Wow! Open Up Those Rooms! Space Saving Ideas that allow you to breathe at home ...

Save Space by Compacting Clutter, Opening Walls

RISMEDIA, Friday, January 29, 2016— As trends in living space transition downward, it could proportionately compound the amount of clutter stacking up on shelves, and in closets, basements and attics. So we turned to Greg Dodge whose recent post atdesignbasics.com reviewed "5 Modern Ways to Reduce Wasted Space in Your Floor Plan."

A couple of suggestions Dodge provides are to knock down walls, and even eliminate entire conventional rooms if that's what it takes to expand the floor plan.

For home designs have multiple small rooms, if it is not imperative to your lifestyle, Dodge says knock down a few walls and open up the area. Open floor plans are the way many modern home designs are leaning - and are on the ‘must-have’ list for many homeowners.

And if the floor plan of your home includes a dining room, and your family lifestyle has no need for a formal place to eat your meals, Dodge says consider converting this space into an office, playroom, craft room or just about anything else you would actually use on a regular basis.

Personal organizing expert Dena Pasis (personalorganizing.about.com) believes by adopting a few simple strategies, you can maximize your living space, conquer clutter and get organized.

Pasis goes for wall storage. She says walls are a great use of space that is often neglected.

Pasis says using wall-mounted shelving, a baker’s rack or cabinets provide a functional option for freeing up floor space and accommodating a number of storage solutions:

• Photos
• Photo Albums
• Books, Catalogs or Magazines
• Multi-Media
• Office Supplies
• Correspondence
• Craft Supplies
• Keepsakes

To avoid a cluttered look and to create defined spaces, Pasis says room dividers are a great solution. They provide separation while having a functional and stylish purpose.

Furniture pieces with storage compartments provide a great space-saving option as well Pasis says. Another option to create a separate area is to use an armoire for an office or craft room, the doors on the armoire will allow for the same function as a closet.

January 31, 2016 Prosperity Home Mortgage Rates. Consider Buying an OCMD Beach Home.

As part of my continued service to you, I'd like to provide the most up-to-date interest rates at Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC. This is an indication of mortgage rates at the time this document is published. Specific rates are quoted based on a borrower’s qualifying criteria, credit score, equity, property type, and any applicable state-specific requirements. I would like the opportunity to provide specific rate quotes to your clients based on their specific needs.     REFERRAL PARTNER RATE SHEET January 31, 2016   Rate APR Points 30 Year Fixed 3.625% 3.768% 0.250 15 Year Fixed 3.000% 3.172% 0.000 5 Year ARM 2.750% 3.291% 0.250 5/5 ARM (>$417K) 3.125% 3.505% 0.000 5 Year FHA ARM 2.875% 3.838% 0.250 30 Year FHA 3.250% 4.360% 0.000 30 Year VA  3.375% 3.768% 0.125 5 Year VA ARM 2.875% 3.097% 0.250 30 Year USDA 3.375% 4.238% 0.000 Two Step 15/15 ARM 4.000% 3.818% 0.000 30 Year Jumbo 4.000% 4.042% 0.000 Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC and I look forward to working with you to develop client relationships that last a lifetime. Please contact me at 410-937-1520 or lisa.diesel@phmloans.com if I can assist you or any of your clients. To get the latest market news, click the image below

Sincerely, Lisa M. Diesel Mortgage Consultant Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC NMLSR ID # 210091 Company NMLS ID #75164 http://www.lisadiesel.phmloans.com

Where to Live: Something Old, Something New, or Something Rented?

By Yuqing Pan  Realtor.com  January 18, 2016

                                                                           LPETTET/pikappa/Zerbor/iStock

In the world of real estate, it qualifies as The Big Question: “Should you buy or should you rent?” 

But let’s dive deeper into the realities of the 2016 marketplace. The seemingly simple category of “homes for sale” actually covers a mind-bending number of different options. So maybe the better question is: “Should you buy a new house, buy an old house, or just keep on renting?”

It’s easy to see the emotional appeal of each. Buy a brand-new home, and you can customize it to your own (cultured? progressive? freaky?) personal taste, then move in knowing that no one else’s fungal toes have ever slid over the bathroom floor. An older home might have more character and some interesting history, and be in a well-established neighborhood that you love. 

And renting? Well, it allows you to pull up stakes with just a few weeks’ notice, ready to follow a new job opportunity, a budding romance, or a national tour with the reformed Guns N’ Roses. It also enables you to set down some roots without the financial onus of a hefty down payment.

