Expert: Glamour returns home for 2008

While interior design is still celebrating natural, eclectic and rough-hewn materials, there has been a resurgence of chic, retro glamour, according to Davis Remignanti, lead design consultant at Furniture.com.

"Design trends are fascinating things to observe. They can be predictable or surprising," he says. "The recent interest in natural materials has spawned the renewed fascination for glamorous and refined designs" in the look he calls "Luxe Redux."

Here are highlights from Remignanti's 2008 design trends report:

The return of glamour: A renewed appreciation for post-deco glamour brings refined silhouettes and finishes to the fore. The look of "Luxe Redux" features gently swept lines, strong geometric forms and finishes that emphasize exotic veneers.

"The look is glamorous but in an approachable and welcoming way."

Scaling down: Exaggeratedly oversized furniture is on the way out. Manufacturers are returning to smaller scale pieces more in proportion with normal human scale.

Scaling up: Not everything is going small scale. "A very hot trend is large-scale patterns used in fabrics and floor and wall coverings. If you're choosing a pattern over solid colors, make it big and bold," he advises.

Black and white: Stylish interiors are using black and white as the main color scheme.

"Using black, even as the dominant color in a room, can yield classic and refreshingly chic results. Accent colors pop strongly against a black and white backdrop."

For that reason, Remignanti advises caution to design novices. "It's a look that can be tricky to pull off successfully."

Accent colors: A spice-inflected palette will be the hottest look in accent colors for the coming year. He lists carnelian, flax, russet and acid green as the hottest hues, and predicts that 2008 will be the year that blue makes a strong return.

He also says reflective materials like chrome, mirrors and mercury glass are important for room accents.

Vintage in the mix: A still-strong trend of a la carte, mix-and-match interiors has people combining old and new pieces in interesting ways.

"Vintage pieces bring a unique energy to a room's décor. Sometimes it can be hard to tell which pieces are old and which are new," he says.

Remignanti counsels against the idea of rules for good design, but offers one piece of timeless advice. "Remember that however well put together a room may be, it's meant to be used. If a room isn't comfortable and inviting for those inside it, it's a design failure, no matter how stylish it may be."

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Information courtesy Furniture.com