Casey Martinez Thank you for adding the starburst mirror. My parents had a metal spiky one in the 70's on the stair wall and I was always afraid it was going to fall on me.

Dirt Digger I am curious to see if reclaimed wood everything hangs around.

patty526 Period colors, true to a restoration are forever, but bringing the black and white, and various colors of tile up to date is so much fun. It's a challenge, but I have seen period homes done in current trends with just paint and fixture upgrades that blow away trendy stuff. And reusing woodwork, think wainscoting etc, gives detail that will ride along happily..until you repaint! I truly feel that as long as you don't force a scheme on a room, invest in the best basics you can afford, you can continually upgrade your home with out breaking the bank. That may be tomorrow, or 10 years from now, but the initial quality of the initial update will carry through lifetimes.

the_misfit I think the globes are staying (one in a library, NOT twelve of them). I think antique and retro pieces (a few, not the Mad Men look) are staying. I'm not sure about the retro wallpaper. I think Victorian reproduction wallpaper will be timeless precisely because it isn't trendy now. As for the other mega-trends...typography was annoying ten seconds after it hit and will be massively dated in no time. I think the current resurgence in oriental rugs won't put them out of fashion; they'll stay. But not in the kitchen any more, after a few more years. The starburst mirrors drive me beyond the reaches of sanity already. Those porcelain stool things have about two years of shelf life left. Chippy pale-green paint has about reached saturation point and will soon be the loathed avocado of our present era. (The few remaining antiques that have managed to retain their original finishes through the Annie Sloan holocaust will be able to breathe a sigh of relief.) The days of oil-rubbed bronze seem to me to be, likewise, numbered, but I think brushed nickel (because not such a craze, and more similar to materials that have existed longer) will endure relatively well. I can't decide what I think about the future of the farm sink. I think kitchen islands will endure, and marble counters, but I think granite will start to become passe in about five years (it's about time). Stainless steel appliances have already hit their apex and people, and manufacturers, are getting really tired of them. (Though I think stainless steel countertops will stick around - they have already been in industrial kitchens for decades, and they are not now overused in residential applications.) Roosters and things plastered with the Eiffel tower will not last either, I predict, nor grain or flour sacks; but I think ticking may hang around in measured doses (has more of a history in upholstery). And I think actually-French things (antique furniture, Le Creuset and Mauviel cookware, etc.) have plenty of staying power. Architectural doo-dads (orphaned finials and corbels with peeling paint) as scattered decorative objects, along with balls of rope, fake moss, and similar crap (dusting is enough of a pain for things that have USE!) are going straight into the thrift store junk bins now filled with scary porcelain dolls, gingham cows, mauve calico objects, and small straw wreaths. Now I'm trying to think of something that is seriously a TREND, and yet that I think seriously will stay. Um. Professional-grade ranges for people who can't cook. (Sadly.) Giant TVs. (Sigh.) Imported textiles. I guess, in short, most things with instant massive popularity just aren't likely to stick around.

mcgilla Keep Calm and...(fill in the blank)

kennedytarheel granite countertops...shag carpet....neon colors...frames on the wall with nothing inside...chalkboard paint...no doors on kitchen cabinets...all in, then out, then in again. Interesting article...it got me thinking about what choices I've made over the years.

minimumjoe The things that last seem to add to the architectural detail and interest of the room/home. Things that get so popular that you can find cheap "sorta like its" at WalMart are doomed from the start.

But there's nothing wrong with a cliche! If something rang such a bell that everyone liked the sound, even for a minute, it will always carry an echo for you. To me, poufs will be tomorrow's bean bag and woods wallpaper belongs in the same category as the vinyl graphic and the dogs playing poker pictures; and the big, red, sphere chair (can't remember the name of it) is a personal favorite but probably will be dated in the same part of the museum as the futon.

Again, there's nothing wrong with this, in my opinion. I pick what I like. If it's good, future generations may call it "pop art." If they don't' like it they can have a laugh. We all need a laugh. It may as well be at my expense.

patty526 Soo agree, do the basics right, and pull down whatever doesn't suit you in a year or two. Decorating evolves over time, if done with that in mind, it becomes a timeless space.

Sarah Stacey Interior Design The triangle! That is a huge one right now. I joke around with friends and say it has replaced the bird...."put a triangle on it"...and neon.

Jean Corey I keep wondering when white painted wood is going to become passé.

Virgil Carter Fine Art This is such an interesting feature, with equally interesting comments. Its another of those features where decorating issues and examples are presented, when it's design that really timeless. Decorating comes and goes--Fall colors, Summer colors, wall paper, vinyl stickys, round theses and poof thoses, etc. Decorating is all about something added to what's already there--to what someone else has already created. Design is creating something from nothing, something that responds to owner's needs, budget, site conditions and the like. Architectural designs such as colonial, craftsman, mid-century modern, International style, etc., are designs that have already stood the test of time and will likely be around for longer than any of us reading and writing here will be on this earth. Industrial design, such as consumer electronic products, houshold applicances, automobiles, etc., shows the creativity possible in everyday objects. Art is another example of creating something where nothing existed before. Can anyone imagine adding vinyl cutouts to the painting of the Mona Lisa. How about putting wallpaper over Monet's paintings? It's interesting how many of these features focus on temporary decoration themes, when it's design that may be the timeless endeavor. Of course, not everyone may appreciate or care for the timeless!

Ellan Maynard No to everything except maybe poufs and definitely certain wall paper in certain spots in certain houses (ie the dining room of an arts and crafts style house, or a powder room that needs a jolt. butterflies, starbursts, animal heads, slogan posters? UGH

shawnaleeah I thought butterflies have been out for ten years already?!

rkq903 My picks for what is going to not stay is: stainless steel appliances, mirrored furniture, shabby chic, and hanging curtains at the highest point possible.

I could be wrong though :)

dansarahdenis I totally agree. Stainless steel, and the shabby chic trend. And everything else you said!

dansarahdenis Forgot to say white subway tile. I cannot wait till that is done

Ruth Is ikat print still in? I'm so far behind decor; it was five years before I realized that fake silk flowers were no longer "in." :)

kathleen MK I think grey will scream 2013 in a few years. Love it as a neutral in my wardrobe but it's really getting over used now.

Peggi Worth I thought birds were still in... butterflies? Where have I been? :)

Sigrid Dark, dreary gray rooms are going to be painted over faster than those gold and avocado shag rugs were replaced. Round mirrors will become a cliche --- I've seen them in just about every living room pic in a magazine. Fake animal heads will disappear faster.

The ottoman as coffee table will probably go, too. Too many drinks, chips and dip will be spilled in the upholstery.

midmodfan Very thought provoking. I personally think that none of the above will stay, but most of them will come back with a twist in 20 years.

I am -and have always been- a true midcentury modern lover, so when that period became a trend, it was fun at first but became dull pretty soon. Rooms with mid-mod everywhere are just as boring as buying matching pieces or following any other trend religiously. A home should be a home, not a statement.

olldbobbi Noooo! Woods wallpaper out of style??? I haven't even saved enough allowance to buy it yet. And I agree with stainless steel, granite and subway tile. And gray.

Midmodfan, it sounds like you're ready to change your Houzz name!

Firm name nice tree on the wall :)

midmodfan olldbobbi: not at all! I still love that 'style' very much, only not when it's overdone. Eames, Nelson and Jacobsen everywhere in the house creates a museum. I like to mix some pieces in, a hint here and there is enough. But my love for mid-mod furniture and, much more: architecture will never fade - it's inborn. ;-)

In general I'd say: the moment a certain 'trend' appears in blogs and magazines, it's already over. You should go for the woods wallpaper anyway. It's beautiful, that's all that counts.

teresal60 Owls for nurseries - it is everywhere I see, including Owl lamps at Target....owl sheets, owl shower curtains, owl wall decals, owl pillows, owl towels.... they're definitely cute and a little different from previous trends, but they will DEFINITELY scream 2012-2013

grimesjulia And what about open plan living-kitchen spaces with large kitchen islands? I don't think that will ever go out of style.

olldbobbi Thanks midmodfan! I have enough saved to wallpaper the dog's kennell, but I'm getting there!

Roots and Rafters I simply cannot WAIT for the shabby chic trend to go the way of the dinosaur. My husband calls it "poverty chic" and frequently mentions the irony that people wouldn't pull kitchen cabinets out of a dumpster and install them in their kitchens -- they just want to buy new stuff to make it look as though they've done that.

Personally, I think it's time for granite-and-stainless-steel-everything to retire as well.

olldbobbi Roots and Rafters, I call it 'early marriage'!!!!

minimumjoe Roots and Rafters, I call it clutter, lol.

I agree with the fatigue re:stainless but I've been gray and white for fifteen years, and I'm keepin' it! It does look "dirty" in the very popular 2700K lights sold at the big box, but now that I've invested in 5000K LEDs it's crisp and clean and the accents pop.

I can't wait for the fad to die out though so I can go back to being 'weird.'

Alison Hodgson White subway tile was mentioned as a trend and it's actually a classic. My shower, which was installed 18 months ago looks identical to one in my friend's 100 year-old home.

Nice article, Samantha. Of course the internet speeds up the peaking and passing of trends.

deidrem1 Decorating with what speaks to you will never go out of style.
At this point in my life, I can find a number of ideas that have appealed to me for decades. I love the elegance of English Regency and American Federal, the glamour of French Art Deco, the beauty of Asian, middle east and African art, textiles and design and the simplicity of mid-century modern (so some Hollywood Regency is a natural for me). I find a way to incorporate some of each of these styles in my home, just not all in the same room at the same time!

kellystevens Poofs, wall decals, taxidermy, FLE poster, starburst mirrors and mid mod wallpaper are all decorating trends that will pass out of style and probably come back in a new incarnation in 25 years. The Woods wallpaper and butterflies I think are more classic, so while it may become more or less current, I don't think it will ever be regarded as in bad taste. MCM furniture by original designers are classics, but the poorly made MCM influenced furniture will pass out of style. Gray everything is so overdone these days, I can't wait for it to pass.

Matt O grimesjulia . . . open floor plan kitchens with granite/stainless and an island with two pendants overhead and barstools screams 2006. Bring back kitchen tables or breakfast nooks and formal dining rooms!

Beatrice Lawson What I really hope will go out of style is the "get the look overnight with cheap knockoffs made in China bought at Walmart". I don't have a big budget for anything and need to really think about each purchase, but I try to choose items that I like, are well made and well designed and that suit both me and my home. Some people will change their style just to accommodate a trend. Sorry, but if you start wearing jeggins or harem pants and add bulbs hanging on a string just because it is the latest thing, your house and you both will show a lack of personality and imagination. If you use white subway tile because you like it, then it will still make you happy in ten years. If you put it up because all the magazines and blogs were crushing on it, you will be searching for a replacement soon. And I think that is part of the overall mass consumption trend, which I hope will be a fad.... People will start to realize how much time, money and energy they have wasted on shoddy goods that were not really "them" to begin with. A beautiful Sheraton sideboard that is old and has a few signs of age is a lot prettier, not to mention timeless, when compared to the Ikea imitation of a classic Danish design. Buy what you like, and the best quality you can afford.

kennedytarheel Some food for thought: One of John Fowler's (of Colefax and Fowler) favorite color combinations was : gray and coral.

ruthmand I think it is fun to have some of these things in our home it is appeals to us. So what if that pouff is out of style in a couple of years, it wasn't a big investment, and sooner or later the SS fridge will have to be replaced anyway. However, I do wish people would honor the style of their home a bit more rather than impose the latest trend unto whatever style house they are living in. If you have a mid-century style home furnishing it with MCM furniture is appropriate, painting the cabinets white is not. Crown molding is appropriate for a stately home with high ceilings but putting it in every room of every new home is not, and so on. When these period styles are imposed on homes without rhyme or reason, only because it seems like the "in" thing to do and you see it everywhere, it becomes a trend that needs questioning.

bubblyjock Carrera marble! Surely they'll run out soon? It's not renewable, at least, not in our lifetime....;)

kelly2005 And for some Beatrice Lawson, Wal-Mart maybe the only option. I know a lot of people that would love to spend more money on beautiful pieces for there homes but as you said buy the best quality you can afford. I think if your home makes you feel happy, relaxed and proud then your doing something right.

Beatrice Lawson Kelly2005 - I beg to differ. Generally speaking the actual cost of Walmart purchases, of goods poorly made that fall apart and out of style fast, ends up being higher than if you take the time to refurbish a vintage piece. Or to have fewer items of higher quality. Why do people need more closets than ever and cram storage spaces that end up in reality shows? Because they buy things they do not need, with money they rarely have.

Like I said, I don't have a high budget for decor - in fact I have no budget. I recycle a lot, I transform things I already have and I saved enough for a small kitchen reno by selling on kijiji and craigslist the items we wanted to replace or that we have outgrown. On the rare occasion we take things that are not recyclable to the dump, we end up in a line of cars chock full of stuff.

I am pretty sure none of that stuff is quality, heirloom type pieces, but rather the $19.99 impulse buys from cheap and cheerful stores that convince us that we "must" have the latest star burst mirror or polyester filled trendy chevron cushion, and which now must be replaced by whatever is trendy this year. I am trying to stay off the soap box here, but I think a lot of what becomes timeless classic has to do not only with originality and design but also quality.

Roots and Rafters I just thought of another trend that ought to go the way of the dodo. Wooden words! People hang words like "hello" and "read" and "love" in cursive font (inevitably with a shabby chic paint job) on their walls. While they're nice sentiments, I'd prefer not to be exhorted by a plank of wood every time I walk into a room.

winstondog White subway tile is timeless & looks great. George Nelson bubble pendants diffuse the light with an amazingly warm glow. How can you not be trendy? You buy what you see being marketed. Bottom line, buy what you absolutely love & buy quality; it will look good & will last.

kremondi26 Moroccan poufs, wall decals and definitely fake animal heads are going to be fads ...also large geometric prints and mirrored everything - I am already sooooo tired of them. It will be interesting to see what endures the test of time. Places like west elm are good because you don't have to spend a lot for a trend!

moresparkly I thought I was the only one over sunburst mirrors! They have been everywhere for years! And wall decals-they always seemed temporary and cheeky. I just can't get behind grey going out of style-color on walls quickly dates imho. Grey is such a non color (it can appear white, lavendar, greeen, blue, brown) that you can change it's appearance based on lighting and accessories. What can I say-I love grey!