But putting emotions aside, how do the new, old, and rent options compare when it comes to real numbers and tangible features? Let’s go to the data!

What it’s really going to cost you

Price is often the biggest hurdle to homeownership. Considering that the median list price on our website is $228,000 and an average home buyer puts a 12% down payment in 2015, that’s $27,360 in cold, hard cash. Last year, home prices rose 5% to 7% nationally, says our chief economist, Jonathan Smoke. These rising prices, often outpacing pay raises, have held back many a would-be home buyer.

Does that mean renting makes more economic sense? Not really—rent increases are even crazier. Nationally, the average apartment rent stands at nearly $1,180, up from about $1,125 a year ago, according to the Wall Street Journal. But in the 20 biggest metropolitan areas, asking median rent reached $1,868 in November 2015, a whopping 13.6% increase from a year ago, according to Altos Research.

That makes buying a home sound better and better. But due to shrinking inventory, competition among buyers is likely to be fierce this year, says Smoke. One savvy strategy is to consider new homes, which are typically overlooked by many buyers. Price is one primary reason: In November 2015, the median sales price of existing single-family homes, not seasonally adjusted, is $220,300; and new homes command a median of $305,000—almost 40% higher.

But that higher price tag might not wind up being as much of a financial burden as it may seem. Sometimes you need to dig a bit deeper to understand what you’re getting for the steeper initial cost of a new home.

“An existing home is more likely than not to have some kind of maintenance issue,” says Smoke. “For a new home, everything is brand new and typically covered by a warranty. Most new-home owners will get a one-year warranty for labor and materials, two years’ protection for mechanical defects—plumbing, electrical, heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems—and 10 years for structural defects.

Assuming that a new home incurs no maintenance cost for the first five years, here’s the cost comparison of a new home and an existing home within the same period. HGTV advises homeowners to set aside 1% to 3% of an existing home’s price for maintenance and repairs each year. The following graphic uses the conservative estimate of 1%—it would obviously be way higher if the home were in lousy condition.

As for rental prices across the U.S., they just keep heading skyward with no end in sight. According to current levels, a typical renter would pay more than $70,800 for five years of housing. And, yeah, the house (or any kind of equity) isn’t included.

Bottom line: If you can afford the new-home price, you’ll get more value than you think.

What you’re going to get

The three types of housing offer distinctive features that essentially speak to different lifestyles.

For each category, we measured how often a particular feature is mentioned in listings to figure out how common it is. We used single-family homes built in 2015 as our indicator of new homes, and those dating to the 1980s—when the majority of our for-sale listings were constructed—for existing homes.

With a new home comes modern living: Spend time with family in the open-concept living room, whip up some blanquette de veau with your stainless-steel appliances in a chef’s kitchen, keep your clothes organized in the walk-in closet (or maybe even a glam room!). Many new homes are also touted as energy-efficient, which saves money on utility bills.

Older homes often come with cozy features that may or may not seem dated. They could be wall-to-wall carpeting and fireplaces, or even wet bars!

As for renters, you are trading one convenience for another. Many buildings offer amenities such as a 24-hour fitness center, community pool, and doorman, but some specifically say no pets or no smoking (unless you want to kiss off your security deposit forever).

Location, location, location

New homes offer a slew of tangible merits, but the best locations aren’t among them. It’s one of the prime trade-offs: Generally speaking, the most desirable addresses and neighborhoods are already filled with existing development.

But it’s a different story for rental units, many of which are in (old and new) apartment complexes in urban neighborhoods. As a result, rental units usually offer the highest levels of convenience in terms of proximity to restaurants, shopping venues, and public transportation. After all, renters tend to be young, social, and mobile.

For older buyers seeking a good education for their children, existing single-family homes are more likely to be located near established school districts. If you search the listings for “great schools” or “top schools,” you’re even more likely to find your perfect match.

Yuqing Pan covers data-driven stories at realtor.com. 

Buying? What You Will Need to Finance a Vacation Home

What You’ll Need to Finance a Vacation Home 

By   Beth Braverman  for  Realtor.com  January 19, 2016

 Growing numbers of Americans these days are living a prime variation of the real estate dream: you know, the one about owning a property in your favorite place that you can use as a second home or just a much-needed escape from the pressures or banality of the everyday. In fact, the phrase “vacation home” practically makes us giddy, whether the place in question is located in the mountains, on the water, or in a bustling city.

