After posting the gorgeous Thibaut photo above, I received an email from a follower on Instagram who asked, “Is wallpaper back? Is color back?” She went on to say, “It seems like for years everything was neutral solid paint colors. I love seeing pattern and color come back. I have always loved color and pattern, and so the house where I raised my children had lots of that. When I put that house on the market, my realtor politely suggested that we take most of our things out and neutralize the house. We couldn’t do that to the extent that she wanted, but we did do a lot. It was OK, but I felt like design taste had changed completely while I was not paying attention! Anyway, I love seeing liveliness back in interiors.”
Such great questions! There are a couple of things to address here. First I’ll share my thoughts on trends in general…
Trends
I am a firm believer in filling your home with what you love, what brings you joy, what fills your soul. I think by doing this, you are creating a space that will endure (for you). It may not be worthy of magazine publishing, but that’s not the end goal for most of us. The goal for most folks is to have a home that serves them functionally annnnd if you’re here, reading a blog post from an interior designer, I’m guessing you also want your home to be beautiful. This is such a subjective goal and different for each family.
Trends come and go like the wind. They are fueled by furniture and decor manufacturers, magazines, and influencers trying to sell their wares. That’s not to say they’re bad. Trends also keep things fresh and interesting. They introduce “new” styles and concepts. I use quotes on “new” because I think it’s true that there is nothing new. These trends are simply rebirths of concepts and ideas from the past.
That being said…
Are we seeing more color and pattern trending now? I would say yes! Magazines and catalogues are filled with color and pattern and texture. I am seeing wallpaper all over the place, and clients here in Raleigh are asking for it. [It’s fascinating to watch a particular style, color, or trend trickle down…they start appearing in big cities first, then move into smaller cities, then more suburban markets, then into rural areas.] Is wallpaper a “trend”? That depends. Particular patterns and come and go, then come back again. Some truly stand the test of time and it’s difficult to identify the decade in which it was installed.
The pendulum swings back and forth…neutrals/clean lines/minimalist to color/patterns/texture/layers of detail. And despite what the trends may be doing, there’s always a spectrum on that scale. Good, well-balanced design never goes out of style.
Keep Hard Fixtures Timeless, and Get Creative with Decor
If I were building a home from scratch, or doing a gut renovation I would keep the hard finishes and fixtures as classic and timeless as possible. Medium brown hard wood flooring, chrome or un-lacquered brass hardware, simple white or cream subway tiles, classic marble or soapstone countertops (or quartz that’s made to look like marble or soapstone). Try not to let what’s “in” or “out” of style dictate these choices.
Then, I would get more creative or colorful or trendy with the decor. Paint and wallpaper can be changed easily enough (though wallpaper can get really pricey).
Know your objective
My reader’s realtor suggested she “neutralize” her home, and rightly so. If your objective is to sell your home, you will decorate (or undecorate) much differently than if you are staying. Potential buyers need to be able to visualize their own furniture and belongings in the space, so paring things down to a neutral, uncluttered canvas allows them to do so. If your hard finishes are timeless, it will be easy to pare down the rest. If you have a dated trendy element, you may need to replace it, or at least downplay it.
Unless you are prepping your home for imminent sale, decorate with what you love, despite the trends! Do you need a little guidance identifying your style and curating a home that reflects you, but still feels cohesive and stylish? Let’s chat!