TRENDS: LOVE ‘EM OR LEAVE ‘EM

Every year, the design world introduces new inspirations, and this year is no different, except it seems more people are deciding to adopt some of these inspirations. Some long-standing trends are fading, while new trends are boldly surfacing.

I don’t buy into all the latest trends. Instead, I focus on the best solutions that reflect the household: their needs, activities, and lifestyle. I also respect the architectural style of the house while adding modern elements. Color schemes, patterns, textures, and lighting should be thoughtfully selected because they greatly affect our psyche, emotions, stress levels, relationships, and health. For that reason, I keep up with the trends but choose them strategically, not because they’re the latest craze. It’s all about creating a home that a family loves to live in.

Not only should a home reflect the family’s personality, it should improve their quality of life and create timeless comfort. Some trends achieve this and become industry standards, while others are superficial, impractical, and destined to age poorly. The below list talks about the good and not-so-good side of trends.

ALL-WHITE EVERYTHING is on the way out.

This trend has perplexed me from the start. An all-white décor creates a form of minimalism, which has its merits, but when it’s excessive—walls, floors, furniture, and décor—it can feel more like a hospital than a home. While it looks clean and crisp in photos, it’s notoriously hard to live with. Every fingerprint, spill, and scratch becomes a small (sometimes large) disaster. I have even seen fabric dyes from clothing discolor white upholstery. ‘All-white everything’ is not practical, even if the room is rarely used; the grime in the air and UV light can turn its crisp charm into a dingy space. A home should put you at ease and feed your spirit, not be a harsh, sterile place where you hesitate to sit down and relax.

Why it shouldn’t be a trend: This trend sacrifices comfort and livability for image and ignores the natural rhythms of everyday life. When overused, its starkness elevates stress levels and removes personality, while suppressing inviting warmth, which hinders comfort and relaxation.

Easy ways to update: Add some natural elements to soften the starkness, e.g. natural (or bleached) wood, a well-placed plant, soft colors in throw pillows, an area rug, a cheery throw, or contrasting pottery. Adding color adds life and personality to a space; our senses naturally respond to it and find comfort.

OPEN SHELVING IN THE KITCHEN is phasing out.

This trend is controversial. Open shelving looks great if it is staged, like those in magazines or on HGTV. But in real life, they can be dust and grease magnets. If the items stored on them are used daily, it’s easier to keep them dust-free, even so, the shelves need to be wiped off before the items are returned. Open shelves are certainly convenient, but they tend to attract visual chaos, which makes a bustling kitchen more harried. And there lies the controversy.

Why it shouldn’t be a trend: Kitchens are naturally chaotic spaces; they naturally attract busyness and rummaging. Since open shelves are extremely easy to access, they can quickly fall into disorder, creating visual and mental chaos. This leads to mindless eating and unfocused thinking. Keeping shelves in order adds unnecessary upkeep to busy lifestyles. Another issue with open shelves is many have a narrow front edge which creates a slicing energy that affects our body’s energetic fields. Since many shelves are at eye level or chest level, the slicing energy can cause physical discomfort, such as headaches, frustration, and/or agitation, for anyone using the kitchen for long periods of time.

Easy ways to update: Remove the shelves and re-think your cabinet organization. This will also help with decluttering rarely used or expired items. If the shelves cannot be removed, then widen the front edge with a wider facer board (1.5″ to 2″ wide softens the slicing effect) and minimize the items stored on them.

Having an open shelf with a wide front edge reduces uncomfortable slicing energy. “Less is more”  is key when it comes to open shelves; less stuff = more space, calmness, and mental clarity.

OVERLY MINIMALIST SPACES are warming up.

Minimalism has its place, and when done well, it can be a breath of fresh air, but when a home starts feeling more like a showroom than a living space, it’s time to rethink. The lack of personal touches can make a space feel lifeless and uninspired rather than inviting and nurturing. Homes should embrace us. If there are no personal touches in a space, no items that make you smile or feel loved and warm, then the space can drain your energy. It can affect your attitude and emotions, which can lead to depression or a feeling of emptiness. Minimalism is about eliminating extraneous distractions, not about eliminating life-giving elements to a room. Be selective with your accents; choose items that give you joy, such as a few photos of you with loved ones. Minimalism is about moderation, simplicity, and balance.

Why it shouldn’t be a trend: Overly stark spaces drain our life force. Not only does it subtly convey a sense of lack, but the empty space can also create an echoing effect that sounds hollow and vacant. The lack of personal touches contributes to the emptiness and internalizes a feeling of loneliness.

Easy ways to update: Add personal touches in a few key areas that you frequently see every day. Bring in a few colors to lift your spirit and warm your heart. Add an area rug under a coffee table or dining table to soften your feet as you relax. Add some natural elements such as a plant, natural wood accents, or pottery.

FAST-FURNITURE FADS are fading!

