TRENDY DECORATING

Pat Conley hung the decorative border above the wallpaper.

Marilyn Needham of East Cape Girardeau, Ill., showed a Victorian magnolia wreath she made with grapevine.

A cinnamon door broom with silk mums is another decoration made by Marilyn Needham.

Decorators and designers know that the worlds of home decorating and fashion often move in similar cycles.

Attitudes and outlooks, even hopes and aspirations are illustrated through color and form.

While smart buyers know that satisfying their own sense of style is the best way to go, trends, nevertheless, hold substantive impact.

Color is among the facets of style on the move. Some of the newest colors in home decor -- inside and out -- echo the warmth of the kitchen. They are called spices, like cinnamon and paprika, explained Debby Erlbacher-Steger, interior decorator with Stev-Mark in Cape Girardeau.

Similarly, a longing for a sense of the more casual is equally apparent in the home and in fashion.

On the homefront, a major trend these days comes in the form of a goal. "Home has to be very content," said Erlbacher-Steger. "People are trying to eliminate congestion, make home life simple," she said. Simplicity, comfort and warmth are often the desired effects of decorating plans, she said.

Historical tones, hues that mimic their name and often with a gray base are coming into soft, soothing focus in many homes, Erlbacher-Steger said.

While individualized expressions of casual may be enjoying particular interest, more formal looks will always be the preference of some.

Just as decorating goals are sure to vary, ways to achieve those goals are many. "Right now is a really good time to decorate because whatever you like is probably available," said Lou Ann Launhardt, owner of Just For You Designs in Cape Girardeau.

When it comes to color, "Green is probably the color that has seen the most dramatic change," she said. "A few years ago they took green off the color map"; however, these days green can be found in tones ranging from teal to olive, Launhardt explained.

Red, gold and even orange are among the colors that are evolving into popularity for use in the home. Hunter green, burgundy and navy blue continue to hold broad appeal.

Wallcoverings, Launhardt said, are leaning toward the bolder rather than the smaller prints.

Faux-finish wallcoverings, often coordinated with a more strikingly designed border are increasingly used, Erlbacher-Steger explained.

The use of texture, from the subtle movement in a faux-finish wallcovering to special effects achieved through techniques like sponging on painted walls, is another home decoration trend. That interplay of texture continues with window treatments, flooring, even furniture and accessories.

Mini-blinds, pleated shades and other softer treatments are in widespread use, Launhardt said.

Scharlene Jones and Pat Conley have a hand in helping homeowners achieve their decorating goals. Owners of PS: Wallpaper Service, based in Jackson, Jones and Conley said the popularity of styles incorporate such designs as ivy and other outdoor or garden motifs.

Marble-like wallcovering, coupled with more decorative borders, is a popular look among many, both agreed.

In kitchen wallcoverings, borders adorned with fruit patterns continue to hold wide appeal, both agreed. Coordination among wallcovering, draperies and household accessories is a look often sought, they noted.

"There's a lot of bringing the outside in," Erlbacher-Steger observed. Likewise, many people enjoy applying the personal touch to the exterior of their home, too.

Porches, flower beds and front doors are prime candidates for decorative expression. "We have people that come in and buy decorations to put out in the fall, Easter ... everyone's decorating for every season," said Brinda Luttrull of Country Shade Craft Mall in Cape Girardeau.

Marilyn Needham of East Cape Girardeau, Ill., creates designs that hold appeal for use both inside and out. Her wreaths, available at Country Shade Craft Mall, grace doorways and walls throughout the region.

Large, open, airy wreaths are among favorite styles these days, she said, noting: "Magnolias are getting really, really great." Most of her creations incorporate silk decorations and a grapevine wreath.

The Victorian look -- often characterized by braided ropes, tassels, berries and the like -- is enjoying particular appeal, Needham said. "The colors are kind of changing," she, too, observed.

More paramount than any trend is the importance of homeowner satisfaction. "The person has to be happy with the color when they walk into the room," Jones said. "You've got to pick out what you're happy with and the colors you like," Conley advised.

After all, noted Erlbacher-Steger, "Anyone can have a house, but if you want a home, you have to make it."