Curious to the meaning behind the official blog name, “Breaking Design Trends”? Well, there is more than one, so buckle up and welcome to the journey inside my brain.
Who likes to be in the know? Who likes to guess “what’s next”? Who dares to be original? Who likes a blast from the past? Who likes to bend the rules? Well, depending which side of “-design-” you’re on, you might read this name one of two ways.
*Trend:
Definition of Trend: What’s hip or popular at a certain point in time.
*Design Trend:
Definition of Design Trend: How we interpret what's happened before, to help us try and understand and predict the future.
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BREAKING those Design trends:
Trends are around to show you what you don’t have. So, why not break them. Be original, bend the rules, break those design trends. Trends can either make us look like everyone else or feel bad about being “behind on the times”. Stick to what Y O U are drawn to because it will always be YOURS. I’m not saying all trends are bad, because they’re not, if you LOVE it, you should have it. No one else is staring at your home as much as you. Make it reflect who you are.
Breaking News! Design “TRENDS”:
What’s happening next?! Will it impact your design decisions? It is always great to try and predict the future, but if you’re preparing and settling for “what’s next”, you aren’t necessarily staying true to yourself, right? It can be exhausting to stay in the know and try and stay up on the next big thing. Trends are opinions, some calculated guesses based on what’s happened already. It is nice to know, but most likely, you’ve seen it before. There can only be one original. BUT the ultimate solution to living stress free, is hiring professionals that capture YOUR style and creates a design that reflects YOU.
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“Be faithful to your own taste, because nothing you really like is ever out of style.”
my definition based solely on my own opinion
TrendS: Lasts a decade or so with small minor adjustments before it’s ruled out, old, vamoose, on-to-the-next. (Volume builders love these)
TrendY: lasts a year or two (maybe less, maybe more). Generally a bolder selection (piece of furniture, color, fabric, shapes, artwork, style, etc)
T R E N D S
Just to name a few
> 2010’s
Recent Trends:
Gray Laminate Flooring
Brushed Gold
White Appliances (see, white came back)
Shiplap
Black, Gold, Bronze
Mixing metals (i truly believe this will be around for awhile - it’s much easier on us designers)
Recent Trend(y) Things:
Vintage style ranges/appliances
Puff ottomans
Solid stone backsplash (higher than 18”)
Exposed kitchen shelves instead of upper cabinets
Boucle Fabrics
Slipcover anything (for looks, not practicality)
Timeless:
Natural stain wood flooring
Trim / Moulding
Nickel & Brass
Leather
White cabinetry
E X A M P L E S
Remember wood paneling? Well, it has technically never gone away, it has been in transition for the last 50-100 years. We went from beadboard - wood panelling - Shiplap - slats - to whatever someone thinks of next. How it changes and evolves is what keeps it alive. There is always creativity behind every transition.
For example: Wood - the color of stain, Paint - the color of paint, Whole wall, half wall, parts of the wall, big gaps, small gaps, no gaps, so on and so forth.
Almost everything will have an “updated” look from the original. Will you use it, change it, grow from it, alter it, become your own creative genius OR not use it at all?
P.S. have you seen the beadboard wallpaper yet? Yes, it is a thing.
“Styles come and go. Good design is a language, not a style.”
Ok, this post is not supposed to be all about wood paneling, but this series of images is just an example of how everything can be modified for the “next best thing”. It will come and it will go. It is all in how you use the knowledge to make it original. Make it YOUR original design. Because what appeals to you, will last a lifetime.
There are so many angles, nooks and crannies, trap doors, hidden passageways when it comes to design. BUT there is no right or wrong. I know this was not your typical “Let’s talk about what’s next in the trends world” type post, but you wont ever find that here. I try and give it straight. I don’t design based on trends, if you ask for it, sure I can do it, but I want my clients happy with their home for the lifetime they live inside those 4 walls.
TREND(s) TO REFERENCE BACK TO
2020 +
Since this is a post about “Trends”, I’ll contribute my two cents’ right here, only so we can see how accurate I am 10 years from now. The mixing of styles, metals, colors, & neutrals will be around for awhile (yes, all neutrals - grays included). Trends change so often. 10 years can fly by so quickly! Transitioning completely from one style to another takes a lot of time and money. Most people don’t want to invest in that. Some people still have family heirlooms. Compromise. Designers have to compromise everyday. I like to express, in order for a design to “work” there has to be compromise. If you change something, most likely, I will change something. It is the only way to create a seamless transition and a beautiful, personal design. Mixing of styles, metals and colors is what makes it easier to transition between what’s trending.
2023
Personally, I have always loved dark and moody, rich colors, grays, wood tones, vintage with modern styles. Well, according to those professional trend seekers out there, that is what’s to come for 2023. Let’s see if that’s true.
ACCORDING TO GOOGLE:
[Some of the most popular interior design trends for 2023 include the return of bold color, natural stone surfaces, closed floor plans, mixed metal finishes, luxe living, statement lighting, and 60s and 70s influences — particularly in furniture design.]
Trends are personal. They’re set by society, but they are personal. There are good trends, there are bad trends. A good trend might be good to one and bad to another. A bad trend might be bad to one but good to another. Did I confuse you yet? Stay tuned for “What’s next” on Breaking Design Trends ;)
Every room has a personality. How do you want to capture it?
By Following the trends, or by breaking them?
So, my question to you is, How do you read:
???
thank you for being here!
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I’d love to hear what trends you are glad that are gone, you wish would come back, have used or wish you had used? Comment below