Style icons know that the magic of an impactful outfit (or an inimitable signature style — we’re looking at you, Iris Apfel) very often lies in the accessorizing. And according to Etsy Merchandising Specialist Lindsay O’Brien, who spends her days scrolling through listings for edgy statement pendants and funky handmade ceramic planters, the same holds true for fashioning memorable interiors. “Small accents are a great way to refresh your space and keep it feeling current without doing a complete overhaul,” Lindsay says. “And because they don’t come with the same level of commitment as big-ticket items, you have more freedom to experiment with trends and try out new colors, patterns or textures — whatever you happen to be drawn to at the moment.”
Are you ready to shake up your decor with a few distinctive — or even daring — pieces? We’ve pinpointed six trending items, motifs and materials that are sure to pop up in living rooms, bedrooms, and home offices far and wide in 2016. Any one of them will give your home an instant update.
Trend One: Marble Accents
Appearing as candle holders, trays, coasters, planters, and picture holders, marble (and marble-like) elements deliver little hits of luxury, while lending a crisp look and a sense of timelessness to any room.
Studiogwen marble-look plaster letters, $2; buy it here
FiddleLeaf Designs Carrara marble coasters, $30 for four; buy it here
HPS Customs marble tray, $125; buy it here
Trend Two: Global Folk Textiles
Move over, mudcloth and shibori. Bright, embroidered and woven fabrics in a rainbow of colors (think: vivid pink and blue Guatemalan designs) have taken their place at the top of the hot-textiles heap. Look for them in pillow, upholstery, table linen and wall hanging form.
Billy’s Bungalow antique textile, $295; buy it here
Woven Rivers pillow, $164; buy it here
Trend Three: Matte Finishes
Oxidized metals, matte glazes, and chalk-finish paints — in shades that fall somewhere between charcoal and obsidian — convey a kind of casual sophistication that works in minimalist, industrial, and rustic-inspired interiors alike. Note: Use sparingly and pair with other, more reflective surfaces, lest you create an overly cave-like vibe.
Wires n Jars pendant lamp, $90; buy it here
Lady Faye Jewelry copper dish, $48; buy it here
One & Many ceramic planter, $34; buy it here
Trend Four: Blue-and-White Tableware
Whether antique or contemporary, traditional or with a twist, the descendants of Delft and Chinoiserie designs (along with other pottery that shares the palette) are a surefire way to brighten place settings, open shelving and window ledges. Plus, many pieces designed for the kitchen or tabletop do a fine job storing bathroom essentials or beloved pieces of jewelry, too.
The Rooster’s Nest vintage Delft salt and pepper shakers, $12.50; buy it here
Duck Ceramics mug, $44; buy it here
The Parsons Pleasures antique porcelain ginger jar, $165; buy it here
Trend Five: Leather Details
It’s masculine minimalism, mellowed out. Simple sections of leather trim soften clocks, mirrors and shelves made from unfinished wood, while small, all-leather accessories bring some earthy softness to a spare space.
Factory Twenty One clock, $59; buy it here
Subconscious Crafts leather tray, $40; buy it here
Wren & Cooper blackened oak mirror, $1,200; buy it here
Trend Six: Mixed Metals
Think layering metals makes too bold a statement? Think again. In fact, a skillful combination of silver, gold, brass or copper tones translates to a surprisingly neutral color palette of whites, grays, beiges and pinks that’s reminiscent of Pantone’s colors of the year for 2016 — soft Rose Quartz and Serenity, a powdery blue. (We also love the juxtaposition of metals with natural, matte, or textured materials, such as wood, concrete, and marble.)
Photonic Studio brass-and-steel boom lamp, $269; buy it here
A Vintage Collective vintage brass napkin rings, $26 for six; buy it here
Candle Co custom soy wax candle in marble and copper holder, $54; buy it here
Valerie Rains is an editor at Etsy.
130 comments
Square Squirrel Studio from SquareSquirrelStudio said 4 years ago
Love the marble, matte finishes and leather accents. Certainly some inspiration here.
tuatha from Tuatha said 4 years ago
Quite a dynamic collection! Thanks!