As to the open kitchen situation-i have to say-this must end at some point-all homes can't become enormous live in kitchens. I think in a decade or so the formal dining room, distinct from living and kitchen spaces, will reassert itself. We shall see!

mmers I figure if I buy what I LIKE - it doesn't really matter if it's in style or not. I had teak furniture back in the day - sold it many years ago - and went on kijiji recently and bought a lot of what looked like what I had way back when. I loved it when I had it in my first marriage - sold it after a divorce - remarried and my husband had done the same thing. We realized we still liked it. Who cares if it's the latest or whatever? Who has the money or the time to change everything whenever a new trend comes around? I have a very ordinary 60s bungalow without an open kitchen but it works for us. (and we have no debt - that works for us too.....). Don't get me wrong - I love looking at how people decorate their homes - but I'm not into changing my decor every year or so. And I have colour in my house - lots of it - and it's perfect for me!

amsandrew You have to keep in mind your phase of life as well when designing and decorating a home and choosing which trends to follow. With 4 young kids, my formal living and dining room just didn't "fit" our lives anymore. Ornate plush Oriental rugs and heavy silk window treatments became sisal rugs and white linen panels. Brocade upholstered chairs became cane back wooden Restoration Hardware grey (I love it!) ones. BUT I mixed it all with my beautiful Domain dining table, Asian antique hutch from ABC Home and my "hope chest" from moons ago which are all high quality classics.

And about the large island with the stools...essential for busy school mornings! I can play waitress much faster there than running back and forth to the table, all the while preparing lunches! But maybe when my kids are grownup more I won't need it and that will be my time for that trend to pass.

Doesn't personal home decor style change with age, much the way our choice of clothing changes as we move through phases of life? I see it as an evolutionary process.

I must say however, I HATE shabby chic!!!! Always have, always will!! I can't wait until those words alone disappear!!

midmodfan Trends are created by various industries to make us buy new things every season. Apart from satisfying a certain need for change, that's their purpose: boosting the economy and keeping 'creative folks' busy. But like in fashion, trends come and go (by definition) and most of us are successfully ignoring them - we already know what we like and own everything we need. The silliest trends are those that are ridiculed the very next season.

That's not to say that I don't enjoy flipping through magazines or spending hours per week on this wonderful website. Taste is indeed an evolutionary process, and nobody is totally immune to trends. While I am way too stubborn to be trendy, I always hope to detect *something* new that I'm really gonna like for the next ten years.

nmdca In smaller homes, such as my 2-story, 2000sf beach house in Florida, we will always be relegated to an open floor plan (open kitchen, dining area, living room). We do not have the luxury of space required to wall-off separate dining, cooking, and eating areas. I do miss the dining room of my childhood, reserved for Sunday or special-occasion meals with the good china etc. But the trade-off is a great, compact home a few blocks from the ocean in a friendly neighborhood of eclectically-styled homes. I would hate to think that my home will be off-trend by the time we finish our remodel, but I would argue that the most important trend to follow is the one that feels right for you and works for your structure.

loribahadigi All this just boils down to surrounding yourself in what you love and then mix in the "trends" to keep it fresh. I see so many people decorate the other way around by following the trends and then trying to figure out where to place their treasures (other than in storage!). I'm a fan of collectibles that appreciate in value. Like historical pieces, maps, and antiques with good bones. These things can add that little something to elevate a room to the WOW.

Roots and Rafters I disagree with the idea that a small house necessitates an open floorplan. My 1100sf cottage was built in 1927 and has a closed kitchen, formal dining room, living room, and family room on the ground floor. All the rooms are separated by doors and have different functions. It's simply wonderful not to have to be line-of-sight with people all the time, and my husband and I relish the privacy.

If the space is well laid-out and was built with care and consideration for the long-term (and not for a particular living trend), it doesn't matter how little square footage there is.

tcufrog I am tired of rooms that look like time capsules. It looks interesting and inspired with you mix of period decor but contrived when you slavishly stick to a period.

flgrandma Interesting article. This is especially helpful for young adults who don't understand that just because something is popular now, and maybe because it's popular, that it probably won't last long as a style. I've lived through kitchen appliances of white, brown, green, gold, almond, white again and now stainless. Same sort of list could be had for counter tops. I just moved to a house with plain off-white Formica counters and I'm OK with that.

melgmalone Unless you have more money than sense, making decorating decisions based on whether something in "in" is pretty silly. I will never like any shade of purple whether its Pantone color of the year or not. Certain styles speak to me while others do not. Let your interiors reflect your own likes not someone else's.

tsmit103 This article made me smile just a little! I've been around long enough to see the trends come and go. As a young, 20-something newly wed, I embraced early american, with trendy avocado, burnt orange and harvest gold upholstery. The biggest mistake I made was purchasing a real Persian rug with salmon and mint green color fields that I've been stuck with for almost 40 years; and since I purchased it with an almost whole year's salary, I can't part with it. It now adds a splash of color under my glass dining table.

I am so much more secure in what I like now. I try to avoid the trends and decorate with what I like. I do use neutrals for my walls and keep my more expensive upholstery in similar neutrals and textures. I do splash colors around the room with accessories, textiles and artwork that speaks to me.

I, for one, am happy with today's open floor plan kitchens and center islands. My grandchildren love to mix, taste and help with family dinners. Meals are easy, family events and I love the extra help!

As for trends, can it be that brass, which was oh-so 80s, is now a trendy "new" hardware for the millenium? I love brushed nickel and my remodels have added this finish throughout my home. I eliminated the polished brass eons ago and I won't be changing back any time soon. But again, it's what I like. Can mauve be far behind?

Lest I forget, one last trend that will be so dated in a few years: all those glass tiles now used on backsplashes in kitchens and baths. They are pretty to look at, photograph terribly and I predict will go the way of so many other trends.

klbklyn My parents cannot fathom our obsession with grey. We love it on our walls; in a warm deep shade that makes the perfect ground for our vibrant wood and gloss white furniture. And naturally our "pops" of color. . My dad calls it "government institution grey", which is what it will always be to him.

We can only see through the eyes we have. Our trends today will be rejected by our kids precisely because they are our trends. I sometimes look at the beautiful Eames lounge chair and ottoman and have a fleeting premonition of its fate in my kid's basement forty years from now...

That's fashion.

(Ps can we retire the phrase "pop of color"?!?

tritia Has anyone mentioned chevron print? We live in a small town, full of flea markets. Everybody and their brother paints it on old dressers, plates or wood signs. I fell for it a couple years ago, and purchased a cheap rug with it. I'm soooo over it!

susanintoronto Totally agree with mmers.

Anita Roll Murals I'm especially over chevron after painting it recently...

diannagail Don't you think if you really love something you find a way for it to "stay around." if it is a table lamp or a prayer rug, if holds your interest even when the world let's go and is on to the next trend, in your world any thing can hold it's place just by tweaking it with a new shade or going from the floor to some scrumptious cool pillows. Well,at least that is how things in my world go. Yes things come and go but if you really love the look, color, shape whatever. The tree wallpaper in the north woods powder room can change to an artistic feel with just a few new towels in a favorite color,new color on the mirror frame. Just tweaks here and there and a bit of thoughts out of the box. Don't let the business world over rule your passion!

tsmit103 I totally agree with the chevron prints. They are classic to some extent, but become trendy when they are everywhere and overdone. How about the animal hides (zebra rugs, etc.)? Too much of a good thing is a trend headed for extinction. Like I said in my earlier post, I buy what I like and live with it for years. As we buy and sell investment homes, I do keep a watchful eye on the trends. Taupes and greys, white cabinetry and granite sell houses in my area. My decisions for these homes are based on what appeals to the masses.

mmers People have had white cabinets for literally decades - I wouldn't call them a trend.

leejones One more trend that I think is peaking: Ikat. It's reached the saturation point, from high end designers on down.
Timeless: great design, properly proportioned in the original or carefully made reproductions. Anything by T.H. Robsjohn Gibbings or Florence Knoll. The original Barcelona chair, as well as Chippendale and Hepplewhite furniture. If the thought of the latter two makes you wince, are you imagining the original, or a clunky, ill made reproduction?

lveckel And how long is Cehvron going to be around for?!

tsmit103 mmers - I know that white cabinets have been around for years, but only until recently have they become so popular that most other cabinetry seems to have become passe. Just look at most of the design photos on Houzz. The kitchen cabinetry is overwhelmingly white. My own home has cherry, which I remodeled only two years ago. But that is my personal taste, and I am living in my forever home--at least for the next ten years. Who knows what the future trends will be?

ahemmer I'm ready for the subdivision I-buy-all-my-decor-at-Target consumerism blah look to go out of style. I was stuck with it until I was able to get out of my 80s/90s ranch. Though my style (functional farmhouse bohemian???) is crappy to most people, lol.

ahemmer Oh, I was getting ready to sew some poufs this week until I realized I'm so over them. hmmmmm

mmers So tsmit103, does that mean that anyone who has white cabinetry is following the trends? I doubt it - some of us have liked and have had white kitchens for decades. And let's face it - we're not solving any of the world's problems - we're merely decorating our homes.

anonyms Really good to hear ..as I have a lot of mic-century original Eames furniture et al

Jean Corey Since I was a child in the 50's until about 1990 I don't recall anyone I knew well having white cabinetry. The only place you saw it was in historic homes. Cabinets were either painted bright colors or were wood grain, especially oak. It was only in the 90s that people started painting their kitchen cabinets white.

tsmit103 mmers: What chord did I strike in you? First, let me state here that I love, love, love white kitchens. I do not criticize your choice of a white kitchen. They are timeless in my opinion. But this article was about trends. Jean Corey commented that people "started painting their kitchens cabinets white in the 90s." Obviously, trends are both regional, national and to some extent, global. I merely stated what was obvious to me. White kitchens are a very popular choice today. I just completed my third remodel using white shaker-style cabinetry and sold the home in 30 days. Not bad in a mediocre real estate market. So, obviously white was a great choice. No, we're not solving the world's problems, merely decorating our homes as you say. This is, however, a forum for comments and ideas. Is white trendy? I don't know what the statistics are, but judging from what I see, that seems to be the most popular selection for cabinetry.

bettiest as a child growing up in San Francisco we had white cabinets in the 50's- and I have had them in my kitchens since the mid 80's and that is the one thing besides white subway tile I've never grown tired of. So easy to change everything else around classic white to update your space.

Jean Corey I have lived in Utah, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, and Washington state, and seen a lot of houses for sale. My parents' cabinets were light turquoise painted. All of our houses have had wood grain cabinetry: dark wood, medium oak, and now knotty hickory. In the 60s dark wood was everywhere, in the 70s it was oak which lasted for several decades.

Before redoing our current kitchen I had the old dark wood painted white. It is a nice bright look, but shows fingerprints,etc., and chips so easily. I like the character and the toughness and easy care of my knotty hickory.

I agree with the idea of buy what you like. If you need resale value soon then try to stay in trends. But you never know what may become the next desirable trend. Sometimes the most fun antiques are the things that were common junk in their day, such as kewpie dolls, bronze carnival horses, ice boxes, and armoires. The same thing can happen with house decorating trends.

mmers Tsmit - no chord struck. Just a clear example of how online posts can be misinterpreted. Like others around here, I obviously like seeing what's new, etc. I'm sure your cherry cabinets are gorgeous - have you posted a picture?

ptmatthews I think some things can be both trendy AND classic. My aunt had a sunburst mirror in the 50's that I loved (it was trendy at the time) and now I have a similar one that I love. I therefore think of it as a classic. Things that are trendy over and over again (like white painted wood and subway tile) but never totally go away in-between are classics! That's why it pays to know decor history. As for color, I do think it is wise to use neutral colors on large expensive items and the color-of-the-moment on temporary accent pieces. But in the end, follow your gut and enjoy your house because it reflects you!

Beatrice Lawson It is funny seeing how passionate the responses get... It reminds when we bought our first home and I announced my intention to paint all the wood trim and the staircase banner and railings. My father-in-law was horrified and kept arguing against it. Now just to clarify, this was no heritage home filled with character. It was a bland suburban cookie cutter home. I liked color on the walls and my trim white. I think he was literally in pain walking in every time.

On the other hand, I can't stand wood colour in kitchen cabinets. No idea why - I just don't like brown tones in general, whether in clothes or decor. I used to hate that whole beige trend and when realtors used to tell me to paint beige to sell faster, ugh!

I have white cabinets now, purely because we'll have to sell the home at some point and when we renovated the kitchen we preferred to upgrade other things and kept the existing cabinets - but I would love light blue cabinets or a cheerful daffodil yellow (or the dark red my mom has - the apple does not fall far from the tree).

It does not mean I can't appreciate a nicely done kitchen with cherry or oak or whatever... I just don't want to live with that. Whether my preference is trendy or not - I could not care less. If it's a home I intend to keep for the long term, then I choose to decorate with items that make me happy. This is supposed to be my refuge, and whether I get compliments on it or whether I am quirky... who cares. This is not a popularity contest.

toddswife antique/primitive furniture always timeless

middleofnowhere Oh, no, the gold leather Moroccan pouf in my office is out? Damn!

I recently came into a small chunk of money (very small) and decided that since I spend my days at home, I would invest in paint, new light fixtures, and....furniture. My living room definitely went a little MCM, gray sofa, Saarinen side table, Nelson bubble lamp; but its offset by the reclaimed wood coffee table (that I bought 15 YEARS AGO), a teal wingback chair, and a hand built unique media stand. Okay, so I got the Eames Eiffel chairs, but I paired it with a beautiful shaker-inspired walnut table from Room and Board. I also have a colorful art collection that I have amassed over 20 years and used Flor tiles as a "Persian" rug. My house is an old no-style 1897 farmhouse on the northern plains. The deer antlers were my Dad's.

My point is: everyone's style is unique to them and you should buy (and keep) the things you love, and mix the trends in in small, inexpensive doses.

As for my gray walls--I HATE beige, cream, ivory, and every word for white. Guess I will never be in! Don't really care.

...and my bedroom furniture is mirrored, from Pier 1. I like it now, but I'm pretty sure I will upgrade as I save more money and can buy something I REALLY love.

maeeast klbklyn,
Not only am I ready to retire 'pop' of color, there are a few other words and phrases that are overused. 'Out' , as in 'change out', 'swap out', etc. (Actually, isn't the word 'out' unnecessary in those contexts? If I swap something or change something, do I need to use 'out' to communicate clearly? Where is Henry Higgins when I need him?)
And how about 'clad'? Nothing seems to be 'covered' in leather or wallpaper, etc. anymore. It's clad in leather.
Does anyone else notice any word fatigue along with trend fatigue?

Oh, and yes, I'm over stainless, especially when it's just regular appliances covered (or should I say 'clad'?) in stainless trying to mimic the look of commercial appliances.