Flat-pack furniture with short life spans has been a staple for many due to affordability and convenience. It allowed us to adopt the latest trends at an affordable price with instant gratification. On the other hand, “fast furniture” encourages waste and often results in uninspired, cookie-cutter spaces. Since they are usually made with low-grade materials, flat-pack furniture will need to be replaced often. The trend is fading because people are realizing it’s impractical and a waste of time, money, and resources.

Why it shouldn’t be a trend: It’s environmentally unsustainable, economically wasteful, rarely designed to last, and looks inexpensive.

Easy ways to update: Invest in fewer well-made pieces. If cost is an issue, watch for sales or floor models. Spend time searching and selecting pieces with a timeless style. You’ll be happier with your purchases, and your home will have an authenticity about it. Ultimately, it’s about making mindful purchases with intention. Keep less expensive items for seasonal updates.

THE INDUSTRIAL TREND is softening.

Industrial design has its charm—exposed brick, metal fixtures, raw wood—but some interiors take it too far. When your home starts to resemble a repurposed warehouse with harsh lighting, cold surfaces, exposed ductwork, and a grayscale palette, it loses warmth and personality. The industrial trend is shifting to a more refined style. The shift is strategically keeping some rustic elements while finishing others and by adding warmer lighting. This shift makes the space feel cleaner, more inviting, and cozier, yet keeps a rustic industrial charm.

Why it shouldn’t be a trend: Homes should feel warm, soft, and inviting, not harsh and intimidating like an abandoned factory. Additionally, the exposed ductwork is difficult to clean; spider webs and grime can build up and cause air quality issues.

Easy ways to update: Change harsh lighting to warmer lighting — you’ll want to keep brighter lights in task areas (the kitchen, bathrooms, office, etc), but install dimmers to easily adjust the room’s ambiance. If the ceilings are factory-height, consider adding a suspended architecturally designed ceiling over the dining table or the living area to create a more intimate space. Replace pipe shelving with floating shelves or enclosed cabinetry.

The left photo illustrates a harsh, cold industrial style that lacks privacy and warmth. The right photo is also an industrial style but it has a cozy ambiance created with warm textures, warm lighting, a large rug and a lush plant.

BOLD PATTERNS AND COLOR TRENDS are boldly returning.

Bold patterns and bold colors are becoming a fast-spreading trend. Along with this trend is layering the bold patterns on bold patterns. This can be striking and dramatic, even sophisticated if done well. But, bold patterns and colors impact us in many ways and should be thoughtfully designed. In my opinion, this trend’s popularity is a direct response to the ‘all-white-everything’ trend that has been popular for many years. It seems people are yearning for something as far opposite from that as possible.

Why it shouldn’t be a trend: Using bold patterns and colors can be beautiful, but it can quickly overpower our senses, and add confusion and clutter to our over-tasked minds, creating disharmony and imbalance in a home. This is especially true if the pattern covers a large area — like walls. Take time to think about how the wall will impact the room when it’s wallpapered; consider scale, color, shapes, and textures. Wallpaper is expensive to install and remove, so thoughtful consideration is key. If layering patterned wallpaper with patterned upholstery and accents, the impact can greatly affect our mental and emotional balance. If it is not well-planned, over time the boldness will suppress you and your family, causing restlessness, lack of focus, and a feeling of suffocation or heaviness. If you have a vision but lack confidence in creating it, contact me; we’ll bring it to life.

OPEN FLOOR PLANS are on the way out.

Open floor plans have been around for decades, which is understandable since their main appeal was the sense of spaciousness and abundance of light – but over time, the lack of physical boundaries has become a bit overwhelming. ‘Having two adjacent rooms open can still be desirable (i.e. kitchen and family room) because it can keep the cook involved with the family while preparing the meal. Yet, I’ve always felt that open floor plans had their drawbacks, and now it seems others are feeling the same. With no walls to absorb sound, noise carries, and the noise tends to escalate which stifles any feeling of calmness and coziness. Walls also hide the unavoidable mess that cooking creates, as well as help control cooking odors.

Why it shouldn’t be a trend: When several rooms open to each other, sound bounces around, making a home loud and disruptive; it removes intimacy and privacy, and it is inefficient for heating or cooling. It is also a challenge to keep the cooking chaos discrete from the entertainment areas and guests.

Easy ways to update: There may not be many easy ways to update this without me seeing your specific situation. But trust me, there are always solutions, just contact me about your specific situation. Until then, try to create a sense of privacy by having only two spaces open to each other and then visually partition off the other spaces. For instance, create a balance by selecting two open areas, such as the kitchen and dining room or kitchen and family room, then, separate the other spaces (living room, home office, or library). This lets you have spaciousness and privacy.

IN CONCLUSION

Good design should enhance your life—not just focus on the latest fad. Trends can be fun and inspiring, but when they overshadow functionality, comfort, or sustainability, it’s time to question their value. Instead of following fleeting fads, opt for well-made styles that reflect your personality and evolve with your lifestyle..

What trends do you think we should leave behind? Let us know in the comments.