Jeanne S from EclecticSageVintage said 4 years ago
I've always loved blue and white dishes! Great trend! So vintage-y in all the right ways! Love the rest of the picks, too!
Francine from HomespunHeartofMine said 4 years ago
What a great collection of some of my favorite things!!! Love the marble and the flat matte finished pieces & I will always be a pottery fan!!! :D
Sue from SuesAkornShop said 4 years ago
Love the items.
Olga Mareeva from OlgaMareeva said 4 years ago
Great!
Will Z. from ArmorOfModernMen said 4 years ago
Excellent. I am excited about the new trends and how mixing it up with texture and simple lines is bold and elegant.
accentonvintage from accentonvintage said 4 years ago
Great trends!
TropicalGarden from TropicalGarden said 4 years ago
Nice selections! I like the new trends, simple and gorgeous!
StillVintage from StillVintage said 4 years ago
I feel like blue and white tableware is so light and fresh. My favorite picture in the blog.
Sandy Wiggins from SandyWigginsImages said 4 years ago
Awesome finds. I love the little marble side table and the blue and white mug!
Last Ditch Laura from LaurasLastDitch said 4 years ago
Maybe it's time to pull out my husband's Romanian grandmother's handwoven linens!
Mary Datwyler from SunflowerGlassworks said 4 years ago
Nice finds!
Beatriz Macias from MidModMomStore said 4 years ago
Great collection. I am happy to see at least a couple of vintage items featured here. Thanks!
Debra Gilstrap from gilstrapdesigns said 4 years ago
Very inspiring collection!
Carol Hernandez from WinterberryGifts said 4 years ago
Yes, it was a great collection. I especially like the blue and white.
Christina from TheWildPlum said 4 years ago
Wonderful choices! Artful and warm. What's not to love!
Zoui from XZOUIX said 4 years ago
i'm in a process of refreshing my space right now. thank you for sharing some pretty cool ideas, i love the clean industrial (yet cozy) style!
Jill Ffrench from FantailsAndFeet said 4 years ago
Oh that's exciting to hear! My birds definitely come under the global folk textiles category.
Stacy from TinySacredThings said 4 years ago
Beautiful collection. Thanks for keeping is informed of the trends. I love the matte finish ceramics and touches of leather.
Megan from MegansMenagerie said 4 years ago
Love these collections!
Andrii from OakKitchenBoards said 4 years ago
Beautiful collection
Priscilla from Gardenmis said 4 years ago
Some of my favorites! Thank you for sharing :)
Julia K Walton from FireHorseVintageHQ said 4 years ago
I love the matte finishes - perfect advice since I am in the middle of re-doing our lounge :o)
Magna Carta from MagnaCartaDigitalArt said 4 years ago
I think blue and white will always be very popular. I just saw that Pantone chose two colors for 2016. It's the first time they have named two colors instead of one. They have chosen a pale pink tone and a pale blue one. I think the proper names are pink quartz and serenity blue. So maybe this year we'll start seeing a lot more of blue and pink in combination too. Thanks for this blog as it is important to understand what's trending when thinking about new products!
Esnelle from Esnelle said 4 years ago
Those are lovely. Thank you for sharing!
Relly from RelsFindsNapaValley said 4 years ago
I'm in awe of all these trendy decors... clean designs and cool color with a little bit of warm color. Thanks for this article of great ideas.
Linda Foerster from HollyCreekHome said 4 years ago
Great collection - LOVE how simple and elegant a statement they all make! Thanks!
Sissi Hand from SissiHand said 4 years ago
Very nice selection !! <3 Love all, but, obviously, in special m mode folk design *_* It's very happy and cool
Sara Ermisch from LeosLovelyTreasures said 4 years ago
lovely finds!
Wendy Stennett from LiliDog said 4 years ago
Love the trends for 2016. I particularly like the blue and white theme and marble accents.
RockNPrint Ruano from RockNPrint said 4 years ago
Love trends 3 & 5!
ACR from IntoTheBluePaintShop said 4 years ago
Such cool finds !!
