While you may not be an interior designer, color schemes and design are all part of the remodel planning process that the client expects your suggestions and feedback on. You’re the pro with the solutions and expertise, and the client knows it.

One of the benefits for a client of hiring a pro to remodel is your ability to see the bigger picture, imagining the home as a canvas full of potential. Help homeowners take advantage of your insight by suggesting these popular design schemes this summer.

Trendy New Wall Materials
The wood palette paneled wall is still trending in 2017, but in general, reclaimed wood is the ticket for new wall materials. The look can also be affordably achieved with other sustainable materials on the market, such as EchoPanel from Kirei, which offers acoustic control in a space and is made from PET plastic bottles and eco-friendly dyes, resulting in possible assistance with LEED building credits.

Choose breathable and renewable materials, such as bamboo, that offer unique and interesting surfaces for the eyes. Feature walls are great place to add texture and are still a very popular trend in 2017, particularly when made from sustainable materials.

Green and Natural Color Schemes
Green is the natural winner for 2017, with interior designers taking cues from celebrities and the runway. “Greenery” was also selected as the Pantone Color of the Year for 2017. Green abounds, and inspirational blogs on getting in touch with nature have run with the idea.

Encourage clients to incorporate texture and natural elements with green shades, which would work well to unify every room in a house thematically. Vintage lime green is also a hit, but this color may function better as an accent or a statement hue in bathrooms and kitchens. Muted tones and neutrals, such as beige, blush, camel, whites, and pale grays are on trend, and work well in any room.

Knock Out Small Spaces
Small spaces are useful when it comes to a feeling of coziness and charm, but sometimes you need a big space. Homeowners are drawn to a particular design for a reason—combining a separate living and dinning room for a heightened entertainment experience, for example.

Encourage clients to not be afraid of creating an open floor plan that lets the eye travel across the room, where everything is flowing. Clients may take advantage of a sweeping view or beneficial design feature of the home with an expanded room. After all, free space can make the room feel much larger. Opening up a space and adding decorative, vintage molding is a popular look for homes with high ceilings.

An open floor plan can be more organized than several small rooms and create more design freedom. With an open floor plan, the client may be tempted to overcrowd the room with bulky furniture, but it’s best to leave space for “traffic flow.” Furniture should flow with the schema of the room but also include staple pieces the client will use for years to come, so it’s best to decide on a color scheme in advance.

This summer, help your clients choose a new vision for their home with trends that appeal to nature. Reclaimed woods, feature walls, texture, green and maximizing space are all popular design suggestions that have the potential to become classic looks over time while making the most of the client’s existing space. To increase the space in a home, homeowners may need to muster the courage to knock out a wall and develop an open floor plan.

The idea with any remodel is to make the aesthetic of the home more welcoming and unique to the personality of every client. Stay focused on the purpose of the remodel and be prepared to suggest both classic and off-the-wall ideas to help the client manifest their design dreams.