Interested? Obsessed, even? Then you’d better get your finances into tiptop shape.

Certainly you’ll find plenty of company. Vacation home sales soared to 1.13 million in 2014, according to the National Association of Realtors®. That’s the highest level since NAR began the survey in 2003, and a 57% increase from 2013.

The spike reflects an improving economy—as well as demographic shifts that have more baby boomers purchasing vacation homes intended to serve as their primary residence after retirement. (Want to win a fabulous vacation home? Click this link to enter the HGTV Dream Home sweepstakes, and you’ll get a bonus entry!)

Seven in 10 vacation-home buyers use a mortgage to finance the purchase. So if you’re considering buying a second home, here’s what your lender will be looking for:

Good credit

                              

You’ll need a credit score in at least the mid-600s to qualify for a mortgage on a vacation home, but the higher your score the better rate you’ll get on the loan.

“Our best rates tend to be for clients who have a 720–740 FICO score,” says Quicken Loans Vice President Bill Banfield. “As the score goes down, the costs increase incrementally.”

If you know you’ll be making a vacation home purchase in the near future, check your credit reports now to see if there are any errors or if your score needs improvement.

A higher down payment

While there are conventional loan programs for primary home residences that allow you to make a purchase with as little as 5% down, you’ll need to put down at least 10% for a vacation home. As with conventional mortgages, putting down at least 20% will give you access to the best possible rates without having to pay mortgage insurance.

Extra cash on hand

In addition to having enough assets to cover closing costs and moving expenses, you’ll need to have cash reserves equal to at least two months’ worth of expenses on the vacation property in order to get loan approval.

Income to support both properties

Ideally, lenders are looking for a debt-to-income ratio of 43% or less for both the vacation home and your primary residence. Typically, that means the total cost of the mortgages and taxes on both homes, along with any other household debt such as student loans or car payments, can’t equal more than 43% of your total family income. In some circumstances, lenders may be able to make an exception.

“If you’re pushing the envelope with your debt-to-income, it helps to have a higher credit score or put down a bigger down payment,” says Kevin Leibowitz, president of mortgage broker Grayton Mortgage.

Proof that it’s a vacation home

The financing requirements of a vacation home tend to be more favorable to borrowers than those for an investment property, so your lender will want to know that the home really is going to be used by you for vacations rather than to rent out for income. Typically that means proving the property is at least 50 miles from your current home and confirming that you have no plans to rent out the home for large parts of the year.

Beth Braverman, an award-winning journalist and content producer, covers real estate, personal finance, and careers.

Considering a Reverse Mortgage? Discuss this home equity loan with your adult children.

Reverse Mortgage and Your Adult Children

RISMEDIA, Saturday, January 23, 2016— (TNS)—You’re thinking about getting a reverse mortgage. Should you discuss your plan with your adult children? Maybe. Every senior homeowner’s situation is unique.

“I wish I could give you one best practice that’s optimal for every family, but it’s more complex than that,” says Joseph Goetz, an associate professor for the department of financial planning, housing and consumer economics at the University of Georgia and an editorial board member of the Financial Therapy Association.

Reverse Mortgage

A type of home equity loan that is available to homeowners age 62 or older. No repayment is required until the borrower dies or moves out. At that time, the principal and accumulated interest are repaid, usually by selling the house. Most reverse mortgages are insured by the Federal Housing Administration, which calls the loan a home equity conversion mortgage, or HECM (pronounced HECK’m).

As a general rule, Goetz says, more communication is better, but family dynamics and the family’s financial culture are important, too.

“In some families,” he says, “the kids would be really upset if Mom and Dad gave up the house without talking to them. In other families, they would not.”

A reverse mortgage doesn’t necessarily involve giving up your house — at least, not as long as you live there. But Goetz’s point is well-made: Many adult children have an emotional attachment to their childhood home or expect to receive their parent’s home free of any encumbrance upon the parent’s death.

Death: A Bad Time to Surprise the Kids  

A reverse mortgage discovered after the fact can come as a surprise, shock or disappointment, suggests Buz Livingston, a financial planner for Livingston Financial Planning in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.

He recalls a client whose father and stepmother took out a reverse mortgage without their daughter’s knowledge. Another client’s parents took out a reverse mortgage and informed one sibling but not the other.

