What a year for home design it’s been! A recovering housing market has led more home owners to spruce up their interiors. As designers take a look forward of what will be trending in 2014, let’s take a look back at the design trends that caught on this year that will likely stick around.

Realtor.com developed a new web page -- “2013 Real Estate Review” – a collection of some of the top trending real estate stories from the year as well as predictions for 2014. One of the articles featured offers a look back at The Year’s Best Décor Trends. Among the trends:

Wooded decors: Natural-looking wood grains showed up in more home décor, particularly the kitchen – from the cabinets to butcher block counters. The greater use of natural-looking wood grains offered a “light, modern feel while still adding a homey comfort.”

Larger sinks: Farmhouse utility sinks have been gaining popularity over the last few years but really caught on in 2013. The deep, double sink offers up clean lines and a classic use, realtor.com notes.

Flexible furniture: Furniture that can be shifted, moved, and customized gained popularity. For example, kitchen islands that could be expanded like a dining room table for family gatherings. Regardless of small spaces or large, more home owners also looked to incorporate more multifunctional pieces too, such as an ottoman that could also double up as storage.

Tile explosion: The use of nontraditional tile surged in 2013. “Tile with a natural touch continued the wood trend, with grain and uneven edges that mimicked boards,” realtor.com notes. Faux wood tile was incorporated throughout the house too – kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, and even bedroom walls.

Read more about this year’s biggest trends with staying power at realtor.com.

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