Twelve Designs That You Should Avoid
For the past two years, everything has been virtual due to the pandemic. The design world is now getting back to meeting clients in person. Not only do designers want to go back to in person meetings, but trends that were popular a year to two years ago, are not all the rage today. Here are twelve design trends that have seen their fifteen minutes of fame.
Classic Farmhouse Design
They say that the classic farmhouse design is “going down with the shiplap.” “Chip and Joanna Gaines are far from over, but their signature modern farmhouse look isn’t something many interior designers will be living, laughing or loving any more,” reports Forbes. Designers today say that you should change out the faux-distressed furniture for authentic well worn vintage pieces.
“First, get rid of faux-distressed furniture that looks worn, but isn’t. Instead, opt for vintage rugs that have actually been well-worn, and authentic farmhouse dining tables, says designer Anna Franklin.
Busy Wallpaper Looks a Little Tattered
According to Real Home magazine, you should take down the busy wallpaper patterns. These were great for a while but need to be taken down and replaced with accent mixed designs through upholstery, soft furnishings or wall art. Taking all of these and layering them can give a space the same interesting bold look that is more pleasing to the eye.
The Kitchen Is Closed Until Further Notice
Designer Christopher Peacock says he is seeing more closed in kitchen spaces nowadays instead of the open space family room and kitchen concept. The change has come after the need for separate rooms during the pandemic due to rooms needing to be doubled for different purposes.
Velvet In the Home
Velvet is a pain to maintain and there is enough to maintain around a house. “Sure, velvet’s buttery smooth appeal across anything and everything from upholstery to soft furnishings, and even decorative housewares are hard to resist, but let’s drop the bougie act and get authentic with tactile textiles that don’t have to be re-plumped and stroked down every time we use them,” says Real Home.
Stainless Steel Kitchen Hoods
For several years high-end kitchens have had a stainless steel kitchen hood. This look is cold and industrial and nowadays homeowners want a warm and inviting space. “It feels too cold to break up a bank of beautiful kitchen cabinets with excessive steel, but we’ll still need hoods for their function,” notes Forbes.
Dried Flowers Are Dead for Design
Dried flowers have become a thing of the past. Real Home explains, “They brought textural bouquets of meadow encapsulated beauty, volume, and sunbaked color to our homes throughout 2020 and 2021, but HELLO-that was then, and this is now, and there’s only so many eternity arrangements of dried grasses we can accommodate.”
White and Neutral Colors
Mood enhancing therapy can be done through colors and that is what this year is bringing. The all white and light neutral color palette is on the way out. The neutral color palette will still be used but just in different shades. Instead of the bland, boring colors, use a neutral palette with accenting bold colors. Popular choices include those that “mimic colors from nature.”
No More Minimalism
No more talk about less is best, it is over. “Let’s bid adieu to Kim Kardashian-inspired homes. I think we will see less minimalist design in coming years and more layered, modernist, maximalist design. A home should reflect the people inhabiting the spaces and it should tell a story,” says Peti Lau of the New York Design Center.
Subway Tiles Are For the Subway Station
For years now subway tiles have been extremely popular in home designs. “Subway tiles have been making a comeback in industrial-style homes for the past several years, owing to their fashionable, post-modern appearance. They’re not going out of style exactly, but they have become so common now that they are boring. To make things more interesting, look to streamlined larger or even curved tiles to replace them,” remarks Sylvia James, an interior designer.
No More Open Concept Living
This stems from the pandemic where your home during the stay at home orders was no longer just the space you lived but the space you lived, worked and played. “Throughout 2022, it remains a priority to be able to separate the specific areas of the home so they can fulfill their intended use effectively. Open-plan living has proven a popular design decision for any new build properties or home renovations over the last few years. While this layout provides ample space, perfect for families, post-pandemic living has meant this communal space is too often being shared for multiple reasons simultaneously,” according to Alysha Alli, interior designer for UK builder Redrow.
Real Wood Over Faux
Forbes reports that wood tile floors to marble porcelain, faux designs have been very popular for years now, however designers are seeing the real thing being used more now. Faux is definitely more budget friendly but in some cases just look fake and tacky. “There’s a place for imitation, but there’s no true replacement for the real thing,” says Forbes.
1970’s Wall Hangings
“A trend that I’d love to see go away, and stay away, is the 70s inspired wall hangings. They remind me of adult-size mobiles. As much as I love textiles, I really think they can be better appreciated in the form of a Persian rug or a beautifully embroidered pillow and not as a dust collector over your bed or living spaces,” says Caitlin Wilson of Forbes.
