12 New Home Fashion Trends of 2012

Introducing this year's hottest hues for the home

Color trends in home and decor come and go with the times. Though not as flighty as fashion, a fresh hue, whether on a stunning furniture piece or a couple of accessories, can immediately update your space. Give up your bright pinks and electric blues a rest for now- this year, the palette is more subdued and sophisticated.

Choose your designer style!

Organic Modern. The word "organic" often scares people when it comes to decorating. The notion of keeping it natural makes one think this style is better suited to nature lovers or log-cabin dwellers. It is a style that is more urban than rustic, and combines warm, natural materials with clean, contemporary lines. Though not as popular as other looks, it has the potential to be fun and whimsical. Key pieces: bright blue wall, flower power accents, and tree hugger accessories.

Luxe Asian. Buddha heads, rich and vibrant colors, silk throw pillows- all these are associated with traditional Asian style. Make it fresh, updated, and luxurious by mixing these pieces with sleek, modern materials like glass and stainless steel. The clean lines of modern furniture nicely offset ornate Asian accessories, while white and beige act as an edgy foil to the usual bold, opulent, Asian hues of red and gold. Key pieces: a screen to set the tone, an area rug that's full of drama, light and easy lighting.

Retro Glam. It's a classic, finishing-school style that's been sent to Hollywood during its glamour years in the 1940s. While it celebrates the freedom of mixing various design styles in one room, it maintains a polished feel with the use of carefully selected pieces, uncluttered arrangements, and a sophisticated palette. Key pieces: screen siren, a busty existence, animal magic.

Neo Neutrals. Neutrals such as brown, beige, gray, white, or taupe are usually the default or "safe" choice for the color-confused. We usually associate a neutral palette with a calm and serene look. Neutrals also cooperate well with other colors, because they don't grab your attention. But neutrals can also be used to create a young and dynamic look. Key pieces: Play with contrasting hues, for example, black against white. Sharp contrasts bring depth to the room and give it a hip, contemporary vibe.

Proper Primaries. Primaries are too strong to look subtle. So if you must add accessories, go for bold solid forms that can create the impression of weight and reduce their number to a minimum. Stay away from the ones with funky patterns and go for the simple, streamlined ones. Key pieces: you can also stick to those with classic forms, such as design icons, or you can try historical artifacts or antiques such as Chinese figurines.

Soothing Secondaries. Secondary colors such as green, orange, and purple are made by mixing two primaries in equal amounts. They scare us because they seem to be hard to match or complement. Green we can take, but it's hard to imagine orange or purple in our bedroom. To make secondaries look fresh and soothing, make green the dominant color. Use its many variations- if you don't like dark green, you can go with a paler tint lake sage. Orange and purple can be the accent colors. Key pieces: to create a serene mood, stay away from tall vertical accessories and choose those that "lie down".

Flower Power. The new florals come in big, graphic prints and bright, bold hues. This new incarnation is, ironically, no wallflower- they scream: "Look at me!" Think pop art and a whole room with an Andy Warhol-esque vibe. Key pieces: don't be afraid to grow a virtual garden in your space. Mix different types of florals together and play with scale.

Sexy Oriental. The latest in Oriental design takes on a more-is-more mentality. Veer away from the ubiquitous neutral-colored, Zen-inspired, minimalist look and add some drama with powerful patterns, seductive textures, and intricate details. Key pieces: this trend employs bursts of color paired with moody hues, and puts together standard Eastern accessories with more modern elements (hang a kimono or cheongsam as art).

Fresh Greens. Not easy being green? Hardly. Verde, located at the center of the color spectrum, effortlessly combines with practically all other shades. Key pieces: mix plastic chairs with upholstered pieces, add punch to sage green with vibrant chartreuse.

Rest and Calm. An all-white or all-cream color scheme accentuated with metallic and mirror finishes gives a spick-and-span feel to a room. An overall feeling of calm and tranquility is immediately achieved. Key pieces: textures like suede, soft corduroy, plush carpet, and fur-lined accessories.

Romance and adventure. An exotic mix of European and Asian styles results in a luxurious yet adventurous feel. Key pieces: an Oriental bamboo-motif settee and a contemporary velvet sofa, gold-lacquered chest of drawers, a chandeliered mirror and tree-stump tables.

Vim and Vigor. Sometimes monotony and repetition can be a good thing. Key pieces: all-red, all-energy, all-passion, pump up energy with a play of strong, geometric shapes against an enveloping color scheme of red and orange.