Laura Prill from lauraprillabstract said 4 years ago
thanks for all of the sleuthing that you did to bring this post to us :)
Katie Anne from MiddleCoast said 4 years ago
Yes please!! Now for combining the blue and whites with global textiles ;)
Vintage De Mar from VintageDeMar said 4 years ago
Simplicity is the key! And God is in the details...
Cristy Ramos from ArtisanBathandBody said 4 years ago
Beautiful! Simply beautiful! <3
Sujata from TreasuredMemoryLane said 4 years ago
Very trendy collection! Love the simplicity of them. Thanks for sharing!
Milly Sorrentino from millyscollection said 4 years ago
Lovely mix! Thanks!
Renata Sponn Design from Sponndesign said 4 years ago
Beautiful! Truly inspiring..!
Nicole from KarmaCodeOne said 4 years ago
Great Choices ! That one special piece can create such a beautiful space.
Kashuen Collectibles from Kashuen said 4 years ago
I love the Global Folk Textiles choice. Thanks for sharing.
Rosita from pillowlink said 4 years ago
I thinkit may be Very personal choice. And this is only little piece of trend of 2016. So waiting for more inspirational articles....
Giorgia Poggioli from FiloContorto said 4 years ago
Great selection!!
Georgia from JewelMeShop said 4 years ago
Fantastic collection! Thanks for sharing!
Rachel Bingaman from BingArt said 4 years ago
Beautiful ideas. I just love the marble coasters and the matte finished items. :)
Jana and John from SpiritsCove said 4 years ago
Beautiful trends!
Proton ThreeD from Proton3D said 4 years ago
great pieces!
Hajira Gibb from HajiraKG said 4 years ago
Great collection. Thank you for sharing :)
allwood1 from AllWoodToo said 4 years ago
Very unique! What an awesome collection of items!
veronica m from spremutadipois said 4 years ago
Beautiful selection! Thanks, good ideas.
Cecilia Erlich from PrunaShop said 4 years ago
Nice selection!
DeUno from DeUno said 4 years ago
Beautiful trends!
Büşra DG from DGatelier said 4 years ago
So cool selection and great ideas. Thanks for sharing!
Aisha Erika B and Lamin Fatty from HipOrange said 4 years ago
Very Inspiring :)
Sunita from VintageGatorShop said 4 years ago
Simply stunning. Love the leather tray! Wow!!
wanida kunchiang from wanidacotton said 4 years ago
fantastic collection!
Gwynne Collins from DaysLongGone said 4 years ago
Love your finds!
Madeleine Keller from ThoseGoodVibrations said 4 years ago
While the act of classifying global folk textiles as a trend is very commodifiying and culturally appropriative, the rest of these are great and spot-on. I'd appreciate a little more concern for cultural sensitivity next time.
Michele from Brooklyngems said 4 years ago
Yes, I love the mixed colored metals.
CosplaySupplyStore from CosplaySupplyStore said 4 years ago
Mixed alloys & Matte finished hardwood is something I'm going to be doing with my line of furniture for sure!
ACR from WoodsyWools said 4 years ago
Love these finds !!
Anessa Galvez from AnessasXTreasures said 4 years ago
Truly unique!! It is always nice to see unusually creative new trends.
Deb Coleman from TheMermaidApothecary said 4 years ago
Beautiful and inspiring. Thank you!
Wall Star Graphics from WallStarGraphics said 4 years ago
Love so many of these trends currently. Home decor inspiration!
Amanda Franklin-Brown from CoveCalligraphy said 4 years ago
Beautiful selection - I especially love the wooden clock with the leather strap.
Melanie Manning from BoyBandzAndBabyGear said 4 years ago
I wonder about cultural appropriation and sensitivity of global folk designs. I would not personally feel comfortable capitalizing on those trends as they are not a part of my heritage.
Valerie from vtylercollection said 4 years ago
Absolutely loving many of these trends.
Carol from MasCollected said 4 years ago
Very nice post. Everything comes round again. This is great for the artisan and the vintage shops on Etsy. The customer always wins. Thank you.
Jodi Harris from RoomInteriors said 4 years ago
Very Nice Collection- Nice to see 'Real Vintage' Items in the Trends!
