The addition of color into any room gives a sense of optimism, spontaneity and promise. Plain white walls can be converted into exciting and enticing color havens; blank palettes for your creative side. The idea is to incorporate these pop art colors into furnishings and fabrics. Keep it small and simple, balance your tones and narrow down the palette are key with this new trend.

Adding electric pink and green pillows helps spruce up this feminine bedroom. Small objects are important when adding accent colors, and cost-effective! Along with the pillows, the designer added a subtle floral design on the ultra white bed frame. Super simple but created with a professional designers eye.

Here, Johnathan Adler arranges some showstopping neon pieces. Year after year, Mr. Adler uses the pop art theme with a very classic style.

This bathroom accessory was found in ElleDecor’s recent Trend Alert. (Hopefully you have checked out my designers profile at the ElleDecor website! If not, here is a link: ElleDecor!) The Barbie lacquer soap dish, lotion pump, and tumbler are by Jonathan Adler as well. At  jonathanadler.com.

David Sharff, an architect in the Boston area knew these vibrant orange bar stools would complete the look in this eclectic/contemporary kitchen.

One of the tricks to adding bright colors is to keep in mind the complementary color wheel. The mellow blueish green hues of this room set off the yellow dining table chairs.

Energizing your home with brilliant colors can be done by simply adding these shades to pieces you already own. Painting this modern wood cupboard with this neon olive stain enhances the piece and the room as a whole.

Having a balance of neutral colors in the room is what makes neon colors work. The lacquer green bar-top complements the soft toned hard wood floors while the hexagon-tiled column draws vertical attention to the kitchen.

Elegance is not lost with the collection of color to a room. The designers here, Elad Gonen and Zeev Beech, incorporated lustrous yellow fabric on a traditionally formal Bergère chair.

Punchy items should be anchored by neutral walls and complementary fabrics. The idea of sticking to two or three shades is well displayed in this bedroom.

Because neon colors are associated with the 1980′s, it is common for the use of these colors in your home to be cheesy or cheap. That is why its important to use the advice of someone well versed in designing a residence so your colors represent the exact look you want. This fashion forward contemporary kitchen is bold with its use of aqua blue cabinets.

Love this room, great balance of color, patterns and accessories!!!

Neon is a hard color to commit to while decorating. Having an experienced designer is all it takes to making this new trend work in your home.

Deciding on a theme for your wall art shouldn’t contradict the obvious nature of the room, e.g. kid’s art in the kid’s room or sultry art in the master bath. And your options are endless.  Maybe moving around some furniture will open up the room and bring attention to a wall you may have overlooked.

This flirtatious art is arranged by just resting upon two twin floating wall shelves. The look is easy to achieve once the shelves are installed and the pieces of art can be rearranged as you collect your works.

Take a look at the pieces of art you already have, do you seem a common theme? Here the focus is on whimsical illustrations.  Adding some personality by framing some of the kids art or your favorite children’s book cover will make this room meaningful.

Splitting up with collage wall arrangements can enlarge a room as seen in this simplistic dining room. The use of different color and shape frames is illustrated here nicely without being overwhelming.

Can you imagine living in a house like this?  Maybe, this is too much but it makes you think!

But, more realistically a great way to add shine is through texture.  The first is a wall covering and the second is a furniture fabric

Fabrics that are prominent in the design world are great for draperies to let the shine in.

Of course small pieces of furniture or small spaces look great with this new shimmery desire.

Bathrooms are a great place to add embellishment and the gloss of the metallic paint will benefit moisture in the room.

Whether you do it large or do it small, whether you do it through texture or through paint, just do it!

Creating an all white kitchen gives you that same sense of mobility and freedom that these two simple floor lamps do.  This is a freestanding kitchen that can be created within the walls of your abode.

The next exact opposite them is color.  Picture yourself in the midst of a tropical rainforest or viewing a rainbow after a warm summer shower.  Incorporate that into your living space.

Tufting as seen in the last years in headboards has expanded to furniture.  Most appear in the classic form but used in a contemporary setting.  But, you still have the option to create a new style of furniture.  The look is chic for sure.

Daybeds are the answer.  With apartments trying to utilize every square inch of space but trying to keep the space clean and open, they have become a great motility for use as a sofa and a night as a sleep solution.

Recycled and Reclaimed will become more and more apparent in kitchens/baths and furniture.  The use of  metals, glass and wood find themselves as new countertops, tabletops and tiles.  What will they think of next?

Duvets are a thing of the past.  Enter beautiful sheets, blankets and throws.  Make that bed look divine with the use of a great coverlet.  Washable is not always the desireable.

Pebble colors are appearing in upholstery along with folded, cascading and molded treatments.

And course animal prints which are omnipresent.  Adding to zebras you will find many others from the “Cat” family.

Ring in the Ne Year with a new room and a new expression.  Here are just some ideas that may affect your next project.  Feel free to call upon Holzman Interiors to make your goals a reality.