“The children need to be involved just to make sure everybody is on the same page and there is not a big surprise,” Livingston says. “Just keep it simple. Say, ‘This is what we are going to do and if this (house) is something you want to hold on to, speak up.’”

Search for today’s lowest mortgage rates here on Bankrate.com.

You Can Inform without Seeking Advice

Whoever will be responsible for your estate should be aware of your reverse mortgage and the options to repay it, says Cara Pierce, a financial specialist at ClearPoint Credit Counseling Solutions in Fresno, Calif. Many times, that executor or administrator will be one of your adult children.

“It doesn’t mean you have to get them involved or take their advice,” Pierce says. “But if I am setting up my son to be trustee, it would be nice if I told him that if I stay (in my house) until I die, he needs to make sure to pay off the loan on my behalf.”

What Triggers the Loan Repayment?  

Heirs aren’t personally responsible for the debt, but the house will have to be sold to repay the reverse mortgage unless there are other ready funds, retirement savings or life insurance, or the adult child can qualify for a new mortgage.

Disclosure also matters because if you move out of your home for an extended period, the reverse mortgage likely will have to be repaid, which could trigger the sale of the house if there aren’t other assets to pay it.

“It has to be your primary residence,” Livingston explains. “If you are living in a nursing home, it’s not your primary residence and the bill comes due.”

Not Just about Money

The conversation, if you decide to have one, should be aligned with your goals, which might include a desire to address your adult children’s emotional concerns, expectations or sibling rivalries, Goetz suggests.

“If one of the parents’ goals is their adult children’s happiness or to leave a bequest for their children, a financial planner will say, ‘You need to bring your kids into the conversation because that’s consistent with your goals.’ Another set of parents could say, ‘My kids are doing fine. It’s my business, and my kids won’t feel any adverse emotional reaction to not knowing I took a reverse mortgage.’ In that case, you don’t need to tell your kids,” he says.

When to Talk about It

The house itself or your broader financial planning agenda could be entry points to start the talk with your adult children.

Another option would be to include your adult children in the financial counseling that’s required for some types of reverse mortgages. Pierce says a lot of housing counseling is done over the phone and adult children can participate in the call.

Livingston says he’s “not anti-reverse mortgages,” but he also says you should speak with your adult children before you get one.

“I always make a point of hammering pretty hard to my clients that they really need to talk to kids about it,” he says. “It’s important to have that discussion.”

Marcie Geffner writes for Bankrate.com.

BUYING A HOME? Tips to Build Your Down Payment Stash.

So You Wanna Buy a House?                  Step 2: The Down Payment

By  Jamie Wiebe  Realtor.com

                                                                                            Alexandr Dubovitskiy/iStock

Scratching together a down payment is probably the most daunting hurdle to buying a home—and there are boatloads of them! But that’s why we’ve launched our 2016 Home-Buying Guide, a series of articles giving you the critical intel you need to buy your own house, step by step. This is the perfect time to start your search in earnest.

Last week in Installment 1, we covered cleaning up your credit score. This week, we’ll unlock the secret to amassing a mountain of cash for the down payment.

Yeah, you already know that Rome wasn’t built in a day. The same holds true for building a down payment. It takes time. But as long as you grease the gears early (like now), you’ll barely notice you’re saving until—boom!— one day in the foreseeable future you’ll be sitting on a pile of money that could pave the way to homeownership … maybe even in time for peak home-buying season this summer.

Sound good? Good.        Here’s how to get started.

Trim those quiet, unnecessary expenses

OK, let’s shift those preconceived notions. Contrary to popular belief, saving for a home isn’t mostly about grueling sacrifice—e.g., holing up in your apartment under a bare light bulb, eating ramen, and piggybacking off your neighbors’ Wi-Fi.

“It’s about a lifestyle change,” says Travis Sickle, a financial adviser with Sickle Hunter Financial Advisors in Tampa, FL. A more sustainable strategy, he says, is to pinpoint your silent money siphons that you barely notice. Odds are you could try some of the following cost-cutting measures without feeling the pinch:

• Replace your $250 monthly cable service with a $10 Netflix standard streaming account, and you’ll save $2,880 per year.
• Cut that languishing gym membership—at $50 per month, you’d save $600 a year. Go running instead!

