How can you have a timeless design, yet still enjoy some of the fun trends that come and go every few years?

In the age of Pinterest, Instagram, and countless design shows and magazines, many people who are designing their own homes are drawn to trends because they have seen beautiful images that incorporate these elements and that often makes it easier to visualize that look in their space.  ‘On-trend’ furniture and decor is then at the forefront in retail spaces, making it all easily accessible in stores and online. If you’re wanting to update your home but don’t have a clear direction, it’s easy to fall into what the latest design show is telling you to do. 

Don’t get me wrong, I love most trends that continue to evolve.  A large part of my business is to know what is the latest and greatest and where design is heading.  However, there are so many trends out there, and with the internet bringing them to our fingertips so quickly, the trends are beginning to change just as fast as they appear. So, how can you have a timeless design, yet still enjoy some of the fun trends?

My advice:  Discover your true style first.  Learn what you really like and don’t like. Initially when I meet with a new client, I will spend time with them learning their style and how they want their space to FEEL.  Often the client may not be able to put into words exactly what they want, but eventually we discover it together.  Then it is my job to bring to fruition all they dreamed of and hopefully much more. 

To learn your style, I would suggest thumbing through many different home magazines (old and new, modern and country, traditional and eclectic). Feel free to look online, but don’t get caught up looking at one designer or only one type of style.  Looking at more than just one style will help you see that many different looks are beautiful in their own way and will allow you to pick out design elements that speak to you. It’s also just as useful to be able to identify what you DON’T like.

Once you have done this, you may discover that you like many styles that can be blended together, or it may bring clarity to a certain style you know you love. When you truly understand your style and know what you want your space to feel like then you begin.     

I’m often working with clients who are not starting from the ground up so if that is you, you may be wondering what to do if you can’t change your entire home style, but are looking for a refresh for your home? 

Start with just changing a few details to bring it more up to date. Maybe change your pillows, lamps, and possibly the art.  Eliminate some accessories that don’t excite you and add in something that does. This is a great way to select some of the current trends that are out there to spruce up a design style that you no longer love.  It’s amazing how little things like that can go a long way.  Just stay true to what you love.

Remember, there is no right or wrong style. We are all different, and that’s what makes the world beautiful and interesting. Be confident in who you are and what you love. If warm, tone on tone, soft colors bring a peaceful calm to you, then you probably don’t want to paint your walls a stark white with bold, bright accents.  It’s easy to get steered away from our true design style, but stay focused on the final outcome. Then add in some of the fun trends that are out there knowing they are accents and not the foundation of your design.