When I look out my window at the Empire State Building, the blue and white theme of Hanukkah conjures up beautiful design using the same color palette.  The crisp white juxtaposed with the bright blue makes for a modern, uncluttered design.  Even the image of lighting the Menorah candles at this time of year, shows what a unique look that white/blue can create.  Here’s a wonderful example of Hanukkah garland.

The same blue can be used throughout the first floor to create an impact.  The white columns help balance all the blue running from one room through to the next.

Or, you can really make a statement with a sleek, modern kitchen and eating area.  The glossy blue is not an option for every kitchen but when done right, it can be so inspirational.

Or take the color into your living space.  A predominantly white environment, shot with a bold color can make your space an exciting place to enjoy.  And, when you want a change, you can just remove the draperies and pillows and start all over again.

Again, not everyone can manage to pull off a blue bathroom, but when you do it right, you will feel like you are at the ocean.  Using blue glass tile will certainly emulate the serenity.

For those celebrating Hanukkah, may you enjoy a wonderful holiday with family and friends!

Here was a room I did last year in New York City. Baby Jane’s Room

The nursery I found on Project Nursery has a large mural giraffe which would be perfect for a boy’s or girl’s room. The bright touches of orange around the room really tie everything together.

I loved this room because the homeowners were working with a small space; a common problem that exists all over NYC. The designer, Kirstina H. Meltzer, turned the closet into a nursery nook. The challenge here is to utilize every inch of the space and they did an excellent job with that.

Soft turquoise and bright yellow s gives this gender neutral nursery a modern feel. These colors have been paired before but the look of this room screams FRESH! From MeanndWee.com

A baby’s nursery does not always have to cater to the baby. This sleek and modern room uses mature patterns such as the zebra rug to spice up the room. LOVE the room-for two rocker as well.

I started looking at my portfolio and picked out elements she mentioned. We share many of the same aesthetis such as decorative mirrors and ethnic textiles. Here is a list of my own 10 quirky elements of style, I think every home should possess.

1. Soothing Lighting – The fun, Asian-influenced chandeliers were the inspiration for this living room. They are shirred silk that are really smokey in color but the light illuminates to the lilac color. The light is inviting and warm and makes the living room really worth living in.

2. Bright Accent Colors – Orange is the accent for this sleek space. We knew the orange lampshades would pop the room that was designed with traditional Italian colors. The neon green shelf complements the orange accent pieces and creates a jazzy, modern space.

3. Decorative Mirrors – this bedroom was so calm that adding an accent color would not have made sense but creating a funky, mosaic tile mirror was the answer. The opalescent, beige lucite light fixtures were a great adjunct to the mirror. These pieces really bring a little sparkle and drama into the room

4. Mural Art – These funky and original elements lift the rooms spirit and make your plain bathroom into something spectacular.

5. Organic objects – Brings an earthy, relaxed feel to any living space.

6. Ethnic Textiles – Handcrafted from India, these woven pieces of art add a wildness into any cozy room

7. Sliding Doors – There was no room for traditional doors and what better way to make a grand entrance/exit than to slide doors open on a contemporary, barn track system. A functional fixture in the room can also be characterized as a work of art.

8. Expressive Wallpaper – Doesn’t always have to be on the walls…here the designer chose to wallpaper the back stair or some furniture!

Holiday Lights – There are a variety of ways to turn cliche white lights into a modern, contemporary piece in a room. A warm glow from the headboard? Very cool!

Stone – Here we used tile to mimic a stone wall for the master bathroom. The final look is clean and sleek, perfect for all living areas. This stylish look give a very restful feel to the space.

I have chosen a space with a lot of natural sunlight

You need to pick a desk that will logistically fit into your room. Since this apartment is small, a large desk is unnecessary. Pin Boards are popular at any Home Decor store…stay tuned for how to make one yourself

Decorate the area with things that fascinate you. Things that excite you and inspire you. Patterns you find…Paint Swatches…Pictures…

Make your materials and supplies accessible for you. Keeping things put away may hinder you from jumping into a project.

“Once you can maintain interest in something, investigate it, and fall in love with it. Yo find life is richer and more neaningful”-Frances Lekowitz, author of To Have Not

Make sure you pick a color that brings out other design aspects in the room. Make it bright. In this example, she used Benjamin Moore paint, a quart of their Primer and Paint in one. It covers up to 100 square feet. This is a penny saver because paint can be expensive.When shopping for supplies, just get the basics. No reason to buy the best of the best if it’s a small project.

Painters tape is necessary. It helps keep your straight lines clean. Pick a wall that gets a lot of natural light. Stay away form painting walls with windows.

Make sure to keep your paint area clean and take the time to lay out a canvas or sheet to avoid any additional mess.

And Presto!

To add that extra touch, a darker shade of orange was used to paint the inside sill. Only a pint was needed!

Add some pictures and a few decorative pieces and you are add done!

Don’t let painting discourage you from making your space your own. The one wall wonder really lets you personalize the room. The rules are only enforced by the limitations of your imagination. Have Fun!