• Packing lunch will save you about $60 a month—or $720 a year.
• Bike to work. For a 10-mile commute, biking can save you around $5 a day, according to Kiplinger—or $1,250 a year.
• Start a coin jar. Saving all your loose change can have a big impact—up to $700, according to financial blogger J.D. Roth.
• Turning down your thermostat just 3 degrees could shave almost 10% off your electrical bill, netting you $20 a month on a $200 bill, or $240 a year.
• Curb those dinners and drinks out at restaurants, which can quickly add up. If you typically shell out $40 three times a week, reduce that to one evening a week, and you’ll save $80—or $4,160 per year. (Bonus: It’ll make those times you do indulge more special!)

And if you and your significant other team up and try all of the above, that would amount to $10,550 per person, or $21,100 in one year’s time. Just remember that when you’re thinking of ordering a second glass of artisanal craft beer.

Open a dedicated account

If you don’t have a savings account, now’s the time to open one. A checking account is great for daily expenses, but when it comes to saving money—well, they don’t call them savings accounts for nothing. You’ll earn interest on your balance, plus there’s a lot to be said for the mental benefit of having a specific place to stash your down payment. While interest rates haven’t been very impressive in recent years (though, you’ll be grateful for that when it comes time to get a mortgage), it’s still great to have a dedicated account where you can see how you’re progressing toward your goal.

Financial planner Bob Forrest of Mutual of Omaha points out that CDs and money market accounts offer higher gains than savings. You’ll need a larger minimum balance than for a regular savings account, but your goal is to make it grow, not shrink, right? If you’re using a CD, just make sure you don’t withdraw the money before the time is up or else you’ll face some stiff penalties.

Automate your savings

If you’re struggling to put enough money away because of the constant temptations to blow your paycheck, consider automating the process. Ask your employer if you can have your paycheck deposited into multiple accounts—if so, instruct it to send a certain percentage of your salary directly into your savings account. Or go through your bank, setting up automatic withdrawals from your checking to savings account that will force you to keep spending in check.

Tap into your IRA

Another great place to stash your cash? A traditional or Roth IRA, says Forrest. In addition to being a tax-friendly retirement vehicle, it allows you to withdraw up to $10,000 for a home. While withdrawals from a traditional IRA will be taxed, a Roth IRA you’ve owned for more than five years won’t be taxed at all, as long as you’re a first-time home buyer. Just be careful with this method, though, as you will be denting your retirement funds. But combined with other savings, it can quickly add some heft to your growing nest egg.

Check out down payment assistance programs

Depending on the city and state you live in, you may be eligible for down payment assistance programs, which provide money to help people buy a home. Go to Down Payment Resource to find programs you might be eligible for. Most offer up to $15,000, typically in the form of a grant or low-interest loan. Most require your income to be below the area median. But even if you make more, do your research—there are programs that provide funds for higher-income households.

Once your down payment is on a roll, it’s time to start looking for a home—and to do that, you’ll need to determine exactly how much house you can afford. 

NOW is the Best Time to Search For and Buy an Ocean City MD Beach Home

Want a Beach Home This Summer? Better Get Started Now

By  Yuqing Pan

It happens every year: Right around the time we finally throw out the desiccated Christmas tree, put away the broken toys, and get back into the swing of work, we look up to find ourselves deep in the dark, dank, bone-chilling portion of winter that never seems to end. So it’s the perfect time to start the search for sandier and sunnier pastures!

It may seem counter intuitive as you’re snow blowing your front walk or drying out your socks, but now is a great time to begin thinking about buying a beachfront home that you can use throughout the summer—or rent out to pay the mortgage and then some.

“Buyers have more choice and more leverage in negotiations in the off-season,” says our chief economist, Jonathan Smoke. “So even though total inventory is lower, there are far fewer buyers for what is on the market, and that gives buyers an upper hand.”

And the off-season is a much better time to engage local contractors to take care of any repairs or upgrades—especially critical if you’re thinking of leasing the place out, Smoke points out. Taking action before the peak season will ensure it can capture as much of the peak rental revenue as possible.

To find the nation’s hottest (figuratively speaking) beach towns, our sand- and surf-deprived data team looked up cities and towns within 2 miles from a coast, using data from NOAA’s National Ocean Service, and filtered out the ones that are on inlets or without direct access to a beach. We excluded cities with over 100,000 population to focus on the ones that have a “small town” vibe, which left us with more than 1,000 beach towns. Then we cherry-picked from these to fit the criteria below.
Whew, we could use a beach vacation right now!

