year the brighter the rug, the better. Rich pinks, pops of blue, and patterns combining a rainbow of hues were on trend. "Rugs immediately make your home feel more complete by acting as a bottom layer to your home decor. They help to delineate spaces as well as add texture and pattern to an entire room," says Laurel & Wolf designer James Tabb.

When not busy heading to boutique fitness studios, homeowners found new and creative ways to adapt rooms in their homes into

makeshift fitness spaces.

It's no secret designers love to sprinkle exotic objet d'art throughout a space, but this year decorators were thinking outside the box and hanging them. If there's a wall that you can't find the right piece of artwork for, consider tacking up a cluster of interesting finds instead.

Oversize art has been en vogue for a couple years now, and for good reason. A large piece of art makes a big design impact, as proved by the print in Martin Kobus Home's kitchen and dining space. Since oversize art comes at all price points, you don't need to spend big bucks to get the look in your own space.

A large rug helps to anchor a room – but it can be pricey. To make the look more affordable, many people are turning to seagrass rugs. Designer Brian Paquette relies on them to provide a beautiful foundation that's neutral enough to work with almost any decorating style. To take it a step further, follow Brian's lead by adding a smaller rug on top for an eclectic, layered look.

Many homeowners intensified the cozy factor of their room by painting their walls dark and dramatic colors — anything from charcoal gray to chocolate brown — to make the space feel inviting. Just be sure to add pops of metallics and white to keep it from feeling too heavy.

Classic blue and white chinoiserie was a top embodiment of the movement toward elegant vintage decor.