2010 will be a year where the right interior design is paramount. Due to the economic downturn, more and more people will be looking to entertain at home and turning to money-saving ways of making their home look special. Recycled and repurposed items mixed with eco-friendly natural materials are the over-riding themes for the year. Here is our rundown of interior design predictions for 2010.

Natural Materials – The use of natural materials such as solid wood and stone will become more popular over the use of other materials such as plastics, glass and MDF. Solid wood flooring has been popular for a number of years and this trend will continue. Solid woods such as pine will make a welcome comeback and we will see some newer contenders come to light such as mango, bamboo and sheesham hardwoods.

Classic/Retro Style – Vintage furnishings will see a rise in popularity this year. Pay particular note to shag-pile rugs, Chesterfield sofas, antique or rustically styled furniture and bold printed fabrics. Warmth and comfort will replace many of the hard, modern lines of previous popularity. Antique furnishings combined with a modern setting create an air of sophisticated style.

Green – This year’s colour will be green in all its guises. Teals and turquoises are definitely hot and bold floral prints will be popular. Use as an accent colour with creams and off-whites for a classic colour combination. Alternatively, mix light teals and blue-greys with splashes of bold accent colours such as purples or oranges.

Green, again – We’ve already mentioned the colour but this time we mean “eco-friendly”. Sustainable is no longer for eco-mentalists and some great sustainable products this way come. Look out for sustainable wood items such as bamboo and mango wood. Recycled items are also really hot, especially recycled or repurposed furniture and accessories, craft pieces and second-hand items given a new lease of life. Not so much recycled tin cans, more repainted or re-upholstered classic pieces and inventive use of materials.

Staying in – Staying in is the new going out. Since the recent economic downturn, trend has shifted towards entertaining at home and this will continue throughout 2010. Creating a warm, welcoming space relies on comfortable, stylish designs. Create a real talking point by repurposing or recycling an old piece of furniture such as covering a worn, old sofa in stylish, modern fabric. Check out interior design blogs and magazines for inspiration.

Outdoor Entertainment – This summer will be big for outdoor entertaining, weather permitting, and the same design trends will be popular outdoors as well as in such as solid wooden garden furniture, eastern influenced planting and repurposed items.

Have fun with your home. A home is not a static design; it is an ever evolving, living organism which continually needs attention. Make your home look the way you want it to, not how some pop star’s house looks on TV in some glossy magazine. After all, it’s you that will be living there and a home which reflects your personality will be far more pleasing than a carbon copy of someone else’s home.

This article is by James, who is a regular author for prestigious furniture sites such as Sheesham Furniture. James has is passionate about furniture and interior design and also writes regularly for amazing sites likeincluding Big Bean Bags amongst others.