And finally, I'm over HGTV's faux entertainment, faux design show, House Hunters. I realize it's inexpensive to produce, but I'd rather watch reruns of Sarah Richardson, Candace Olson, etc., than listen to another house-hunting couple complain that the appliances don't match -- I have to wonder what those couples would say about a kitchen with a SubZero refrigerator and a Viking range. (Time for me to turn off HGTV and watch Sarah on the DVR.)

middleofnowhere Maeeast, I'm so with you. The words "Bespoke" and "eponymous" in all the design magazines. And if they don't bring back Sarah and Candice on HGTV pretty soon I'm going to LOSE IT. I can't watch another bickering couple snub the house because it "didn't have granite countertops" in House Hunters EVER AGAIN.

dochop1 Stainless appliances and granite counters are trendy? Mine are 15 yrs old and still look fabulous with the newly painted gray(!!!) cabinets. And the glass tiles in the kitchen backsplash are 15 yrs old too, and I added them to the bathrooms 3 and 9 years ago (but in different designs). They look amazing in a midcentury house with glass block. But, I must agree with some of y'all; I have big reservations regarding the staying power of Ikat, chevron, antlers, faux bois, and all things Moroccan. One trend I regret: wall decals. But hey, all I have to do is let my nails grow a little longer and peel away.
Chris

Beatrice Lawson Maeeast and middleofnowhere - I wholeheartedly agree!! Oh, and everything is "iconic"... for crying out loud, if it's less than a century old, how do you know if it is iconic?? Corinthian columns, Roman mosaics, maybe even the Klismos chair deserve the term, and even that with some reservation... and the way they have to drop names in every article, it's worse than gossip rags. Why would anyone want to advertise every little item's maker? It's sort of like walking around with your clothes' tags hanging out to impress people with how much you spent. In general I much prefer the European design magazines. They do not take themselves quite as seriously, they show interiors of homes done by the owners, and they seem less trendy... much more individual and geared to the person living in them, not quite as "staged" for a shoot.

Oh, and if I never hear about "vignettes" ever again, it will not be too soon!

Sika-Design Sika-Design makes furnitures which has staying power.
Sika-Desings collection of wicker furniture is currently expanded since we launched the Originals collection for the first time. The design is inspired by our own models from the 50’ies and the 60’ies. As wicker furniture previously were sold for winter gardens, sunrooms and summer houses, they are now to be seen overall in the home.
We are inspired by our own archives and by old drawings and then we update the original models so they meet today’s requirement as to comfort and height.

The Originals has the touch of grandma's cosy summer house, the French Provence idyll or the Swedish skerries.

virginiacottage Having grown up in a household in which my mother and grandma frequently took on "antiquing" hutches, breakfronts, and piecrust tables in Florentine gold and avocado green, I have seen it all. At one point, Mom decided the old linoleum floor in the kitchen looked tired, so she used her tiny budget to stick down some orangey-brown shag carpet tiles. Great for sound absorption and hiding discreetly flicked peas under the dinner table!

The Harvest Gold refrigerator and oven of my childhood has graciously ceded the stage to glossy, slick stainless steel, which will bow politely in a few years to allow for teal-blue faux-vintage ice boxes and ovens their moment in the spotlight. Or will it be white milk-glass dishwashers? Or ovens that look like wood stoves?

As for the lovely, timeless white subway tile, comfortably paired with basketweave marble or hex tile, she is here to stay For Like Ever. As she should.

Poufs, sunbursts, white animal heads and chalkboard paint, thou days are numbered.

Beatrice Lawson And remember a few years back the faux coral branches everywhere... Those passed by so quickly, and trendy hexagon everything, which can be fun in small doses but not everywhere.

JMittman Designs Ikat, chevron, and several other textile prints---for my clients, I've only suggested these for accent pieces from the get go--throw pillows etc. No one wants to pay for custom window treatments that are "trendy".

House Integrity Home Inspections What an interesting thread this is! It's really made me think about what we have in our home that I've loved for years (and still works), and the inevitable mistakes as well.

In the former category would be our living room sofa which is over 20 years old, and which has been reupholstered several times. It's a fairly squared off design, and I'd have no problems replacing it with something identical today if I wanted to. It was pretty expensive when purchased, but clearly has been well worth the investment, and I expect to own it for years to come. Similarly, our dining room table, which I inherited from my parents, is a lovely rosewood oval, but the chairs around it have changed from time to time (okay, so those brown leather parsons chairs did not prove to be an enduring classic, and would definitely fall into the mistakes category).

We've just finished renovating a two apartment Victorian investment property, and painted everything in one of three shades of grey, with hardwood floors and serious white trim. I love how it looks, and both apartments were snatched up in no time, but now am wondering if I would want to live with all of that gray in my own home. Hmmm.

The other question that I'm now pondering, having read through this thread, is what's next for those things that people are growing tired of. Instead of granite counters....? Instead of stainless steel appliances....? Instead of glass tile backsplash....? And at some point, are we going to tire of hardwood floors?

ptmatthews Hard to believe we would tire of hardwood floors, but at one time they were all carpeted over! I think that may have been more a statement about being able to afford wall-to-wall though, instead of an actual dislike of the hardwood? I was in Australia recently and the trend there is for tile throughout the public spaces in homes.

Leaf Design Studio I am interested in seeing if stainless steel appliances trend will fade.

mmers I like the SS appliances. I've lived thru the era of harvest gold, white, etc. and I like SS. I think we've all made decorating mistakes but OUR homes should make US happy. Having said that though, I'm looking at our basement family room. It makes my husband happy - but it doesn't make me happy. Way too much clutter but he loves it. My point is that often there are 2 people in a home making the decisions and we sometimes have to compromise. And I hope I've learned enough to choose my battles! (like this basement FR isn't that important to me - but the main floor is....).

ptmatthews I have never liked stainless steel appliances - too industrial looking for me. I have always stuck with white.

nanharvill So what will replace SS appliances? White again? Please not colors. My mom had all of them, Avocado, Harvest Gold. I have had Almond for at least 15years and was assuming that I would go with SS in my just-purchased-under-renovation house. Now I am filled with doubt.....

ptmatthews I would go with SS if that's what you like. I think it will be around for quite a while longer. I also like the look of black appliances. But I'm partial to black and white kitchens.

flgrandma nanharvill Concerning kitchen appliances, I'd go with SS, black or white depending on the style of the kitchen and the colors you're using. In my current kitchen I could have used either black or SS. White would not have looked good with my light (but not white) cabinets and white floor.

Peggi Worth I didn't particularly want stainless steel appliances but when I built my house the only choices available in the mid-range appliances were stainless, white, and black - and white and black were not even available in some models. My cabinets are 'bisque' so I didn't want white or black. I would have gone with almond had I been able to get it in any of the models I wanted. Trends aren't always about what we want but sometimes what we can find at a price that most of us will pay. Sometimes decorating a room with a color that you like but that is not the current trend can be difficult because it is hard to find items in that color.

ptmatthews Peggi - You are so right! Budget and what's available often dictate. That's one thing I like about Houzz - you can see what's available even if it's not in your local store. But wouldn't it be great if we all had unlimited budgets like so many designer rooms seem to!

wheey I totally agree with u, it seems like shadow of mordernisim

mmers Country Living magazine has an article this month with Corbin Bernsen and his family. His wife was an actress but is focusing more now on interior designer. They obviously love their home - and they have some features that many people that many who have commented on this article say are fads like the poufs (which I think my parents had in the 50s but they called it a hassock). I thought the Bernsen home looked beautiful in the article. They've obviously decorated with what is meaningful to them.

Elise Other than fake taxidermy and "For Like Ever..." posters, all other items are classic and will be forever popular with someone when tastefully or artfully used. I consider the fake taxidermy and posters to be more pop art.

grizzly I think that SS and white kitchen appliances are both here to stay. I do think that SS will become less dominant. I am sure there will be trends in appliance colors and finishes that will come an go. Personally I like white and will stick with it as long as it is available.

As far as subway tiles go, I think that like stainless steel they are practical and look good and will probably always be around, but the trend for "everybody" to use them will fade.

I am nearing completion of a whole house remodel. I have done each room in my own taste. I lean towards rustic/country and early to mid twentieth century eclectic. Reactions to my decor tend to be favorable from men and luke warm from women. Probably not surprising since I am a man.

French Kitsch Really now all you Americans...you are so obsessed with trends ! Shabby Chic has been around forever and is not a trend !
Much ado about nothing .....buy what make you happy !!!!
I was going to make comment on many of your comments, but they are all so last week !

mugsy1703 EVERYTHING goes out of style eventually. I have never seen a decorated room that didn't look dated 10 years later.

mjbevilacqua I like to use what's practical AND beautiful. Trends come and go but ill stake a small fortune on this...re purposing and recycling makes a lot of sense. I don't really care if I'm on trend. In fact once there's a band wagon to jump on I usually run in the opposite direction!! I love decorating with things that hold meaning-which often means friends want to know where I bought something or another and I either can't remember or it was my nanna's and their obsolete!! Our homes should reflect a bit of who we are. Be yourselves and you can't go wrong!

storklady My grandparents built their home in the early 1930s. Their woodwork was painted white. She had white kitchen cabinets and subway tile. All of that is classic and will never go out of style. I'm in my mid-50s...I've never NOT had white kitchen cabinets or white painted woodwork in any home I've owned. It's not trendy, but classic. The stove my grandmother had when i was a child was purchased in the early 1950s. It was stainles steel. when I was growing up in the 1960s our neighbors had a SS fridge. I don't think SS is trendy either. It may be in more homes now than it used to be, but it has been around a long time too. White subway tile is another classic.

patricia beharry GRANITE, granite, GRANITE, OUT !!!. Don't forget VESSEL SINKS.

kindred1 Personally, I hope MCM is a trend. As well as the whole stark, empty, unwelcoming, uncomfortable, uninviting contemporary look.
I hated it when growing up and my mother had it, and I still hate it today.
I think it's mainly popular with young people who weren't forced to endure it already.
I believe it will fall out of favor because it's hard to live with over time.
Just my opinion.

Pink Fortitude, LLC Samantha - great article and interesting comments. Would love to see a follow up article on how to create a modern yet timeless look for rental property remodels that need to transcend time with each turnover.

PS - mabe it's me, but butterflies and faux taxidermy just seems creepy.

patricia beharry I forgot the cold, empty, white,look how much money I have house.

JAN MOYER What separates the classic and timeless from the trendy? Is it the real deal?! Shiny mahogany 18th century furniture in reproduction form, is pretty much deceased, but the real thing remains forever gorgeous. Same with a starburst mirror, especially over the real deal 18th century sideboard. But not the one with the crappy little mirrored circles my dear. And so it goes. Oriental rugs yes, and ikat, or lovely and pale Oushaks , but not the printed "oriental" bath rug at Bed Bath and Beyond. White almost anything, and especially on WALLS where it has gotten a bad rap as the I can't decide color. White sinks and toilets and tubs, and yes... kitchens are forever as long as they are clean, crisp, and not gooped up with corbels and doo dads. Poufs no, but the classic x leg ottoman is a "forever". Real marble yes, granite not as much. Chrome yes, oil rubbed bronze faux brown junk hardware? No. Real brass is forever, but not the greenish hued imitation. Real deal mid century, mixed in of course, and not the TJ Maxx import knock off. In almost all cases, it is hard to kill the real thing, and while it may seem to fade due the fact that it ceases to be knocked off...... it's there in the background, alive and well.

seppysills My blood actually boils when I read these two phrases: wooden words and shabby chic!

Arrrrrrrrrrrr these two trends have GOT to end soon or else I may go crazy! They look cheap and I'm too cynical to like those dumb wooden words telling me to "breathe" and "relax". Grrrrrr.

neapolis Please advise re: oil rubbed bronze.... Just about to have custom draperies installed, and my decorator ordered oil rubbed bronze hardware.... As for poufs, I grew up with a couple in my house. But we are from a country where they originate-- so we have/had a lot of Arab handiwork in our homes.

normpo It was a great article! Even the comments were thought provoking and interesting. My only concern is that I just bought a nice little star burst mirror from Pier One. I saw an article a few months back and it listed the star burst mirror as a must have. I like it! I hope my little mirror doesn't look dated or go out of style too soon. LOL

tootsielou Abracadabra Poof! Please make those poofs disappear!

brensmum Rather than What is trendy?, the real question is: What isn't trendy? (Or "dated" for those who distaste the word trendy.) With the exception of probably only a handful of items that have had staying power forever (white subway tiles for one), EVERYTHING has a date to it (and that includes fashion, architecture, food, even words...like Awesome. I never heard that word growing up in the 70s). But these popularities are just a reflection of passing fancies. We live in a culture driven by consumer spending. Things MUST change. And so, we change with what we have seen in magazines, on the internet, on TV. And colours, patterns, wood stains, tile shapes (and even how they are laid!), furniture shapes, etc. inevitably get a date attached to them.

Liz If granite is "out" what would you replace it with? I would have thought stone to be pretty enduring, it's not something easily replaced.

deidrem1 I recently read an article by Oprah where she stated she spent years decorating using what she thought other people found stylish. She is finally ready to decorate with objects and in a way that speaks to her. And this woman has no budget ! I can't say it enough - do what feels right to you, within the dictates of your lifestyle and budget. This is not an instant process. My tastes exceed my budget so it takes plenty of time to do a room. And I tweak regularly to suite my needs and taste. A fair amount of time my tastes are out of sync with everyone else's, but I don't care. Sometimes everyone caught up, sometimes I'm out there by myself. Dont care. I love my house -I think its awesome and I still have work to do. Most people like the way it looks even if its totally not their style. but i know some don't . My house has always reflected me and not the decorator du jour . The upside I will never have an entire room that is a time capsule and look dated in 3 or 4 years. Obviously we all have different opinions on what's cool and what's timeless. If you chase every trend you will never be able to feel comfortable in your home because most of what's trendy probably doesn't have anything to do with you.

Christal I think that is what decorating is all about. Change. If you don't like it in two years, well change out that mirror. Just don't leave it hanging there for 20 years, unless of course, you love it.

emailjayne I'm already tired of owls. I read that the fox is the new owl. I'm getting ready to get tired of foxes!

lindshammer Why the hate on granite (besides it became accessible to many...therefore is seen more frequently than some of the other surfaces)? To me anything natural (marble, granite, quartzite, sandstone...any of the natural stones) has staying power, makes sense, and brings the outdoors inside. Natural stones are timeless (per se) in nature, so should be not only forgiven, but utilized more in design. I don't understand the disgust (besides that granite countertops had become more commonplace). Not sure it's such a bad thing. I think engineered stones will go out of popularity w the general public before natural stone does (or should anyway).

she2 Great article Samantha. Looks like you provoked a lot of thinking & comments on this one! My brother loved mid century modern so much, he started a recycled MCM furniture business many many years ago in D.C.(Cantilever Modern). He is still flourishing today. It is in high demand, as most cities & other countries still can't get their hands on enough of the real deal.

cgeneral42 Funny....not sure what is in. Looks like anything and everything is out or on its way out. ha! Oh well, it's your space...love it and live it. :-)

susan9692 Well, I just spent a half hour reading all the comments on design, trends and fashion. As for myself I have always loved Asian motif for as long as I can remember, which was many, many years ago. I have pieces that have evolved and been added to over the (40 some odd) years along with contemporary.