SJ Woo from SJDesignsNewYork said 4 years ago
Love your selection. Beautiful and inspiring collection.
Kim Strozewski from SassySisterVintage said 4 years ago
There's not one of these trends that I don't love. Great job!
Katya Malkin from EmmasStory said 4 years ago
Very stylish and inspiring! Great items!
FeltWoolSlippers S from FeltWoolSlippers said 4 years ago
So stylish ideas!
Vickie Street from StreetCrossingDesign said 4 years ago
Will have to look for more items in Blue and white and marble to sell in my shop. Vintage items.
Rasa Rabaciene from PRINTDECOstudio said 4 years ago
Wonderful!
Julia from PopelineDeco said 4 years ago
Great finds!
Nancy D from RRGS said 4 years ago
Will try to incorporate some of your findings into my Etsy shop. Thanks for the information. It is always a great day when you learn new things. That's the best part of this business.
Zuri Scrivens from 12LittleThings said 4 years ago
Love where the trends are headed. Thank you! ♡
Arabela Covaciu from AntiqueTransylvania said 4 years ago
Such wonderful finds!!! Looks like I am in the trends with my Vintage Table Runners woven by by grandmother :)
Susan Borghesi from agardenrose said 4 years ago
Looking forward to adding some colors and textures to my handmade ceramics. thanks!
Alesya Getman from CloverPower said 4 years ago
So interesting! Thank you)
Tina from MyFrenchAntiqueShop said 4 years ago
Great trends, especially the blue white tableware, my favorites too
Patricia Barber from MargueriteMix said 4 years ago
Blue and White. Always in style.
Peggy from makeroom4greta said 4 years ago
I might have some of this..........
Tipple and Snack from tippleandsnack said 4 years ago
I agree, blue+white is always in style!
ALICE JOHNSON from AntiquesByGranny said 4 years ago
I think that Vintage Fire King Swirl Dishes in the pale blue and pale pink will fall right in with this new color trend for 2016!!! Alice AntiquesByGranny
Marianna and Maksym S. from UniThings said 4 years ago
Thank you for sharing!
Amy Jorgensen from HollyWoodTwine said 4 years ago
Love knowing what's trending. I'm also loving rose gold accents right now!
Maria and Mimi from OceanOfFlowers said 4 years ago
Nice to see True Vintage and Handcrafted mixed together! Liked the Global Folk Designs added as well and I really don't see an issue here - they are Global after all - just choose what best represents of fit your heritage and folk...
Sarah from lemonbuzzzsoap said 4 years ago
Loving all these different textures & tones!
Mary from DomusVintage said 4 years ago
while I'm not a huge an of marble as for home decor and furniture, I really like those industrial lamps!!!!
Susan Wagner from beachbabyblues said 4 years ago
Love the brass-and-steel boom lamps ~ those could fit in just about any decor ~ depending on placement, of course ~ for a new pop and a bold statement ! Really well done !! Love the Blue and white ~ makes me think of SUMMER in Greece !! Thank you taking the time to find these and share them !
Karen from BaytreeStudio said 4 years ago
Blue and white tableware - so classic, and I love the mixed metal look.
Linda Hasking from IdentityPapers said 4 years ago
A real inspiration for new products. My Cushions and pillows will have leather tags when I launch them next month, so not playing catch-up there. Maybe I should consider marketing our Willow Pattern Origami Box for serving after dinner mints, or as table favours with the blue and white tableware trend. https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/190445619
Michaelann from GracefulEntry said 4 years ago
LOVE the blue and white tableware. To me its like a fresh urban take on classic Scandinavia! Great pieces featured.
Kathie Forehand-Chaddick from katietwoshoesvintage said 4 years ago
Great inspiration! I need to take new photos to showcase these trends.
Laura Foster Nicholson from lfntextiles said 4 years ago
Nice set of ideas, but it would be helpful to see a few more trends with textiles and surface design.
Alexandra Simons from BlueMoonLights said 4 years ago
Very stylish finds! Love the idea of combining/mixing metals!
