What's trendy today?

   Homeowners want their homes to look current, fresh, and up-to-date.  But how do they do that?  The easiest way to do that?  Color!  Patterns!  Texture! 
   New paint on the walls is the most economical way to transform a room.  Start with a neutral, and bring in pops of color through accessories.  Or try an accent wall of another color.  Grey is a popular neutral for 2013, which I personally love.  It can range from the lightest dove grey to a dark charcoal, so there's bound to be one that fits your personality and design style! 

          

This picture is from Better Homes & Gardens

Too afraid, or just don't like grey?  Try taupe: a mix of beige and grey, a new personal favorite!  It's got a little more going on than just your basic beige; a little darker, a little moodier, and much more cozy!
   Wallpapering one wall is another great option.  In the past couple of years, wallpaper has made a huge comeback, and I've seen it used mainly as an accent wall.  Especially if it's a bold pattern or color.  You wouldn't want a whole room of that, now would you??  If you don't want the wallpaper to "pop" or stand out, but you want a little something to break up the paint, pick a tone-on-tone patterned wallpaper & match your wall color to that.  This will achieve the subtle blending of color and/or texture, adds dimensions & interest, and can add a glam factor.

In this room, also from Better Homes & Gardens , there is the tone-on-tone wallpaper on all walls.

Some great rooms also have wallpaper as the feature wall, and it stands out with great color and pattern.  Pull a color from the wallpaper to use on the other walls.

   I found this image from timticks.  The yellow wallpaper is the main pop of color in the room.  The color is repeated in the throw pillows.  The wall color and furniture color is pulled from the grey in the wallpaper.

   Texture and patterns are brought in easily through accessories and smaller seating.  I love patterned upholstered chairs.  If all your upholstered pieces are the same colored fabric, you room can look a little flat.  Bring in an accent chair that has a pattern; a sofa with a patterned fabric, will look busy since it's a bigger size.  Limit your sofa to a solid, stripe, or texture, and bring pattern in through a pillow or an afghan.  Now, I have seen a pattern on a sofa, but it was a large scale, and it can be done.  To me, it's a little scary, and I might get tired of it over time.  Keep your main seating neutral so it will fit in with any scheme over the years when your style changes.