Skip These Design Trends
Elle Magazine, one of the most respected and revered worldwide women’s magazines that focuses on fashion, beauty, and lifestyle quotes the old but wise adage: “Trends come and go, but style is eternal” The magazine is issued in no less than 45 languages. And 55 digital platforms. So, it caught my eye when they recently focused on which design trends are falling out of style.
According to Elle, while some design trends are timeless, it is now time to dismiss others, specifically the fads and the oddities which only remain stylish for a short period of time. Timeless styles, however, can be melded and enhanced with new touches.
So, with this in mind, here are some styles to tone down or avoid:
- Everything in whites and grays: (there are other lovely colors, after all, which do not hurt the eyes.) White kitchens are on their way out. Bold and bright kitchens are “in.” “The decline in white and gray reflects our ongoing desire to make our homes, in which we’ve all come to spend more time, feel special and layered,” says Anthony Barzilay Freund 1st Dibs Editorial Director. “Patterns and colors, particularly those that evoke nature, are visually interesting and feel emotionally reassuring, at once retro and of the moment.
- Animal prints are also rapidly disappearing. They are beginning to look creepy – do we really want what represents a dead beast in the middle of our floor?
- Anything mass produced. Soulful spaces are replacing the mundane. Eclectic and vintage interiors are leading the way.
- Bohemian and hippy styles have had their day (you can’t stay young forever), and when you try to in your home design, it can look out of place and foolish. Instead, think macrame and plants.
- Boxy furnishings: The heavy and right-angled sofas of the 90s have had their day. Think low seating and combined with seductive shapes.
- Carpeted bathrooms. Let’s face it, these carpets in bathrooms are strictly style over function. With enough water damage (think Florida) this style isn’t functional.
- Formless furniture and curvy everything. This millennial “rebellion” which also included curvy pools and rippled mirrors, twisty tables, loopy chairs, and sofas that you sink so deeply into its hard to finally stand up are gone – and goodbye.
- Spotty, tiled countertops are best forgotten to be replaced with marble or stone.
- Millennial Pink: Next. It’s time to accept that pink is no longer trendy. Consider hues like yellow and muted green tones instead.
- Word Art: This style has truly had its day and adios. Do you really need a giant wooden plaque hanging on the wall? From "Family" to "Love" to "Home is where the heart is?" There are plenty of generic phrases and pieces of word art available — none of which are imaginative. Instead, it's worth it to take the time to choose something more meaningful that speaks to your own aesthetic.
- Linoleum flooring: Whether in the kitchen or dining area, the aesthetic of linoleum might be worth foregoing for something like wood or tile.
Floridarealtors.org have some thoughts of their own on this matter. So, let’s give them a chance to shine in on the subject.
- Open Shelves. While open shelves may look good in photos and on social media, that’s where it ends. Regular shelves and cabinets are much more practical and aesthetic for your kitchen.
- Matching Furniture: This style may seem cohesive and err … matching, it appears to be too well put together and bland and inauthentic.
- Futons: A couch and a bed together in one piece of furniture is unimaginative, so if you have the space, use two pieces of furniture. A futon in a living room is almost a crime (though they haven’t criminalized it yet). Invest in a proper couch.
- Corner Baths: These baths lack any aesthetic value, look awkward, and take up far too much space. According to Barrie Cutchie, design director at BC Designs tells Homes and Gardens, "Corner baths are quite possibly the most unfashionable item you can have in your bathroom." Instead go for a free-standing tub to add an exclamation point, encompassing luxury to most any bathroom.
- Too Much Gray: Like too much white, enough is enough. (In this instance both Elle Magazine and Floridarealtors.org agree.) Too much of this color will tend to add gloom – and it’s not inspiring. Color is not the enemy, so add it to offer a cozy and welcoming feeling.
- The minimalist craze of bare walls is best left behind. Walls containing art, artifacts, and photos are more enticing, and certainly more interesting.
- Choosing just one style (Scandinavian, farmhouse, coastal, contemporary) can all be beautiful Interior designs, but don’t overdo just one style. Mix things up a bit – some creativity is far more imaginative.
- Fake Fruit: No, no. no. Trade it for the real thing. Fake fruit can look cheap and showy.
Postscript: In the above article, I am only serving as the messenger of the fashion gurus, feel free to disagree.