Why Interior Design Trends are Out (for me)
Cosy guest bedroom interior design using pastels and neutrals.
If you’ve delved into our about page and blogs you will know that at Chestnut Interiors the focus is to creating a home that feels like a home, one that’s uniquely yours. How do I do that? How do we describe home when everyone has a different perception? I lead with emotion.
I chose mindful design as my approach when I first started my business as I had been the type of client I wanted to work with:
Someone who’s decorated their home or completed a project but something doesn’t quite feel right.
Someone who poured over inspiration on pinterest, instagram and in magazines and created what they felt was for them, but it was lacking in a missing element.
Someone who changed things when it didn’t work, but still didn’t result in the answer.
Someone who was, without realising, consuming and contributing to the fast fashion of interiors.
Someone who’s tired of making changes so turns to an expert who will create a home they enjoy and love to spend time in.
It took a while for the penny to drop, but drop it did and I have a new approach to design that’s more successful, more sustainable and whilst I’m very reflective I don’t see that changing.
In this blog, we'll explore what trends are, how they’ve evolved, and why they may not be the best guide for creating your perfect home.
What is an interior trend?
A trend can be defined as the direction in which something is developing or changing. With other peoples homes and lives on show on social media apps we quickly see a wave of new trends. Some for a long time, and some have a short moment of popularity.
Interior design trends are essentially popular styles and ideas that dominate the market at a given time. They often emerge from cultural shifts, technological advancements, or the influence of designers and celebrities. Trends can dictate anything from the materials and colors used in a space to the overall aesthetic vibe, such as bohemian, industrial, or mid-century modern. Think of them as the "fashion" of the interior world, which frequently change and evolve to reflect the tastes of society.
Interior Design Trends
Interior design trends are cyclical, with new ones emerging each year. Here are a few examples:
Open-Concept Living: For many years, open-plan living spaces have been favored for their ability to create a sense of flow and connectivity within a home. Walls were knocked down to combine kitchens, dining areas, and living rooms into one cohesive space.
Mid-Century Modern: This trend, characterised by sleek lines, organic forms, and minimalist aesthetics, has seen a resurgence in popularity. Originally popular in the 1950s and 60s, it came back strong in the 2000s and continues to be popular today.
Farmhouse Chic: Popularised by TV shows and social media, the farmhouse chic look incorporates rustic elements like shiplap walls, barn doors, and vintage décor to create a cosy, homey feel.
Grey Everything: For several years, grey has been a go-to colour for walls, furniture, and décor, offering a neutral backdrop that could be easily paired with other colours. (This needs a blog in itself and a caution to avoid a sad design)
Industrial Style: Inspired by old factories and industrial spaces, this trend includes exposed brick walls, metal fixtures, and wooden beams, often combined with vintage furniture.
In addition to these styles that have become very fashionable there are individual materials, colours or features that have their moments. Here’s a few from the past few years: navy blue kitchens, white boucle chairs, seasonal cushions (step away from the boucle pumpkins), cushions with words on, statement shelves, bold wallpaper in downstairs toilets, terrazzo, and dramatic marble worktops.
Trends Repeated
Some interior design trends have a habit of resurfacing, proving that everything old can be new again. For instance:
Wallpaper: Once a staple of the 1970s, wallpaper fell out of favour for years but has made a huge comeback recently. Now, it's used in bold patterns and textures.
Terrazzo: This composite material of marble, granite, quartz, and glass chips was popular in the mid-20th century and has re-emerged as a trendy choice for floors, countertops, and even décor items.
Velvet Furniture: Velvet was a symbol of luxury in the 1970s and 80s, and it has returned in recent years as a favourite material for sofas, chairs, and cushions, adding a plush, opulent feel to interiors.
Why trends date your home
While trends can offer fresh ideas and inspiration, they also come with a significant drawback: they can date your home quickly. A design that feels cutting-edge today can look outdated within a few years, as new trends emerge and older ones fall out of favour. Think of the avocado-green kitchens of the 1970s or the Tuscan-inspired interiors of the early 2000s. These once-popular looks can make a space feel trapped in a specific time period, leading to frequent and often costly updates.
The Sustainability Factor
Another critical reason to reconsider jumping on every trend is sustainability. Constantly updating your home to keep up with trends can lead to waste, as old furniture, décor, and materials are discarded when you become attracted to the next latest fads. This "fast fashion" approach to interior design is not only costly but also contributes to environmental issues. Sustainable design practices encourage homeowners to choose timeless pieces and high-quality materials that stand the test of time, reducing the need for frequent replacements.
Why a Copy-and-Paste Approach Won't Create Your Perfect Home
When you follow trends without considering your tastes, lifestyle, and the architecture of your space, you risk ending up with a home that feels more like a showroom than a personal sanctuary. I made this mistake and keep in the back of my mind seeing friends in my home who couldn’t relax! A copy-and-paste approach might look aesthetically pleasing in a magazine or on Instagram, but it often lacks the character and warmth that make a house feel like a home, somewhere that’s comfortable for you and your family. Your living space should reflect who you are, telling your story through carefully curated pieces that have personal meaning and significance, this doesn’t mean your home becomes a museum but instead a beautiful tapestry of your life.
Creating a Timeless, Personal Space
To create a home that transcends trends, start by focusing on what genuinely makes you feel comfortable and happy, this is always the starting point of every project and a question to ask when you start writing your design brief. Spend some time thinking this through and with every item you drag onto a moodboard, check do you adore it? Does it reflect you? Does it evoke the emotion you want to feel in the room? If it’s just ‘nice’ and looked good in a picture/in the store, leave it.
Tips for Timeless Design
Investing in high-quality pieces that can adapt to different styles over time.
Choose a neutral base palette that can be easily updated with accessories or accents as your tastes evolve.
Incorporate items that have personal value, such as heirlooms, artwork, or souvenirs from your travels. These elements will infuse your space with personality and authenticity, ensuring that your home remains stylish and unique, no matter what trends come and go.
While trends can be a fun way to refresh your space and experiment with new ideas, they shouldn't be the sole guide for designing your home. By focusing on timeless design principles and personal touches, you can create a space that feels uniquely yours, reflecting your personality, lifestyle, and values. After all, the best homes are not just about keeping up with trends but about creating a haven that brings joy, comfort, and inspiration to those who live there.
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