Hot Home Décor Ideas
If you’re looking for a few quick updates for your home—or planning your first living room, dining room, or bath—you’ll want to explore some of the hottest trends in interior design! Many of these ideas pair beautifully with the personalized options available in the Ernest Homes Design Studio, where you can select finishes, fixtures, and upgrades for your new construction home.
Interior Curtains Rather than limiting curtains to the windows, it’s now popular to hang curtain rods in other areas of the home. A decorative brocade can create a serene yoga corner in your living room, while a bright print or soft solid can conceal the prep area of the kitchen from the seating area. If your kids share a room, give them a little privacy with a fun interior curtain!
Mix and Match Bedding It’s all the rage! Your shams don’t have to match your comforter or throw pillows. Choose complementary colors and patterns—or mix bold solids for a high-impact look.
Surprising Vintage Pieces Add an antique washstand to the bathroom, a retro appliance to the kitchen, or a charming historic mirror to the bedroom. Many Ernest Homes communities—like Richmond Hill and Effingham County—feature floor plans that look stunning with a few well-placed vintage accents.
Paint the Town…or Your Furniture! Refresh older pieces with colorful paint. Coat a breakfast bar in sunny yellow, turn wicker deck chairs crisp white, or make a child’s desk pop with vibrant pink. If you’re short on cash, browse thrift shops for pieces you can transform! Painting furniture is also a great way to personalize rooms in your new home—especially flexible spaces in popular plans like the Aspen or Kingston.
Turn the Ordinary into Art Cover a wall with mix-and-match flea market plates. Use wallpaper to cover vinyl window shades. Reupholster furniture with recycled curtains. Turn old concert T-shirts into a quilt. Let your imagination run wild!
Re-think Your Seating Move couches and chairs away from the walls and toward the center of the room. This makes the space feel more intimate and encourages conversation.
Light Up Your Life Floor lamps are back—and great at putting light exactly where you want it. You’ll find plenty of stylish options to pair with the lighting choices already available in the Design Studio.
Update Your Hardware Give kitchens and bathrooms a quick refresh by swapping cabinet knobs or drawer pulls. Brushed metals, vintage china knobs, and retro molded styles are all trending.
Take a Walk on the Wild Side Animal accents are hot: butterfly-print curtains, elephant throws, swan lamps, peacock fixtures—textures and shapes inspired by nature are everywhere.
Holding Out for a Hero… Pick a single “hero color” and sprinkle it throughout your space with pillows, rugs, curtains, or art. Even neutral rooms can get a dramatic boost with a well-chosen accent shade.
Paint Half a Wall Try the new ombre-inspired trend: paint the lower half of the wall a darker tone and the top half a lighter shade from the same color family. Instant dimension!
Dining Room Drama Mix and match your dining chairs. Blend styles from different eras—just make sure all chairs feel equally comfortable. Add a patterned tablecloth for extra flair.
Decorate with Maps Maps are having a moment! Try bright world maps for kids’ rooms, antique sketches for a study, or elegant topographical maps in the foyer.
Pick up a 70’s Throwback Tassels and fringe are back. Add them to pillows, throws, stools, or lampshades for a fun retro twist.
With a few of these trendy, budget-friendly upgrades, you can refresh your décor in a single weekend. For even more inspiration—or to find a new home where you can bring your design ideas to life—explore our floor plans or browse our quick move-in homes.
This article was originally published in 2017 and has been updated to reflect 2025 home décor trends.