My colors scheme throughout my condo is red, (yes, RED) black and shades of grey (Yes, GREY), with touches of white. I love grey. It's neutral without being boring. My kitchen dining area is painted with red walls and I just refaced my kitchen cabinets with black shiny lacquer-like formica. And "carrera" marble formica counter tops and back splash. I love to cook and I need practicality. (No granite for me, too expensive.) It's a knock out!. White floors and ceiling finish off the look. Yes, I do have SS appliances and love them. I would not change them for the world.

Sure, I went through different color changes over the years. But all the classic Oriental and contemporary pieces will never go out of style. After all, style is something you create for yourself.

What I will never use or have: words and sayings on everything, like wood and metal, pillows or walls. Fake animal heads, Corbels, anything shabby chic, or anything that looks like it needs to be thrown in the garbage and please don't tell me it has character.

I agree, you should buy what you love and and the best you can afford. It will grow with you and never go out of style. Design evolves over a lifetime.

katwishing It's fun to think about what trends are going to date our particular time period. I wouldn't take it too seriously, though. Now I know there are some people who actually pick decor just because it's trendy, but fortunately, I think many more of us pick what we like from what we see around us (or have seen in our lifetime). For example, I have always loved "vintage/antique," ever since I was a child. I have been consistent in that over my life, and it was so odd for me when "vintage" became all the rage in the mainstream. At first, I worried that like any trend that becomes too popular, it will die hard, leaving me in an outdated lurch, but I've decided that no matter what happens, I'll still stick with what makes me happy. Vintage lovers will always be around, and vintage is flexible enough to be reinterpreted over time to stay fresh as trends change (but I know vintage won't always be so mainstream).

I agree with many people's comments about particular things that are bound to go back out of style, but I disagree that we have to decorate our home based on the style of house we live in. Not all of us can choose to live where we'd like (we live in a development community for the excellent public schools, but have decorated our house in a way that would fit in perfectly with a historic neighborhood). We're about to remodel, and our kitchen cabinets will turn white (including some mullioned cabinet doors), and we're installing traditional hardwood flooring throughout to cover the beige tiles and carpeting. A house's architecture and/or neighborhood shouldn't be a style prison. Decorate how you love. Also, for the poster who thinks ottomans as coffee tables will go by the wayside, I really hope they never disappear from stores! The ottoman has been a lifesaver for our family with small children. There's no running into hard corners, it doesn't matter if the children leap onto it, and there are no spills because no one's tempted to put a glass on it. And wow, it's so much more comfortable to put up our legs on cushioned leather than a hard coffee table. When we have company, a wooden tray turns the ottoman into a usable table for drinks. Voila. I love my oversized ottoman and can't imagine going back to life without it. But about the grey walls that are so in fashion now... I'm not sure we'll be seeing that everywhere for very long.

Inis Lovely My prediction: people will make themselves happy and forget what's on trend or in style. ;)

Rebecca@MidCenturyModernRemodel The comments here are as good, if not better than the article. It is really hard to know when you are simply part of a trend. Mid-Century Modern-MCM right now is such a hot trend. But even I can't stand a room filled to the gills with MCM furniture. I have been re-doing our MCM home room by room to make it livable and not a museum. I follow many decorating blogs pretty closely. I would have to say glass mosaic back-splashes, white cabinets, and gray rooms are falling into the trend category right now. I can't decide on subway tile. I am so sick of granite counter tops that I will surely use a man made surface in our kitchen like Ceasarstone. Which may be a trend. See? It is hard to figure it out.

92viadi Our Woods wallpaper (gray background) is being hung tomorrow in the powder room of our newly remodeled home. So, I felt a little twinge when I saw that on the list of trends being evaluated for their staying power!

The splurge on the Woods was an ironic choice because we made a dedicated effort to remove all wallpaper from the house's 1980's incarnation (prior owner) and I was quite certain I'd never have any wallpaper in my house again.

I fell for Woods the first time I saw it here on Houzz. Actually, I've never seen it installed in any home I am ever in -- I'd only seen it online and in print. I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy having it in our personal living space for as long as I'd enjoy any wallpaper.

And that fact made me wonder: What exactly is it that makes a trend and is it that same thing that makes us tired of it? Is it over-exposure in the media? Can seeing too much of something in media make us tired of the same thing in our home, something we once enjoyed and would still be enjoying if we weren't looking elsewhere for validation of what's "in"?

I need to remind myself from time-to-time that shifting trends in large part stem from strategic marketing efforts by all engaged in the design industry. (It would be hard to grow if everyone decorated once and said "done"!) Some of what is put out there for us really catches on because it responds to a need or desire many are experiencing at that time. And sometimes that need is for a refreshing change. Still, I think that if we look to ourselves and those who share our living spaces for validation we are likely to experience greater satisfaction with our decorating choices than if we are constantly seeking what's "in".

Reading the many comments was actually reinforcing. I like being in a space where the rooms, objects in them, and views from them are pleasing to me, my family, and friends. I also enjoy seeing and am inspired by how others decorate their homes and choose to arrange their spaces -- it's one of the joys of Houzz!

Thank you for the thought provoking article and all the comments.

Margaret The rust, dark orange, avocado green, and gold of the late 60s was a warm, earthy palette that looked great then and still does when done well. But it often wasn't - people went crazy with the orange, or they left avocado green standing on it's own in the kitchen so everyone who walked in felt green around the gills. The same is true for grey - when done well it's a lovely neutral backdrop. When done poorly it's dreary. What's classic? Anything that's done well. And no, it doesn't have to be genuine and it doesn't have to be expensive.

For those who hate shabby chic, I am sorry to say I suspect it's here to stay. I stayed in apartment during some renovations on my house. The kitchen was shabby chic. I quickly figured out that there was fake distress and genuine distress on those cabinets - but the fake distress gave the kitchen an uniform finished look. Shabby chic too practical to die easily. I don't care for it but I salute it's utility.

Granite counters are practical. Heatproof, impervious to almost everything, and good looking. Like laminate (an under appreciated material if ever there was one) they will stick around even if they lose their aura of exclusivity.

amberrongey I think the person who said if you are buying it because a magazine tells you to you are decorating trendy. If you are buying what you love or what represents who you are, you are decorating timeless. I love the rustic/country, dare I say "shabby chic". I also love the Hollywood Regency look too. I live in the mid west and we are about to start building our new house. I think a lot of decorating "trends" end up passé depends on where you live. I think the coastal decorating looks are "trendy" here since there are no beaches. I see the allure to it though. It's calm and casual with fun colors in both warm and cool tones. But if you are a "mid-continent" dweller,t and you are know to love the beach, then it suits you and its relevant. I love chevron, not because it is everywhere, but because it is a great pattern with movement to go with smaller scale patterns in pillows or as a rug. My sofa came with New York skyline pillows and subway sign pillows of New York locations. It's weird to me since I have no connection there. i will change them out when i can decide on fabric i like. I want to do a subway sign that has locations of my home town though to hang on the wall. If it is relevant to who you are and makes sense in your life, it will never be trendy. If wood signs convey a message for you or create conversation they are great! I love them personally.

As for granite, I don't think it will or ever should go out of style. It is a beautiful natural material that is hard wearing. Why should it go out?? There are countless colors to choose from as well. The ultimate and most practical way to "bring the outdoors in".
As for stainless steel. I like it. I would rather do SS than the colors like white or black that look plastic and cheap.

Brenda Sheets I have shopped at antique stores for years. If it is still around after 50-100 years then it will last a few more years of loving it at our home. Reupholstering my grandmother's chair makes better sense than buying a new one. As grandma used to say "they just don't make things like they used to." I love our home and the quirky little things I find. Many friends or visitors ask, "Where did you find that?" Just give your newer, out of style junk to the kids when they leave home. They will take anything and get rid of it themselves when they can afford something better.

skrehbiel1 liz357: Look at quartz instead of granite. I'm one of those people who believe that granite is and should be considered yesterday's news. I think all those crazy-busy patterns and "movement" in granite are just too much and will invariably date kitchens as a 2000-era design. Quartz is technically harder than granite and you can find a range of colors to suit your taste. We just built a Nantucket-style home (complete with white-white woodwork, white subway tiles and gray shingles) and used Cambria® in Oakhampton, a relatively uniform espresso color. We also used stainless steel appliances, oil-rubbed bronze hardware in the kitchen and doors and brushed nickel hardware in the bathrooms. We've received nothing but compliments on our choices and, more important, we absolutely love the way it all works together and think we will still love it all in 20 years. Choose what you love — don't rely on a designer or trends to dictate your style. You can check out the building process we went through at http://allyoucreate.com/

quatorze I agree that some trends have definitely been overdone. I also think that copying a look blindly will end up making a room "date" faster than a New York minute.

That said, when done with conviction, and when absolutely reflective of an individual's personal style and taste, almost nothing is "wrong". Ever walk into someone's home or apartment and immediately get hit with the idea that it is so______(fill in the name)? When a "trend" inspires an individual and they make the concept their own, rather than slavishly copying it, then it usually works.

One thing that will never go out of style is French 18th century style furniture. The making of a period room of the stuff may make some people blanch, but the judicious use of this furniture, designed and created to enhance a room's beauty and the user's comfort, will never go out of fashion. This is how items live on, by being well designed for use as well as aesthetics, whether it be luxe Louis XVI or a humble ironstone pitcher....

daisys4me I think it is time for "potato sack" aka burlap decor to go!

crispyduck I rarely follow trends in home design or fashion, because I tend to believe that most of it is all about marketing..keeping us in the buy, buy, buy loop. I've furnished 3 short term rentals with carefully chosen modern pieces from consignment and thrift shops and a bit of Ikea. Luckily I was just ahead of the craze for mid-century in my western state. My favorite find was an original Bertoia bird wing chair that was sitting in the rain outside a thrift. "That horrible thing, take it away for $5!" True style will last, tongue in cheek trends, like fake taxidermy, will disappear.

Christal We just built a new home, moved in at the end of October. I really tried to focus on things that would be timeless, things that wouldn't date my home. We did granite, I love it, who knows what the next ten years hold. But it was something that I wanted and loved, considering I had formica for years. Hopefully everything will still be "In" in 10 to 20 years. But if not, sorry, I do love everything I picked. I will be the one living in it.

Casart Coverings The trends tend to be what everyone has now but if you buy what you like rather than the trend, chances are it will either be a trend or come back in style someday. We create what we like and started with timeless "textured" backdrops like faux linen that complements most all furnishings. Then we decided to add pattern and pops of color using stripes, etc. I think the permanency of traditional wallpaper may eventually go out of style with today's convenience of repositionable wallcovering. It allows anyone to use without fear of resale factor and renters can take wherever they go. On top of which, our products are 100% made in the USA and can be reused, repurposed and depending on locale even recycled. They can also be timeless. I think with creativity, you can make most anything old look new again by simply pairing it with something current that gives a fresh new perspective and presentation. Oh, and butterflies, what can I say? They are always in for us b/c they represent this idea just described -- eternal transformation is constant.

SusieQ I didn't like mid-century mod furniture and starburt mirrors "back then" (even though I was just a child), and I like it even less now. I think it looks cheap and tacky, so I'll be glad when that trend is gone. I love poufs, though. And that green, flowered rug in one of the rooms. Beautiful!

amyhoitenga I hope not, but terrariums?

claudette2402 Something not yet discussed in this thread is staircase balusters. My home was built in 1989 with two staircases with stained oak handrails and white painted wood square turned balusters. My husband and I are systematically going through the house and remodeling everything. When it came to the stairs, the current trend in new homes is to use iron balusters and most staircase remodels in my city are tearing out the wood balusters and replacing with iron. After much consideration, we decided to keep the painted balusters and replace the carpeted steps with stained oak treads and white painted risers. I think my stairs are now timeless and feel that iron balusters fit well in Spanish or Mediteranian styled homes, but not in every two story house. When I was growing up in the fifties, wrought iron everything was so popular. When I see iron balusters, I can't help but remember all the ornate iron porch railings from my youth.

sally436 Because trends reach "social saturation" capacity in culture with lightning speed these days, thanks to nearly warp-speed internet presence (and speedy Chinese knock-off manufacturing), they seem to "flash" and then disappear. Owls, chevron print, Moroccan poufs, for instance: Suddenly there are millions of them, like Star Trek's old "Tribbles," multiplying everywhere. It's the mass market having itself a little "supply spasm" based on detected trends. . . .ANd we forget that in Morocco, these 'trendy poufs' are actually classics, items that have been around and endured for ages and ages, in natural leather. (as opposed to silver or shocking pink) . . and, so, in this sense are not really a trend at all.... I guess it's complicated.


I suppose the trick is to separation "enjoyment and the finding of new ideas," online and elsewhere, from "falling prey to easy and thoughtless mass market manipulation!" To think for ourselves, have design come from inside of us, and reflect our own unique tastes and needs -- and not necessarily a join-the-crowd reaction to what we see multiplying around us. It's hard, and I have the sunburst mirror and owl statuette to prove it. (but I love them!)

Good luck everyone!

kit2650 Most of us with stainless kitchen appliances and granite counters aren't going to be remodeling anytime soon. But, just in case...what will they be replaced with? I've seen colors, white, almond, and stainless through the years. What could be next? As for counters, marble is gorgeous, but it STAINS! Stainless dents and scratches, wood collects bacteria, formica falls apart..........

stargazer51 Everything goes out of style unless it is true to the style of your home. (I cringe when I see remodels of period houses with sleek modern everything.) Sleek modern everything in a MCM house make perfect sense. White cabinets that match the trim in a Victorian or Cape Cod make perfect sense. White cabinets in a ranch, not so much.

If your home is on a ranch (or any dusty location), very dark or very light floors will be a huge mistake because you'll be cleaning your floors daily unless you can overlook visible dust and dirt. Think twice about staining your wood windows, doors and floors to match the current trend. Once you put walnut on that vertical grain Doug fir, you're left with stained wood, nothing special.

