The first few months of every year bring predictions of what is to come in the world of home decor. We travel to many of the shows throughout North America to see what is new and being offered to retailers that will finally be on offer to you, the consumer.

Recycled and up cycled, or even sometimes just made to look vintage was completely apparent in just about every single showroom we went into. Some of the best-known brands of furniture in North America, like Hooker, Stanley, Century Furniture and Bernhardt, which tend to be traditional, showed vintage items mixed into their showrooms. A few of the busy wholesalers sold nothing but found objects from various places around the world while other sellers might have created items that resembled the vintage items. Almost every piece of lighting was sporting an Edison bulb with the prominent filament, calling back to the first bulbs of 1880s.

In another design trend for 2014, the ’60s are back. It was common to see sideboards and entertainment units that had ’60s detail including the inset legs on an angle and the starburst appliqué in the middle of doors. The starburst detail was found in wall art, hanging lamps, chandeliers and more. Mid-century modern mixed with the vintage details is what I believe we can expect to see in the hip and urban stores. The classics, such as the Eames chairs and the wishbone, are still being displayed.

I was very happy to see blue make a return and used almost as a neutral. It would be a theme throughout the show in various shades and tones that went all the way from robin’s egg blue, which was a fabric on a sofa, to midnight blue, royal blue and straight through to black-blue of some wall coverings. You will find that blue is an accent colour in many items from accessories to throw pillows, carpets and seating.

Although I had kind of expected that we would see many pieces that had a deco feel, that was not nearly so present.

There was a slight nod to that time in the layers in the room settings. An oversized mirror with a large hall table sitting directly in front of it, wall art hung as if there was more art than wall, book shelves that were layered front to back was a theme that threaded through many showrooms.

Just about every piece of furniture was offering a little extra detail in the knobs or mouldings, button-tufting or studded details. The collection of finishes in most every room was everything from glass and chrome to brass and gold. The mixing of metals seemed to be part of the feel of many room settings. It may be that the influence of found objects and vintage pieces started the eclectic look, but it has happily found its way into the finest of furniture showrooms.

Combinations of wood types and colours of painted finished woods were perfectly acceptable to the showrooms that have the most traditional of tastes. Painted furniture was also part of the mix in the collage of finishes. The one colour that was back with a force was the colour gold. The chrome that we have all been so accustomed to for the last several years has been superseded by gold. The gold is more antiqued than in the past.

Apparently, “Everything old is new again” would be the quick summation of what is on the horizon!

Glen Peloso is a design expert on The Marilyn Denis Show and Restaurant Makeover. For further info: www.glenpelosointeriors.com