Living Space Feeling Tight? 6 Tips to Make Your Living Space Look Larger

Tips to Make Your Living Room Look Larger

 from:  Dottie Well's Home Actions Newsletter, Mgr Long & Foster, Bethany Beach

A living room is for l-i-v-i-n-g, not an opportunity for claustrophobia. If you're feeling the pinch of a not-so-spacious gathering area, take charge. Transform a small, yet soon-to-be-mighty living space into a welcoming license to chill with these tricks of the trade.

1. Draw the eye up. One way to accomplish this is with ceiling art. A sparse, light etching will complete the task without all the drama.

While you're up there, hang or install a shelf. If you're hankering for storage or display options, but the floor is occupied, rise up. Similar to the decorative ceiling option, a shelf high above the surface will command elevated attention.

2. Reduce the accommodation clutter. Instead of 15 seating options in your living room, fill small spaces with one expansive piece of furniture. Sectional sofas or traditional couches with large ottomans equip you and your guests with resting areas without the fuss.

3. Get clear. Anything transparent will fool the eye, creating the illusion of space. Glass-topped tables, or glass lamp bases, reduce definitive edges, allowing the line of vision a free pass to keep moving. Another permeable perspective for a larger space is see-through furniture. Lucite has reclaimed its respect and is back from the mid-modern days with fervor. Designers like Alexandra Von Furstenberg are adding contemporary updates to acrylic, bringing a classic adaptation into today's living rooms.

4. Mirror, mirror on the wall, are you the best option of them all? Maybe, maybe not is my immediate answer. Yes, they reflect light, but they also reflect unsightly elements as well.

First consider what the mirror will be reflecting. Feng Shui aside, because there are so many conflicting opinions of what is right according to the ancient tradition, look at what you are bouncing back twice. If it is lovely, then by all means, double the vantage point. But, if it's not an ideal vista, try something else. Do you have an east-facing window? Adding a mirror to an opposite wall will act as double shot of el sol.

5. Strategic art. An option to create space without reflection is an art piece with a vanishing point. Vanishing points are the artistic translations of infinity. You feel like you're walking down a long hallway, but in reality it's a two-dimensional creation made to look like unrestricted territory. Your eyes travel along this surreal corridor to places unknown while everything else stays put. Where will it take you?

6. Optical illusion. Yes, you can literally use smoke and mirrors to make any room appear bigger by putting a candle in front of a reflective surface, but if this isn't your taste, go a different route.

Make your living space reflect your style, above all else. If you're prone to dark colors, then go for it. Bright and packed to the gills calling your name? Have fun filling the room with fun and fancy. You be you.

2015 - Time for a New Kitchen? Trends that are cleaner-looking and sharp

Prepping: Need a New Kitchen in 2016?

              

RISMEDIA, Thursday, January 14, 2016— For 2016, I'm introducing an ongoing series we'll call 'Prepping!' In a single segment, or series, we'll take on a subject related to your home - like 'prepping for a new kitchen' or 'prepping for a new dog' - and unpack that subject tapping the appropriate experts.

So as we hinted, our first subject and one we'll return to pretty frequently represents one of the most costly - but potentially the best ROI - kitchen renovations.

When it comes to outfitting, the use of metals in décor is a trend that is continuing into the new year with no signs of abating, agrees Shoshana Gosselin, interior design at Love Your Room in Emmaus, Pa.

Gosselin says it's not just warm golds, but also brasses and coppers being mixed all over - even pillow covers have a metallic look. It’s also in lighting.

Jennifer Wilson, interior designer at Stonewood Interiors concurs - the right use of modern metallics is sophisticated and glamorous, as long as they have that metallic sheen, you can use them as a focal point.

The clean, uncluttered look of Scandinavian décor also is gaining popularity, according to Allison Flynn of LIV Interiors and Construction LLC in Bethlehem, PA.

Partner Christy Zuk says she is seeing the trend in cleaner-looking materials, too. LIV has been using less granite in kitchens for a while versus clean man-made surface products like Caesarstone and Silestone.

Sustainability is a trend that has been taking shape for years, and it’s widely expected to continue strong in 2016.

"You can do great-looking design with elements that are well made and will minimize the impact on our environment,” Wilson says.

Examples include organic fabrics and furniture that’s well made from traditional materials. Also expected to continue strong is the popular penchant for reusing, recycling and re-purposing.

A related trend to sustainability is bringing organic forms to the fore, says Gosselin - with tropical motifs taking off in both wallpaper and textile patterns in 2016.