You can reflect current trends with easily replaced paint and accessories, but not large furniture pieces, tile, flooring, windows, etc. unless you can afford (and feel ok about wasting resources) to remodel every 4-5 years. With all due respect, manufacturers, advertisers, retail merchants and designers only make money if people change things so they will always push new trends.

dwawa Sunburst mirrors are a classic & here to stay! Everything else gets its 15 minutes of fame every now & then, except mid-century modern. Whole rooms, no; the occasional piece can be worked into even the most traditional or grand space. My opinion from years of design work, but certainly can be wrong! Smiles & love your blog.

windingcreek_creations I have finally reached a point in my life where trends no longer matter. I love what I love, and that is what I have in my home. There are aspects from every decorating era that I have tried on or carried around. Some make their way into my asthetic heart and some do not. I have my Grandmother's delicate china, and her hand crocheted doilies, rustic wood, wrought iron, and sleek pendant lighting. There are things my sons made for me. Things I found in flea markets, and things I bought new for a pretty penny. With a gallon of paint, I can transform a room and give myself change, but these are are all the items and colors that I love, and together they surround me with asthetic bliss. This is my definition of home. I believe trends are merely guides for those still trying to find their zen.

beyondbeige For me it is white slipcovers. Boring and unimaginative. The really great decorators were masters at using color and pattern .
Oh and another word I am sick of seeing besides pop of color is "sing".

noire I am guessing that many of you are either designers or have quite a bit of discretionary income. Certain things will likely never go out of style simply because they are: practical, durable and relatively timeless. Stainless steel appliances. Unless you enjoy replacing expensive appliances with new hip colors... this will stay. They have been around arguably before painted appliances and they don't change colors with the whims of the decorating trends. Granite. As a natural product that withstands abuse I seriously doubt you will see a resurgence to some "color" like tile or manmade product. As for stainless steel countertops or even the wood that seems to be so popular...go into your local cafeteria and look at how poorly they withstand time (scratching etc.). Granite styles may change but the concept will remain. Paint and furniture always reflect both taste and date and with the exception of expensive pieces are relatively simple changes. As for the open floor plan and large kitchens, I would bet money this NEVER goes away. We have returned to a much less formal lifestyle and there is NOTHING culterally, politically or decoratively to suggest a swing the other way. In times of economic downturn people don't start building rooms for single uses (formal dining rooms etc.) they start embrasing multi-use spaces. The term shabby chic might fade, but the premise of the underlying mix and match is here to stay--your most reputable designers have been embracing this concept for decades.....ex. Ralph Lauren.

Designing will be (as it should be) driven by economics and societal lifestyles. Trends that come and go are usually attributed to those that can afford repeated change.

srgerova At the age of 54, I finally had the opportunity to create a kitchen from scratch. Our newly bought 1970 era home had falling off the wall white cabinets, white porcelain tile counter tops and white tile floors. Ughhh! I wanted a kitchen that, one, was easy to clean, two, had real wood cabinets, three, had granite countertops, and four, had a huge Island. I chose flat front maple cabinets, granite that I has always dreamed of, tin backsplash, and cork flooring to match the hammered copper backsplash. My style is practical, comfortable, and easy to clean! I also chose white appliances and a white farmhouse double sink, and as many drawers as I could fit into the design. It is perfect for us and almost everyone who comes in says WOW! I couldn't care less if it is trendy but I think it is classic and appeals to most.

wantsideas Interesting article and some very thought producing comments. What goes around comes around but usually in an updated version. I don’t think it matters is some décor is trendy or timeless IF you love it. High ticket items like kitchens, baths, fireplaces, etc are different in that you can’t just change them out at whim so a little restraint would be in order. As far as furniture buy what you love at the best quality you can afford. I love functional pieces that can be moved from dining to living to office, etc. With the exception of a couple mid-century pieces, I don’t have any examples of these items in my home. But I will happily take both of the dogs pictured!

jaxsue My parents bought a 1920s colonial in 1983. One bedroom upstairs had woods wallpaper. In glaring, garish, living color. All four walls. We got rid of it within a year, but the psychological damage had been done. So, woods wallpaper....deity help us, no.
But I really like the sofa in the first woods wallpaper picture. Any info on that?

kit2650 Just remembered the decorator touch I most hate: Those karate chopped throw pillows, whacked in the middle, and placed "just-so" on the couch. It screams: DO NOT SIT HERE! JUST LOOK!

JAN MOYER kit2650
I know no decorators still clinging to that trend : ) None. And many of us never did.

anne609 Everything will cycle through, that's the nature of "fashion", there always has to be that next hot trend. If not, designers and sellers would not make any money. Knowing yourself, finding what speaks to you as an individual and being comfortable with your own choices is the key to a successful nest.

kyivdesign I find fake taxidermy in a baby's room rather disturbing.

Carol Maryott I hope the starburst goes away soon. I would much rather see fine art .

Maria Apicella i think mid century modern can get too kitschy , or perhaps too "design within reach", but never dated because it has already stood the test of time

deloresje I love starburst mirrors. I buy what I love and I don't care what is in or out. I don't have the money or time to worry what others are thinking about my style. I design for the taste and delight of my husband and me and consequently we both adore our home.

deloresje I love my starburst mirror! I don't have the time or money to worry about trends. I design our home with things we both love and consequently my husband and I find delight in our home. We don't really care what others think about our place. Following trends can be exhausting but designing a home with things and colors you love is rich and rewarding. That is what makes a house a home.

logicbutton Taxidermy, real or fake, cannot go out of style fast enough for me. Even the novelty stuff with waterskiing squirrels or whatever, while hilarious, just weirds me out.

The MCM pendulum will swing back and forth indefinitely.

No wallpaper style will ever last long. It might come back, but the revival will only be temporary as well, and leaving outdated wallpaper up in case it becomes trendy again is not really worth the effort, as it's almost certain to wear out in the meantime. One of the many reasons wallpaper should be used sparingly.

I think Moroccan poufs will probably become dated, but they're practical and objectively attractive, so I imagine they'll be one of those things that people are happy to keep around even when they're not trendy anymore.

As for wall decals, it depends on what the decal is. Inspirational sayings are pretty much out already, but the two pictured above are really nice and I could see them looking great for years to come, assuming they stay in good condition. It's also possible that the technology used to create them could evolve, making them effectively like wallpaper: the concept a permanent design staple, but the styles constantly changing.

Lu Vessel sinks. Beautiful but impractical if you actually want to use the sink to wash your hands or brush your teeth. And how on earth do you keep the vanity-meets-vessel area clean?

myosotis I didn't know butterflies were back, aren't they from the sixties? I do not own anything that screams "trend". I think stainless steel appliances and granite counters tops are going to be on your list any day now.

jenzookmurphy Seriously need help! What to do, I have a limited budget and I have to purchase appliances. The only option is stainless or stainless-like.
I always try to stay away from trends, who can keep up on a limited budget?

kittq We live in an historic Nova Scotian home built in 1780. The ceiling height is low, the window glass is bubbled. I think about the people who lived here, before me. I wonder what impact our aging population (and the consequent inheritance of objects) will have on trends? Will most of the family treasures be sold at flea markets bc they don't "match" current trends? Or will there be a trend toward honouring these family objects...

Jan Wolfe-Fox What no yellow smiley face? that's a classic...

pentalpha I grew up in two periods - the MCM of my Nana's house (some of which I was gifted and still have) and the colourful flowing hippie one of my first apartments. I had been quietly picking up bits of the MCM design that I grew up with and loved until Mad Men came along and now it costs ten thousand dollars for a lamp. And colourful flowy stuff? Yikes, call the design police cause its just not on trend. But know what? I'm tired of being "on trend". I sewed a duvet cover with every colour of the rainbow on it, I have Indian silks knotted on the banister along with my nana's teak coffee and end tables and my coloured glass collection on the dining room wall - in open shelving. And my SS appliances are just giant fabulous bling to me. Nothing is cluttery, everything has its place. And I have big hanging plants in my windows being held up with, yes you guessed it, macramé hangers. And I love it all.

jenzookmurphy What about the oversized, leather, recliner furniture? Please go away. I mostly depend on hand me downs from relatives and family friends, seems all anyone wants to get rid of is their oversized leather items. Guess it is time for me to grow up and start buying my own stuff.

logicbutton @jenzookmurphy That's odd; I feel like just about all appliances I see are available in multiple colors, and stainless is always the more expensive option. But if that's all you're finding, you're probably okay. Stainless works well with a lot of looks. Otherwise, white is pretty classic. Seriously, though, just get what you like without worrying about what is or isn't trendy.

loridreamhouse Well... A trend is a trend is a trend!!! I stick with what I like. It's sad that so many have to follow what others dictate. If we stick with classic peices it would save on our pocketbooks, and i think our homes would have more character. As far as marble I have loved it ever since I saw it in an old home from the early 1900's. I don't think it will go "out of style" per say, or look as dated as granite. I honestly hated granite ever since it came out. Oh... And if I have to see another "Tuscan" style home, I'm going to get sick!! I call Tuscan the new Santa Fe!! Omg...what a design nightmare that was!

fsoster Question....what is shabby chic? I guess I am with some of the other commenters - I know I am not immune to trends, because nobody really can be, but I feel like I know the look I like, I know the colours I like (love blue and green and neutral....always have, probably always will). It costs too much to redecorate - even not honestly that easy to be painting every few years. So if you focus on what feels right for you - it is possible that it will always feel right for you. In my opinion, if you fall out of love with a look within a few years, maybe you "fell in love" with that look for all the wrong reasons to begin with.

sartarehare I've always decorated my home(s) according to the style of the home. I've lived in Victorian and Arts & Crafts rentals that I painted and filled with color, I've living in a super modern, sleek apartment that was quite minimalist. I own a tiny bungalow that has a very cottage-y look, and now I'm moving into a midcentury. So the midcentury designs really work there, whether they are "on trend" or not. Not wanting a museum, and happy that modern designs fit so well there too, this new house still begs for the sleek low furniture. What I think is odd, is when I see these styles in places where they don't really belong.....but to each his own.

Granite countertops!

The new spec houses with flat or butterfly roofs. These will be as dated as the dome homes in So Cal when I was growing up.

patricia beharry I realy don't think leather furniture is that bad. It's the PLEATHER that must go. No matter what it will never look like real leather.

kyivdesign Trendy and timeless: Original paintings and sculptures. Wood and stone. Hand-loomed rugs. Silk and cotton. Sunny windows.

ptmatthews I disagree with the comment that all decorated rooms eventually go out of style. I was watching the movie "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" the other night and was amazed at how timeless that 1960's house looked. Of course, it was very high end. I wonder if the rooms from "Somethings Gotta Give" that everyone liked so well a few years ago will last. I think soft, neutral background colors help to make a room last.

Liz skrehbiel, I couldn't agree more! I hate my granite precisely because of the movement and crazy busy pattern - loved it 12 years ago. I do think people will get tired of the granites with the big swirls quicker than they will of the ones with a smaller, more even, more neutral pattern. But, mine is too expensive to replace, at least now.

One trend that I hope never goes away, indeed, gets more and more important, is the "green" trend. But, thoughtfully done, not a 5,000 sq foot home for two people with a recycling center for bottles. Smaller homes, quality vs quantity, thought put into design so the house system itself is green.

JAN MOYER Well designed anything almost never goes out of style. Much "decoration" can come and go. Design is about function, quality, comfort and editing. Decoration usually implies adding. Nothing wrong with that. But timeless well designed pieces, quality art, even a timeless original poster!! , good antiques, simple window treatments... etc etc.... last a very very long time. All are the navy blazer, jeans, and white t-shirt , and good pearls of living. It takes bravery and discipline to resist every fad that comes down the line... and equal spirit and adventure to know when to jump in/on a fad, have some fun, and call it just that.

mjhanifi I grew up in a house filled with antiques and mid century pieces. Furniture, rugs, accessories, and art from different periods and different cultures. I loved living in such an eclectic home and I have continued that tradition in my current home. We have travelled around the world and brought back items we love and that have meaning and as long as you have furniture with clean lines, everything will work. Every few years I paint my rooms another color, update lighting fixtures, move things around and that is all it takes to keep it looking fresh. Just shopping your own house can do wonders! I think color is important and I can't live in a home without it, that doesn't mean to overdo it. Balance is key.
As for the trend comments, what interests me the most is that these trends everyone is talking about are all "borrowed" from other times or cultures. Where are our generation's trends of the future? Do we have so little imagination that we will just keep borrowing from our ancestors? The real question is, in my opinion, what are we coming up with now that is new and relevant that is our own?

amsandrew Try pricing out Cesearstone v granite. We just remodeled our "office" aka man cave, and wanted to do a built in desk. I also hate the busyness of granite and did not want it to look too "kitchen counter" but Cesearstone is 20-30% more expensive than granite! Same is true for recycled glass. The price difference stems from the labor intensive process. We ended up choosing a lovely granite for it's durability, timelessness and cost (which for a 14 foot desk is still not cheap).

Overall I think we as consumers need to fill our homes (be it through purchase, goodwill or recycling what we have) with what we like and not let someone or something else tell us we are "wrong" or not in style. Although I live in an area where there's a pricey designer and/or decorator on every corner, for me I just cannot rationalize the exorbitant rates and cannot feel good about spending that kind of money on such a service. I do my research and collaborate with my husband (he lives here too!) and feel really satisfied when I find a "knock off" of a pricey designer style or item. That's just me and I may be in the minority at least in my neighborhood.

One more thing...there is nothing that can kill any home decor, no matter what style, faster than CLUTTER!!!!! Neatness and organization brings a peace of mind that will NEVER go out of style!

elfryman I moved into my parent's house and had to remove wallpaper from half the rooms. I doubt I will ever have wallpaper in this house again. Decals? Maybe.

Beatrice Lawson I loved the comments flying back and forth. I thought subway art (although art is really a misnomer) was cute but dated about five seconds after I first saw it. Never bought it into it even though I liked it because I really hate the gluttonous consumerism which seems to rule our lives. As for taxidermy, real or fake, ugh. Maybe if you have a hunting lodge and you want to display your "trophies" in which case thank you but I won't visit... (And I can just hear hunters reproaching me angrily from here. Please, you have your hobby and I have mine. Let's not argue.)

I also hated the fussiness of balloon curtains (or whatever they were called), or the fur cushions - so not hygienic, or the tassels on everything (seriously, tassel trim on a sofa bottom? ) but if you have any of these because you really like them, as opposed to having adored a trend on account of an HGTV show, more power to you.

Some stylish classic things may be outside the financial reach of most of us - who can have a French chateau after all, except the very few, but you can adopt the things you really like and that fit your budget. If handmade antique silk rugs are out, look for new machine made wool ones. (Sorry, polyester ones just horrify me. I am tired of the amount of petroleum based items that surround us.) if Old Masters paintings are what you like, look at graduating artists' galleries, schools or websites, rather than getting cheap posters.

A big argument revolved around granite counters... When I did my research for our kitchen I went with quartz, not only for esthetics, value and durability (wears better, does not stain, requires no sealing), but also because the stories I read about how granite is harvested from countries like India and the impact it has on the local environment did not sit well with me. Yes it is a natural material, just like wood is... But the difference is all in how it gets to the consumer and sadly we rarely know. Plus, some brands mix in an antibacterial product which is widely recognized as a carcinogenic agent in their granite. I would prefer to buy a home with older counters I can change easily than one with granite.

