Trends — Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

Let’s talk about a topic near and dear to my heart: interior design trends. While they can be fun and get us talking about ideas, they are becoming a growing challenge in the world of design. The pervasiveness of connectivity, HGTV shows, and social media has created an environment where my Austin interior design clients are ultra-aware of style factors coming in and out of fashion. And that target moves faster than ever now! Trend awareness isn’t a bad thing. However, homeowners need to be mindful of just how short trend cycles are and that many of these popular design strategies will be replaced by new fads in the coming years. Balancing and diffusing the trend-homeowner dynamic is a constant struggle for interior designers guiding selections and aiming to create a timeless home that will endure for decades.

MOST Interior Design Trends Go Out of Style, Eventually

Daily, clients bring me examples of interior design trends they’ve seen that they want to incorporate into their homes. Typically, these ideas come from Pinterest, Instagram, or a friend’s house. The requests are not offensive in and of themselves. Examples include white and gray color palettes, gray-toned wood floors, veined quartz, and the like. I could simply incorporate these ideas into the design. However, as a professional, it’s my responsibility to help clients avoid overly trendy materials and achieve longevity in their design investment. Trends come and go. (Think of avocado green appliances, shag carpeting, and shiny brass fixtures. Brass has even come back, but now with a less polished and more brushed or antiqued finish). I’ve noticed when the world latches too hard onto any trend, we tire of it and make a hard turn. So while my pushback on trends may not always make me popular, I have to use my judgment on which design approaches will stand the test of time and which will quickly fall out of favor.

A Discerning Eye on Trends

It’s easy to be captivated by a trend, and trusting our judgment can be tricky at times. Even as a design professional, I have to occasionally take a pause and ponder. For example, my own powder room has an espresso-brown marble counter. (The material is called Emperador Dark.) This dark marble was prevalent back in the day, but white and gray have overshadowed it in the trend world. Recently I thought to myself, “Is it time to swap that out? Is it dated?” But when it comes down to it, I still love the material. So, who cares? It’s a gorgeous, high-quality marble and a natural material. I’d hate for it to go to waste. Plus, it will likely be back in style before we know it. Instead of succumbing to trends, I’ve imagined other ways to refresh the space — more on that to come later!

Timeless Home Design Never Goes Out of Style

While trends should never guide the design plan, I like to keep a watchful eye on them. I might utilize some trends if they build on a historic strategy or are subtle enough that society won’t quickly tire of them and take a new direction. However, the overarching design principles should be rooted in tried and true methods for a timeless home design. Several years ago, I blogged on The Pursuit of Timeless Design with suggestions for accomplishing just that. I recommend looking at designs that have endured for decades and, above all, following your own preferences, not those of others. These ideas still resonate today. (I guess even blog posts can be timeless!) When it comes to trends, be aware, be patient, and trust the professionals. Our experience has taught us valuable lessons for creating timeless and enjoyable homes.