Rebeca Santivañez from KkonaPillows said 4 years ago
Gracias por compartir las tendencias, me encantan los textiles y el cuero. Muy buena la colección y la fotografía muy profesional.
Nadia and Vika from Crafts2Love said 4 years ago
love the minimalist style of leather detail items featured, esp. the clock!
Ellie Bradley from EllieBGlass said 4 years ago
love the matt -now inspired to work on some matt glass pieces !
Bonnie Lecat from bonnielecat said 4 years ago
I love anything natural! Marble, leather, and metal are always winners in my book:)
ReclaimArtifactsHome from ReclaimArtifactsHome said 4 years ago
Hmmmmm, will be ordering some indigo linen! Thx for the advice!
GwenD. D. from AccentuateToday said 4 years ago
As a soft home furnishing designer, glad to read about the marble, leather and metal trends happening in other home decor categories for spring 2016. Thanks for the update!
Stéphanie Bodin from LesRelicoeurs said 4 years ago
Very inspiring !
Adley and Company from adleyandcompany said 4 years ago
Have always loved the look of marble. Especially in small amounts - a little bit of luxury can be just enough. Thanks for the inspirations!
Margarita from CaseOcean said 4 years ago
Marble looks amazing in all kinds of designs. And it seems becoming a real trending thing. Thank you for this post - I just found some inspiration :)
Janice Murray from JLMPHOTOGRAPHS said 4 years ago
Wonderful post. Great collections!
Carolyn Grace Work from LeBeauGraceDesigns said 4 years ago
Love! Thanks for the article. Very insightful. I'm sure everything will pop out now when I'm scrolling.
Debi from MadGirlRetro said 4 years ago
Oh good, I'm so glad it's legal to mix metals now because I've always loved it and have been doing it for a long time!
Marianne from ArizonaMarmaladeShop said 4 years ago
Exciting trends. Love the marble accessories!
Olga Guzhevnikova from MurMurik said 4 years ago
Great!
Felipa Hanson from CardsinStock said 4 years ago
Thanks for the trends!
Paula Jozwik from wiresNjars said 4 years ago
Beautiful items! SO happy to be featured! Thank you!
Marina Sh. from RiotOfColors said 4 years ago
Lovely mix! Thanks!
Anela from PriorityWindowOutlet said 4 years ago
Not bad. Some of these could be used as accents to tone other elements down.
J.B. Hoffman from JBHoffman said 4 years ago
My fav is blue and white. From all eras you can't go wrong!
MatsaZ Zilih from 3xRE said 4 years ago
Beautiful simplicity!!!
Mojca and Marko Dolinar from DURIDO said 4 years ago
Wonderful!
Arty By Romy from ArtyByRomy said 4 years ago
Wonderful post! I am just starting on Etsy and make candlelight holders.
Sofia Larich from TrendBolt said 4 years ago
I like that general trend of clean and simple continues in 2016. Such pieces fit many interiors.
Denise Elliott Jones from DeniseElliottJones said 4 years ago
nice!
Califia Hurtado from TheBeadMuseTx said 4 years ago
It's interesting to read about interior design trends, and try to figure out how to apply it to the suncatchers and tree sculptures I make. I'm not sure how, but it's getting my brain going!
Sorbetedelimon from Sorbetedelimonprints said 4 years ago
Love this!
Shulamit Raanan from ShuliDesigns said 4 years ago
Very inspiring collection! Thank you for sharing!
Erika from TheRusticInk said 4 years ago
Great article! Love the new trends!
Mary and Dan Smagner from Smagnificent said 4 years ago
I like the mixing of textures. Bits of leather added to pieces. Simple, warm and elegant
Jean from JeansVintageCloset said 4 years ago
Basically an Artist does what they can with what they have, to keep a home functional yet comfortable, I can not tell you how many books, and fabric samples I reference daily Incorporating Fresh ideas such as live plants and pastel textiles along with nifty thrifty storage ideas solutions for my home studio are the greatest gifts so far. Have been an Etsy shopper for the past years and found that many wonderful vintage decor items sell quickly, so it is best to buy it the minutes you discover it
GEM ROOM from GEMROOM said 4 years ago
Metal items are always in trend!