As far as stainless steel appliances, if you like the look, go for it. For some reason all realtors seem convinced that it is a plus. I would never choose a home based on its appliances and I doubt anyone does. It is another silly thing they came up with, probably based on the short period when the look was introduced and it meant new appliances. I happen to like white or built in panels that coordinate with the cabinets but that's me.

shopgirl1414 I have discontinued several magazines because the rooms remind me of junk that someone found at a garage sale, too much print and styles can be too busy, clean lines, classic will always be in style. It is better to have one great piece you love than too many that go in to your garage sale someday...food for thought.

revss Ten years ago I painted my "L" living-dining area in a mid-century home in varied shades of plum: from the smallest wall a deep shade and the hallway the palest. People always comment on the peacefulness of the space, and I still like it, with it's soft grey carpet. Now re-doing a kitchen, taking out the wall between the K and D area, doing cabinets in a flat panel soft dove grey. Appliances are black. GE has a new line called "slate". Too trendy to consider? I too am eclectic: most pieces smaller scale, from family, antique shops (on sale and recovered). Love textiles, but now have large blinds which I love. Can't afford trends, tho' I just donated those painted-balls-in-glass-globe things that were in a while ago!

Good comments all.

JAN MOYER If you think about it, you quickly realize that the homes we all tend to covet most are those with the grace notes of actual living and use. The patina that develops on good furniture, the books actually read, a burnished leather wing chair handed down from a parent or grandparent that only got better with age. Old painted white kitchens with glass doors, wonderful worn rugs... all of it comes to mind. But few are home long enough to "burnish or patina" anything these days, and what substitutes, is the stylized "look" of life on chipped, and dinged hastily purchased STUFF. We worship cars and mud cubbies, and glossy appliances in kitchens where little food preparation takes place,as pizza is sucked from a box. We buy, we toss and clutter with abandon. So frequently I am asked.. accessorize my desk, my shelves, my whatever!!! It is hard dear, as you are passing through your space, if you actually lived in it, accessorizing would take care of itself. : )

ddchumley I've noticed the comments on this post are all over the place as to what people like and dislike and what they're doing to decorate. This leads me to my conclusion that mainly people are doing what they like and aren't being dictated to by what's popular or trendy. And that's a GOOD trend. My father recently passed away and my mother asked me if I'd like to have a piece of clothing of his. When I told her I really had no use for it, she said, "I just thought you'd like to have something to remind you of him." I explained to her I had in my house a Victorian-era china cabinet, an early 1900s washstand, and a circa-1940 dresser--all pieces he'd carefully restored and passed down to me. Such pieces haven't been in vogue for some time now, but I'm sooo glad I have them. They are a lasting connection to him and a reminder of how hard he worked to give his family beautiful things.

dennajones Your predictions for the trend scrap heap are pretty spot-on.Irony is responsible for a lot of these trends (e.g. taxidermy). One trend you missed is the arty asymmetric gallery wall. I don't mean groups of pictures on a wall, but the artificial hang as touted by quite a few blogs where the "look" takes precedence over the images. The objects selected are often short term "ironic" tat like (e.g) a framed cardboard key because it fits a gap. Can't wait for the ironic decorating trend to end. That alone should blitz your list tout suite.

Symmetrical hangs of meaningful objects will eventually prevail. This picture is from my recently renovated guest room. The bottom four pictures were found at Salvation Army as was the uppermost. The two small ovals belonged to my great aunt. BTW, the four square images are circa 1940s and are bits of floral fabric cut out and glued to cardboard then gussied up a bit with painted foliage.

mamadama I think that fads and trends are mostly for the young who haven't really found their style yet, or are in the rent-a -space stage of life. Also Faux bois is iconic.

dennajones Mamadama I so wish I were not still - still! - in the rent-a-space stage of life but I am. So I guess my point is style is not dependent on rental vs owned.

hillonthehouse As many have said here in one way or another, have in your home those things that speak to you or are meaningful in some way and don't fall for trends unless it's for something fun or frivolous that you won't mind parting with in a year or two. Personally, I have always been drawn to things that have held up over time - beautifully worn wood, items crafted by hand, genuine materials. I live in a home in a historic district and whatever changes I've made to accommodate modern living, I tried to keep it in context with the period of the house within my budget. However, I never wanted to live in a museum, either. I do believe that certain things are classic - white kitchen cabinets and subway tile, hardwood floors, white and black bathrooms - because they fit the era of my house. This wouldn't necessarily be true of a mid-century ranch. I grew up in a mid-century ranch with Danish modern furniture and a starburst clock, and I have never wanted to have that as my style. Along with the Philippine natural mahogany paneling in my childhood home, there were large picture windows with lots of light. Though I don't want MCM, I think that influenced my own aesthetic. But I'm drawn to rows of muntined casement windows, cottage style. And I love natural wood walls and ceilings - in a mountain or lake house. I do think context is important. The older I get, the more I realize I still like the same things I always have - and going through old decorating magazines I've saved for years (trying to purge - I'm a magazinaholic), I am struck by my consistency despite whatever the trends were. Certain things appeared again and again. And though I abhor dead animal heads hanging on walls and wouldn't go in for faux taxidermy either, I can see the beauty of an old Black Forest carved animal head hanging in a chalet or an African tribal wooden animal head mask on a modern white wall. Just sayin'. Also, it was interesting this morning hearing Nate Berkus speak to meaning in decoration on Oprah's Super Soul Sunday. It tied in beautifully with this discussion. As for trends, I think the words I hate most are "must have," and I wish real estate agents would get over their granite countertops and stainless steel appliances fix and the idea that all houses have to be decorated in the same minimal neutral trendy look to sell. Another way to spot whether a trend will have staying power - how practical it is. For that reason I think vessel sinks, which may be attractive, will not be around long.

merrymj jenzookmurphy: Not sure what "stainless-like" means, but inferior stainless can rust and is hard to clean looking nice. I punted and went with white, which is usually available and easy to keep clean. I like black, but it shows every fingerprint.

catleeng Having lived through the 70's with many of these design, I think that they are likely to be trends that will past. But, that's doesn't mean that you shouldn't enjoy them now if they appeal to you. :-)

judithesl Fun article. The butterflies remind me of the "Portlandia's" skit "Put a bird on it." Morocco is such a trend right now that poufs (which I like) will become the beanbags of the future. I love old globes for the way they concretize geo-politcal change. Quality mid-century modern will endure, although an entire room of it looks dated. Personally, I keep waiting for the Ghost chair to make it to thrift shops.

privada World maps-as art work - is another trend that I think that will not last much.
What do you think about seagrass rugs?

privada Crystal Chandeliers is a new trend that is coming back. Will it last?

karenannie007 Chevron, chevron, chevron everywhere! Please stop! Decorating to me is a lot like eating healthfully...making a home well-balanced (old, new, eclectic, traditional, funky, warm, cool, wood, stone, etc) is like eating a well-balanced diet (proteins, fat, carbs, dairy, etc). A little bit of everything seems to make me happier.

Beth I hope you're right about fake taxidermy--and real taxidermy and animal skins as rugs. I'm so tired of seeing dead animals, or representations of dead animals, as decor.

patricia beharry did not know crystal chandeliers went out. Hahahahaha!!!!!! Had mine up since it was given to me as a wedding gift 45yrs ago. Bought at an antique store. i brought it with me from NY to Georgia, to Grenada West Indies. Maybe the next hurricane will put it to rest. Sorry, but that is our mindset in this part of the world. Nothing lasts forever, and life goes on.

danrdoucet Please - Unless you killed the animal on you wall, don't put one on it - fake or not! Very silly trend and waaaay overdone!

JAN MOYER Head up on "heads" on the wall.. The people who seriously hunt, take these SERIOUSLY! I once tied a plaid bow on an antler at a clients home in honor of the xmas spirit with a dash of "humorous decor" as a finishing touch. YIKES.... not my BEST idea ever.....lol

whatashoper1 I agree that many of the items mentioned here are fads that will come and go, but sunburst mirrors? They have been around since King Louis the IV - that's hardly a passing trend. I love my sunburst mirror and plan on putting it in a prominent place in the new home we are getting ready to build. I also plan on using subway tile and white kitchen cabinets, because they have a clean, classic look that goes well with the style of house we are building. My previous kitchen had beautiful cherry cabinets, but our new home is much more contemporary and open and I want my kitchen to reflect that. And for good measure, I am mixing in several pieces of mid century modern furniture. I happen to love the clean lines and beautiful forms of the mid century era.

All things will come and go in the fashion cycle. Once something becomes fashionable it will be copied and diminished by cheap and tacky knock-offs. Over time, people forget how lovely and timeless the original can be. Some fads will thankfully never return (avacado refrigerators anyone?). Others will be rediscovered by later generations and will rightfully take their place as classics. The whole point of classics is that they never really go out of style, even when current 'trends' move on. In my book, if an item has good design. quality materials and construction, and has stood the test of time, it's a keeper, no matter what the 'fashionable' people may say.

cherboe What will never go out of date is the self-assured look that is achieved through designing with things that appeal to you regardless of what someone else may say or think.

Dawn Fetty I'm glad to know what the trends are so I can avoid them.....

mksteve Words on walls-hope that trend goes away soon. That's called graffitti where I come from. Granite and stainless steel are classics.

ddholcomb The problem with "trends" is that you let someone else be the arbiter of your taste. And some "trends" seem to be "Glamour Don'ts" anyway. Is anyone else concerned about fake taxidermy in a nursery? I might be more worried about nightmares than irony. Unless you are flipping houses or otherwise required to appeal to a large audience, surround yourself with with a carefully edited selection of things that resonate to you, whether they are rare or ubiquitous, "timeless" or hot off the press. And allow for the fact that tastes do evolve. Fun article, though.

le box I have never liked stainless steal appliances. I can't wait for that trend to die. We are remodeling our kitchen and will panel the refrigerator because there are really no options out there. It's ridiculous. Everything is stainless. I would go for a white floating glass refrigerator if I could find one other than the Jenn Air one. Miele is coming out with white glass soon in the US, but not soon enough.

loridreamhouse I to have always hated ss appliances, one touch And its a fingerprint nightmare. I also am tired of hearing msm like its something new. I grew up in the 60's and 70's and hated it even then. My Grandma's loved it back in the day, but I always found it to be cold and univiting. I guess to all of the newbies of design it's something fresh, but to us old cronies it just a style that's "been there done that":)

j0dy Great idea book! Although I am going for a modern minimalistic look, I think it all boils down to what every one likes for 'themselves' and not try to be like everyone else or have someone elses style. Everyone is different and all design should show that. Easier said than done. I'm always looking on houzz on how to do things. I know what I want but have a hard time putting it all together. I want my own style but I want modern too. I think nothing can go out of style if it's something you like. If it's something way out there maybe just design in small ways so you don't overwhelm every one. But then again, it's all about what you like and how you want to live. So much for this being a really short 'nothings out of style if you like it and can live with it'. Anyway, live and design with what YOU like. You are the one living in your home. Impress yourself not others. OK I'm done ;)

kathleen petsche timely article... thoughtfully designing with an eye to the principles of proportion, scale, color and balance will never look trendy. well designed pieces always hold their own over time and will remain remarkably beautiful whether on trend or not.

surfor Yeah, what happened to HGTV? I'm pretty sure it was taken over by realtors - and that they have some sort of a gag order on all of the designers...do you notice that you don't see any of them on HGTV or even anything new in the HGTV magazine? I am so over HGTV.

JAN MOYER I would guess that most of us in the design community are truly happy to see the endless parade of misleading fast fixes on HGTV bite the well deserved DUST! A fantasy land where hours and hours of labor go un-billed, or unaccounted for, and cheap , fast, short sighted fixes waste 500.00 of the very necessary dollars to begin a real and lasting improvement. Ta Ta and let the realtors have at it. Most of the "looking" you see there is a lie too btw......: )

kakanui I hope the classic farm kitchen never dies. I don't know of any other style as welcoming, or comfortable especially with a fuel cooker ticking away somewhere.

patricia beharry It seems by now the realtors on HGTV would have told their home buyers how silly it is to mention things like 'I don't like the ceiling fan' Or telling the property virgins before hand than $150,000 will not buy the Taj Mahal.

julietviney I see a broader "trend" emerging - not doing what we are TOLD but listening to our instincts. If we look for opinions, there is now too much choice and we end up, at best, confused about what to do/buy etc. Let's go back to the "timeless" adage: listen to your heart!

amberrongey Pallets! The pallet DIY thing is everywhere! The idea of recreating or recaiming is cool, but pallets are actually nasty. I would never want a coffee table where a drink of food plate would touch make of pallets or anything else. Unless I'm just totally unaware of where people are actually getting them... All the ones I have seen seem like they have touched many-a-dirty floors. Not to mention God only knows what creatures have crawled on them. No amount of polyurethane can fix that!

anniebythebay Who is to say what will survive the test of time? Recently a design mag said garden seats were worse than passe ! But what do I continue to see? Garden Seats! I agree the seventies starburst mirrors will pass away but do you know that their are antique starburst mirrors with concave mirrors that I think will be around and luscious gilted spokes....I think buy what makes you happy....some trends translate some do not !

Sharon Very interesting article and comments! I think white subway tile will stick around for awhile. As someone else said in the comments, it's been around for a long time, it was not a new fashion. Being white, it will go with any color and it's not so extreme as to rate it as a trend. And replacing ceramic tile is not something people do as a weekend project so they will keep it until a major remodeling which happens every 10-15 yrs. A trend I don't like is painted wooden furniture. It's not that I don't like some of it, but painting furniture with trendy colors is going to bite you in the butt. Re-finishing furniture is a hard project and layers of paint to change it's color every time the wind blows is going to make it pretty ugly pretty quick. If you have a good wooden piece, don't paint it. I've always hated stainless steel appliances! They show every fingerprint & dent. Why did it become a "must have" in every kitchen to begin with when it's so impractical? Granite became so popular because it's virtually indestructible and once it's in, it's in until the next major remodel in 10-20 yrs so it's here for awhile. The farm sink is here for a long time for the same reason but I don't really like it. I like my double sink and I like my double stainless steel sink. SS works hard as a sink and doesn't stain or chip like a porcelain sink. And they can be changed without a big deal. The farm sink has a weird cutout in the cabinet so replacing it, means another farm sink. The open cabinets and shelves were a silly trend. Dust, dust and more dust. Clutter, dust, doesn't anyone think about these practical things? And I hate, Hate, HATE neutrals because EVERYONE does EVERYTHING in neutral (khaki, beige, gray, more khaki). SS appliances and khaki paint is the only way to sell a house in today's market because we've become so saturated by the TV home decor and home selling shows. It's like no one can use their imagination any more. In one show, some decorator is selling a homeowner on painting their living room dark brown, and don't be afraid of color. In another show, a decorator tells the selling homeowners that they have to make their house a "blank slate" by painting it with khaki or gray.

maddecorator I'm with your mom on the starburst mirrors! And I agree with all who say buy what you like and don't follow trends. What I don't understand is why designers are so quick to follow trends. You can't open a magazine without being bombarded by subway tiles, dishes sitting on open shelves, granite everywhere, faux "farm sinks," fake taxidermy, "reclaimed" wood floors, and so many pillows piled on sofas and beds as to render them unusable (because they lend a "pop" of color). Egad, with the exception of the wood floors, I hope we are seeing the last of these annoying trends. Oh, and I haven't seen much of the "puddled" drapes recently; let's hope they are outa here.

sartarehare I posted earlier but something I wanted to add a couple of things:

1) The "green/eco" movements are very trendy. Let's face it: "Green" isn't about buying anything shiny and new, leveling old homes to the ground and re-building them with "eco-friendly" materials. I see this all the time in Seattle. Happened next door to me. Ruined the classic craftsman for a brand new butterfly roof spec house with "recycled" materials. What happened to recycling the original home?? My only revenge was that it sold in 2007 for twice what it is now worth. So they're stuck with it, beyond trends.

2) The reason so many of us dislike granite is that it's so often put into a home that it doesn't belong in. Like a 1930s minimalist bungalow (can't tell you how much I've seen this!) because it's the thing. It might be fine in a brand new modern. Also, just because it is "natural" doesn't mean it was mined naturally (someone mentioned this) and is typically just as environmentally destructive as any man-made material out there. Not to mention, it emits "natural" radiation. I don't know that this is better than outgassing.......
Oh and as for the person who says "formica falls apart over time," my new home's 50 year old formica countertop is holding well and I have no plans to replace it or to destroy the beautifully kept up flat panel wood cabinets that are original to the home. In fact, I'm not a fan of tearing up any original details (or painting over them- EEEKKK!) that aren't falling apart, since they don't make 'em like that anymore and the value of my home will not increase in removing them for something trendy. How many homes have I passed up because someone did either an 80s remodel or a brand new Ikea remodel? Knowing I could never make that kitchen/bathroom look anything like the classic it once was- I'm just not interested. I will admit to a taste for older homes and this keeps to classic home styles as well.

3) Many people fall into buying trendy knock-offs because that's what is presented to them at a price they can afford. Reupholstering furniture and/or finding quality items can be just as, if not more expensive than buying everything brand new at Ikea. I did a very small house on Craigslist finds but I admit that I never loved any of it- it just worked in the space. Couldn't afford quality, didn't want the Ikea look. Now I'd rather save my pennies and buy what I love little bits at a time (quality, Ikea and Craigslist), but I now earn a little more than I did before....

critrnurse The Tuscan Villa trend is over, especially when it's gaudy and overdone. I think the term "shabby chic" may have been coined by Rachel Ashwell back in the 80's at around the same time as the Santa Fe trend was in. They have been over for decades. So I think people are referring to something else when are talking about "shabby chic" here. If you mean "upcycling", then that is still in, and may be in for the long haul, as our world is changing and useable "garbage" is piling up. I think that people will continue to find new and creative uses for old stuff.

JAN MOYER Wowie! There is some serious venting goin' on here; ) and who knows, maybe a HOUZZ record for thread length! Maybe we need a new definition of "timeless" Maybe timeless is a thing that like real chic, is indefinable. Yves Saint Laurent said " fashions fade, style is eternal" How wise. So the timeless may simply be just a thing that keeps on returning to vogue, even in new iterations, and yet never truly disappears. Like a super trench coat! A trend or something "timely", just a flash of brilliance burning brightly but not for all time, with a once and done!! But it is nice to know there is room for both, you can pick your spots. You can pretend your home is great closet of eternal style. You can be the lady with the forever handbag, and a pair of ten dollar fun flip flops. Real pearls one day. and an armful of cheesy fun bangles the next. Nobody has a crystal ball, or the ability to stop the hands of time. Houses, and their furnishings are a lot like a great wardrobe. The "bones" need to be the best you can afford, the rest is for fun, and expression. When in doubt, keep it simple, buy quality and always ask....what could I take off? What DOESN'T need to be on me, in my house, on this thing I am buying. Your eye is the editor in chief.

maryleeo What about the kitchen that have the stained cabinet but painted islands? I'm am going to be remodeling a kitchen in another year. Is this a trend that;s about to fade. I'm neutral on the look so no offense to me.

Christal I actually like the contrast of the stained and painted cabinet/island. But I just did it because thats what I love. Trendy? Who knows, time will tell.

Georgia Evenson Stick to colours that you would wear and look great in....true story......my go to neutrals are black, white, grey, brushed silvers and that will never change, no matter what's in....these are a good base for me and can be updated easily with colours of the day :)

anniebythebay interesting comments...design is like fashion( clothing) you have to have a new trend so people will buy the latest.... that is the market place....that is the reason classic last....I agree subway tile will be around for awhile but I think granite will in 10 years be referrred to as so 2012 !

Wawawoo SS appliances,no thank you. Integrated appliances hidden by a cabinet door so that they look like just another cabinet are the future surely, not white or black as an option, they are truly hideous. We've been using integrated appliances in UK for years now...maybe it only works as we don't have appliances the size of small houses though....

lindaqdesigns bubblyjock:Carrera marble! Surely they'll run out soon? It's not renewable, at least, not in our lifetime....;)

I once held the same belief until I was on a trip to Italy and my friend and I were driving on a highway and saw what looked like snow-capped mountains in the distance. We were saying, "How can that be snow, it's summer?" And then we realized it was Carrera! They are not running out of that stuff anytime soon-it's massive!

lindaqdesigns bubblyjock:Carrera marble! Surely they'll run out soon? It's not renewable, at least, not in our lifetime....;)

I once held the same belief until I was on a trip to Italy and my friend and I were driving on a highway and saw what looked like snow-capped mountains in the distance. We were saying, "How can that be snow, it's summer?" And then we realized it was Carrera! They are not running out of that stuff anytime soon-it's massive! Check it out on Google Earth.

sartarehare "We've been using integrated appliances in UK for years now...maybe it only works as we don't have appliances the size of small houses though...."

Neither do WE silly. You're funny.

philcstuart Houses made from shipping containers. I really like the idea but all the spaces I've seen made with them are cramped little things with really low ceilings. Could work for a tiny home but I can't see them ever being more than a fad. Plus from the outside they simply look like shipping containers.

Another one I expect to see pass is using old luggage for storage. Some of the suitcases look kind of cool but they seem like an impractical storage option except for a few special cases. Kind of like shipping containers.

sweetfe Starburst mirrors are classic...see http://employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/arth214_folder/van_eyck/arnolfini.html that is Jan Van Eyck's Arnolfini "Wedding" Portrait painted in about 1434 AD

yuliayou Can't see open plan being 'out' any time soon, because it's connected with modern way of life. Small separate rooms with doors were better to keep heat in, woman's place was in a small separate kitchen, children had to be seen but not heard etc. Now it's all about spending quality time with family, convenience, connection etc. That's why I think open plan is going to stay unless there's some apocalypse

kit2650 I love the look of Restoration Hardware's bathroom hardware...gorgeous towel bars and train racks. But has anyone seen their latest line of furniture? They are "deconstructed" and look as if they were found on the street and put into the house half destroyed by wind and rain.....or as if the upholsterer died in the middle of a job. It's probably the ugliest piece of furniture I've ever seen...and the best example of a trend I can think of.
I am moving into a new apartment soon, starting afresh after living many year in a large house. I bought what I hope is a classic sand colored couch (using their outdoor, indestructible fabric for grandchildren accidents,) black cashmere throw pillows and a sand colored upholstered bed. I don't care if upholstered beds are "in" right now....I've wanted one since the first time I saw an upholstered headboard. It just screams out to me, "Lie down and relax!" I want white fluffy down pillows and comforter and soft lights and the beautiful skyline view from my new apartment when I come home from work. There are built-ins in the living room and I'm adopting my daughter's dining set. Now I'm going to slowly look at and wait to fall in love with... coffee table, lamps, area rug. My taste runs toward classic dark wood tables like Baker, Henredon. Does anyone have any suggestions as to NYC furniture places to shop?

JAN MOYER kit2650,
And I pray you will be happy with that couch, and don't sit a great deal. RH has a look, and they are masters of their marketing universe. Inside the "goods" ? Not much. I discourage clients and those who insist on it are complaining loudly a couple years hence sad to say. Baker is still wonderful, albeit pricey, Henredon is not what it used to be. Hickory Chair has some GREAT stuff at better prices than Baker. I would urge you to enlist some design help, to aid in purchasing, and maximizing your effort in achieving your dream look. I would advise staying away from some retail sources like Ethan Allen, who may have your "look" but who lack quality. If you live VERY, VERY GENTLY AND CAREFULLY, E.A could be fine. But these are Baker knockoffs ala Barbara Barry.... and a very minimal one spray finish. Dust LIGHTLY : )

neapolis I have Hickory Chair, Karges, Roche Bobois, Kindel, etc-- and I have added Ethan Allen to the mix.(So far so good for the EA).

Pink Fortitude, LLC Another one that must go... the "&" sign everywhere. Huh???????

sdwmalek I don't think trends have any staying power at all, hence the term trends! They are fun for a while, just don't invest much money in trend pieces.

dcer For me, I think that trends and whether things are "in" or not are completely a matter of personal discretion. No one should be told they can't have something in their home because it is "out!" It is all about personal taste and whether you love something or not. If it is still "in" for you, that is all that matters!

acwink I personally love the For like ever poster so I respectfully disagree with that part of your article. I believe the "Keep calm and carry on" poster is the one that is passé.

jdjd444 What great comments...I too am tired of all the hype about stainless steel appliances and granite so I thought I'd throw out a few more opinions...our home is 20 years old with oak throughout...5 years ago the kitchen needed a little updating and I went with all black appliances. I love them!!! I thought about SS but with the golden tones of the raised panel oak SS would have done nothing for the kitchen, in my opinion....I also have black with specks of taupe/gray/blue quartz!!!countertops...I looked and looked for pulls that where black and finally spray painted the original ones...added new black lights/pendants...the walls are SW paint (Breezy) a dusty blue on kitchen walls and adjoining LR and DR...all in all 5 years later and I still love my kitchen...I also have a large wooden (perpetual) calendar made by Sticks that ties in all the black/blues and other colors of nature...that calendar will never go out of style and our kids are all claiming dibs on it in the future...it will definitely stand the trends of time...

kit2650 jdjd444, please try to upload photos!! Sounds gorgeous!

Dawn Fetty personally, I feel your home is an expression of the person living there. Life is art. I feel you should not be doing your home to be accepted...or to be in compitition with another home. We should have the courage to do what makes us feel good about the space we live in which should be an extention of ourselves. That takes courage in knowing who you are.

mtarnows As a first-time homebuyer i've begun to notice the arch as a (thankfully) faded fad in mid-market homes. I'm like Zoltar - I can guess the age of an early- to mid-2000' home by an entryway or arch-over-halfwall design. It still lingers here in the southeast, but clearly not as popular as it was.

How about DIY chalkboard paint decor? You can't open a design blog or website without seeing it on everything from kitchen walls, to tables, even refrigerators. It's cute cute for kids, but probably needs to retire to coffee houses and delis.

frenchdecor I heard once on TV show from designer that 70% folks have no good vision in home design/decor, also young people who fall fast on trend. Advertisers attack day and night with trend and products, no wonder people lose their common sense of what they love, or need, or budget... I am a "hard nut" opinionate, but nothing is unbreakable in mean time.

cdg4ahappyhojme "What comes around, goes around" think that says it all. It's your home, let it speak for you and no one else!

crypticartist Really fun article--and isn't it WONDERFUL that everything goes in and out of style--otherwise we'd all be wearing floor length dresses and putting "rats" in our mid-back length hair.--happyhojme said it all--and if we all recycle what we're tired of--someone--somewhere will love it and it will carry on.--my appliances/counter tops are ss in my black and grey kitchen - the stainless fades away in this room rather than taking center stage like black or colour--so right now it works - for us. As a designer-I always felt that decor taking fully out of the latest Interior trend mag, without any personal nuances, looks like -----a magazine spread ---it's our quirky little bits and pieces that make a house-a home and maybe by the time you fall out of love with those globes - your grand kids will think they're fabulous - and will recycle them into their homes. (IT'S THE RECYCLE THAT SCORES!! - tho' I have no idea what you'd do with those hair 'rats'...........flower arranging???)

cavanos 20 years? Some of this stuff is already over. Multiple globes, statement posters, wall decals, fake taxidermy, poufs...sorry but so overdone and so over. And butterflies!?

cdg4ahappyhojme I too have SS appliances, but thinking granite would go out of style, and was not affordable for us, we tiled our counter tops with large 12" slate floor tiles...in gray with gray grout...indestructible, and you can't stain it!! We have very pale gray walls and trimmed the counters with brushed steel (industrial look..oh my may go out of style) We installed gray, light and dark glass tiles for a back splash. Since my husband didn't want to paint the oak cabinets white...we put glass in the top cabinet doors to "open" and lighten it up. I have red accents, ie. toaster, tea towels, art and red dishes that show through the glass doors. We think it looks great and have gotten many compliments.
Can't begin to tell you how many furniture styles we have "gone though" in 46 yrs. of married life. At the time we thought it all looked good. Times change, decor changes, and how fortune we are that we are able to embrace change.
Still having fun and enjoying our home........though change!!

Patricia Boswell I love this rich discussion. I wonder if, instead of focusing on a specific design style or element, one could develop a kind of taxonomy of design, so that you can avoid getting caught in the consumerist/trend traps that so many mentioned? I would start with the following:

Specificity: I'd say that this is the one characteristic that most determines whether something will be a trend. The more specific the element, the more likely that the trend will not return at all. I grew up through the transition of avocado --> brown --> harvest gold --> cream appliances, and I haven't heard anyone speak of them with desire now. I think this is because with these colors, you are really limited in the design changes you can make in the space. I also think that is why wall paper with a heavy design element is a trendy thing, because certain patterns fix the room in a style that doesn't easily admit to a mixture of pieces. Anything that has a strong dominant presence in a room makes design a challenge for most people, who have not slavishly adhered to a specific design style in all their acquisitions. This is probably why a really busy granite can be seen as "trendy" as well, since they are so dominate. The macrame plant hanger is a trend because it's a very specific design that seems only to work with avocado kitchen appliances :-)

That said, I think certain neutral tones--beige, grey, white--work really well as background elements because they are non-specific and can harmonize with a variety of looks and accent pieces. I also think that's why most appliances are available in white, black and stainless.

Practicality/durability: Like Sharon and noire mentioned, these characteristics are probably the first consideration for us all, especially when it comes to foundational elements like appliances, floors, cabinets. We all have a budget of some sort (except Oprah of course), and that immediately binds us to more practical choices. For example, granite is the easiest choice for a durable countertop material, because you can find great deals on it almost everywhere (especially in yards where they have pre-fabbed slabs in that "bird poop" Giallo). Quartzite or manufactured quartz products, are more highly rated than granite in terms of stain/heat resistance, but they are indeed pricier. Beyond that, other practical considerations are how easily something is to use and clean. So, for that reason, I think certain elements -- even when they are adopted in waves and over-used -- will not go away.

(Stainless steel appliances are an interesting one, because they are neutral, but really hard to keep clean. In my house, which had copper sinks/hood, glazed cream cabinets, and bronzy cream granite, the stainless steel appliances really clashed. So I went to an automotive paints store, used an airbrush to paint some sample colors on a stainless bowl and ended up hiring someone to paint all my appliances the color I wanted! it worked really well and was super easy to clean--much better than stainless. )

Personal style preference: Someone earlier mentioned how in going through their design magazines, they noticed a similar style predominating in all their choices. I think that is really spot on. We all gravitate to a few particular styles; some folks love a clean, uncluttered look and others feel most at home in a place that has more of a "busy" feel. Not everyone likes MSM and not everyone likes Shabby Chic. But the definition of "trend" is not "a style I don't like."

p.s. And for the stuff that you can change out easily: no one mentioned blue glass. What about that?

سيد الثعالب dfg

Marta Gayoso Two words: wrought iron

cdg4ahappyhojme Can't keep up....wrought iron....coming or going..(:

carlajene You have made my point for me. I am interested in trends only as sources of ideas that may be new to me, at which point I decide for myself if I like it or not. Period. I use what I like, and I don't care if someone thinks "Oh, dear, that's so 80s" or if they are of the mind that it's "so wonderfully evocative of the 80's!" (or 60s, or 18th century, for that matter).

critrnurse Oh, no, that is sooo 1756! LOL! Carlajene, you've made a great point.

patricia beharry I feel so bad for the ones trying to keep up with the latest trends. I think of technology; the have to have the latest everything, and every week the last thingy get to be so yesterweek.
Well, LOL, I still have the old Nokia phone. My husband bought me a new phone but I don't want it. I want a phone that will make a phone call in an emergency. I do not want a phone that will do my laundry, or cook my dinner, or mop my floor. Trends, not for me.

quatorze Personally, I love wrought iron, when it is executed with skill by trained artisans, and not the stuff that is churned out in Asia (which isn't really "wrought" iron) or the ersatz stuff available in home centers. Like anything else, when it is made of quality materials by experienced artisans to designs by thoughtful and talented designers, then the item has a shot of being "timeless", whatever the current "trend" may be....

Rio Brewster I think if it works, it's classic. White subway tile - classic. Granite counters are classic - especially if you've opted for something without "Giallo" in the name. Open plan kitchens are here to stay because they reflect the way most people live. I love having a formal dining room, but I never use it. Formal living and dining rooms are wasted space IMHO.

I have yet to see early american/colonial styles come back. Maybe on the east coast people still have them, but I couldn't give away my mother's Ethan Allen, medium cherry, colonial dining room set. It was in pristine condition, but I hated the style.

angela_flute52689 Those animal busts hanging over the crib are just waiting for an earthquake so they can fall off and crush the baby. BAD IDEA!!!

cdg4ahappyhojme What's with the cardboard "heads" any way?? Just another "trend" to get us to spend money....this one's a bit over the top for me.

inlimbo Tired of hearing "faux". Definition..artificial or fake.

I would love to have white furniture in my great room, family room - whatever you want to call it, but, it is not practical if you have people who eat and slouch in there. I know slipcovers are an option but all I see in magazines and on HGTV are not well fitted,sloppy, wrinkled, and need constant straightening. Since this room is the first room you see when you enter the front door I try to make the room practical and yet pretty to mix my husband's brass and glass choice of decor and my desire for lace and crystal. Thank goodness we have come to a compromise.

As far as an open concept kitchen - I do not want to listen to loud football when I am in my kitchen trying to read recipes or watch food on the stove. Nor does he want to hear cabinet doors opening and closing. I also do not want everyone to see pots and pans, clean or dirty dishes (prep work) from all areas of the home.

HGTV: love to watch but I agree that more decorating is what I would be interested in. Sara and Candice have great ideas and offer ALL styles (that's design). House Hunters and like programs all show builder beige (neutrals), stainless steel and granite. Every home ends up looking the same (cookie cutter). It is difficult to individualize an already cookie cutter home as most suburban homes are no matter what state you live in. If you are looking for a home and see the "model" home they all use color and usually the model home is the one that sells the most in a subdivision.

Trends are set by the media; try buying something that is not "in". I love French Country but cannot find it in any furniture stores or furniture store fabric choices. Also, not everyone has a budget as shown in magazines and on this site. Sometimes people end up buying trends for lack of finding anything else or they don't have funds to completely redo an entire room.

Lastly, buying the best you can afford (at the time) is truly good advice but I am now in possession of a Chinese needlepoint rug and an oriental rug that were both expensive. Also, custom-made draperies. Could not use due to color or size in my present home. Don't want to sell in a garage sale for $20 or give to Goodwill. Also, have no room to store as we downsized. The same theory applies as "trends". They are not in vogue at the moment. No one is looking for them.

colonialgp 1. canned lights in ceilings; if I see one more hole in a ceiling, I'll scream.
2. large beige square tiles for flooring; see this EVERYWHERE, residential and commercial.
3. hopefully this does not last long, but some catalogs and blogs had books that had been torn apart and the pages tied with twine. Just sad.

colonialgp Oh, and bathrooms the size of airplane hangers.

patricia beharry I am on a peninsular facing west. From about 1 to 5pm my house is extremely hot. I look across the bay to the houses facing east, and was so envious. This afternoon my friends living over there came over saying they had to get away for awhile because the wind is so strong whipping the salt ocean toward them that everything is coated in salt. So, they came to My house, just to get away from the wind and salt. The grass is always greener on the other side.

merrymj Colonialgp: what do you suggest in place of canned lights in a kitchen? I've about tossed the idea of island lighting for a number of reasons (my cooktop's there, alas).

lema I DON'T SEE MANY LADIES IN PILL-BOX HATS THESE DAYS.SOME DESIGN IDEAS REALLY DON'T NEED TO RE-SURFACE

Melody Lord I am already over the animal heads. There's one on every second page of the latest interiors magazines. Thank heavens I didn't buy one!

jackers986 Great discussion! I just bought what I hope will be our "forever" home, and I'm struggling with some of the design choices made by the previous owners, particularly, the honey oak doors and trim all over the house. I know some people love wood trim, but this is an orangey, high-gloss oak that screams early 90s to me. I really love the look of white trim, but I don't have the guts to paint the real wood just yet. I thought I'd live with it for awhile, but in the meantime, I feel like I'm always designing around it rather than embracing it. Should I just paint it and stick to the I love?

kit2650 My husband felt the same way about what he considered the beauty of natural wood. I, however, felt just like you...that I was decorating "around" the wood trim. My solution? I painted the wood trim white ONE ROOM AT A TIME! Each time, I was thrilled with the result and he agreed that it did look nice. It was less shocking that way. I'm guessing that had we not loved it, removing that one coat of white paint wouldn't have been that difficult to reverse.

quatorze Paint it white, as Kit2650 said, a room at a time. Easing into it will make you feel better about the decision and prove to you that your decision is the correct one for you. To back up your decision, remember that most interiors have historically painted the wood trim, and long before the wood was the cheap stuff too; just think of all the stately homes, chateaux and mansions with painted wood trim. If the wood is solid, then the paint can always be removed later, and even re-stained a different color. If the wood is cheap, then there is no loss.

cdg4ahappyhojme It was bad enough I wanted to paint my kitchen cabinets, now you've got me thinking about the wood trim around the doors. Maybe I'm moving closer to that can of white paint.

dennajones Oh forgot this trend! String lights or as we call them in UK - fairy lights. Sure they look great at Christmas but year round? No! It's lazy. lame and makes the perp look like a sad sack who celebrates Christmas 365 days a year. There. I feel better now ;)

rdutton For me, if everyone has it or likes it, I hate it. Which translates to "Trend", don't do it! Personally, I think you should decorate/design with what you love, whatever is you. Don't worry about what is the "in" style. If you don't love it, get rid of it. I am constantly changing, rearranging, reinventing my decor. And always have something organic going on in every room.

Dawn Fetty I am so relating to the conversation on natural wood trim!!! My house is full of it...and although beautiful it is dark. I am finally taking a room at a time upstairs to paint the trim white and will slowly inch my way to downstairs. It builds my confidence up. I love the one room and can't wait for the others. Yes, people say that to me.."Oh! you don't want to paint that beautiful wood!". I say...then YOU live with it. You have to use different colors with dark wood trim than you would with white...it's very prohibitive, and dark!

quatorze Dare I say it, the worship of natural wood is so 70's...

Seriously, natural finished wood (Note: almost all wood is "painted", it is just that some is covered in a clear finish) can be wonderful, but so can painted wood. I certainly prefer painted wood and before people suggest I go to plastics, let me add that the wood has a special character of its own, even when painted, that plastics and polymers cannot match.

Some wood would be a crime to cover with paint, like richly hand-carved woods and exotic woods like rosewood, burled woods or crotch mahogany. Then there is wood that is solid and sound, but dull, even some mahogany can be dull. Some woods only come into their own when really well-finished; again, mahogany is a good example - it can be glorious when used in fine furniture, or boring as hell when used as decking, although as decking, it is then serving a useful function as a weather resistant material. The level of finishing is also important; if you paint wood, you must do it properly so it is not sloppy or the delicate moldings clogged with paint, the original crisp molding edges must be maintained even after being painted. Then there is the question of suitability, a library may be great done in natural finish wood, while a bedroom might benefit immensely from the freshness of painted trim. The way a room is furnished will also determine which choice is best, as will the era and style of the home, personal tastes, etc.

The point here is that it is not an either/or question; each application, furniture, interior trim, style choices, personal preferences, and level of execution determines whether a natural or painted wood finish is the best choice. It is NOT a moral choice, as the average person has been led to believe since the late 1960s. This, I am sure, came about as the raising of environmental consciousness influenced people to turn away from the anything considered "unnatural". This is understandable, though ironic, since most people never gave a thought to the fact that shellacs, lacquers and other clear wood finishes are usually more volatile and environmentally unfriendly than most opaque paints....

Do what is right for you, it is your home; you are not breaking any religious or moral tenets.

everydayplanner Grass cloth wallpaper. There in the 80s, out in the 90s and resurfaced in 2012. It will be dated in less than 5 years

Margaret Grass cloth is gorgeous. It gives your walls a nice texture and character while remaining fairly neutral in color. I had some in my old house and I miss it. It was put in by the former owners in the 90s when it was very "out" - I hadn't seen grass cloth in years when we bought the house and had forgotten it existed. I won't forget again, and sooner or later my new entryway will have grass cloth too.

Everything that can reasonably be part of a well designed interior will go through a phase of popularity at some point and be "dated" thereafter. This is true even of the classics as the details and colors change with time.

patricia beharry Love grass cloth. It goes with every decor.

carlajene And how hard is it to say, "I don't care for grass cloth" or whatever element or material, instead of just putting it down? Please, let's respect the opinions and feelings of others.

sartarehare Grasscloth is very midcentury.
I am in process of buying a midcentury home. I approached the sellers to buy this house off market because I loved that this home has 100% intact, very well kept Wood Trim everywhere, including funky decorative shelving in the entryway. It also has beautifully immaculate all original cabinetry in the kitchen and baths. And guess what: I will never rip it out or paint over it. That would cause the value of the home to decrease and would make me weep.

amberrongey I totally agree Carlajene! There are so many people who are saying things should just disappear, simply because they don't like it. Grass cloth, for example is a great way to simply add texture. not all walls are sheet rock that can have alternative treatments done to their walls. I love all types of design, the shabby-chic "found" look, to ultra glam with mirrored finishes. While I can appreciate a cohesive room of any style, there are some I wouldn't want in my own home. Ya just have to pic what you like that makes you happy and feel comfortable when you come home.. but for people to say something shouldn't exist any more at all is a bit extreme.

fsoster With respect to wood trim, to paint or not to paint......I am not entirely sure either option could be considered "a trend". There are really only so many things to do with baseboards - either paint, or stain. Or am I missing something? I am sure either look has come and gone, and then come again, over the decades, centuries, whatever. If ever there is a place where I would consider personal taste, this would be it. And all design is personal taste, really.
In our house, while I love the look of painted trim, my husband is one of those who is adamant - "don't paint the wood, I love the look of the wood." That's fine with me. I love my husband more than I love the look of painted trim, haha! And I am pretty sure that the bare wood look will again achieve primacy, it's only a matter of time. How happy will I be then that I don't have a bunch of baseboards to strip!

everydayplanner I never said I hated grass cloth. I simply responded that it is a trend. As a designer, do you not get tired of seeing the same wall color and wall covering every where? Right now, grass cloth is every where - hence trend. Does it give great wall texture, yes. Does it come in tight and loose weaves, yes. Does it come in colors, yes. Will it get tired in a few years, yes.

kit2650 JAN MOYER said:
I know no decorators still clinging to that trend : ) None. And many of us never did.
5 days ago. I opened the Jan/Feb issue Of House Design Architecture Lifestyle and this is what was on page 7, advertising for a NYC interior design service. Those chopped pillows are still around!

quatorze Seems like a nice liveable urban room otherwise.

Anna Rhees I would include the color grey, painted brick, stainless appliances and white kitchens.

dennajones kit2650 and Jan Moyer - thanks for remembering to add karate chop pillows. They drive me nuts. Perfectly nice pillows ruined with one blow and given sufficient subtext to warrant a footnote from Gombrich were he still alive and thinking of revising Art & Illusion. Yes, I jest but it's worth remembering he praised the power of indeterminate forms, which for this discussion I interpret as "keep your mitts off the cushions".

sartarehare Oooohhh, painted brick is like painted wood trim. If it's an older home and original, I'm not sure why you'd ever do it if it hasn't been done. Very distinct decades where that was the trend. So UGLY. We striped our 20s fireplace and that was a huge task but man does it ever look 100% better! It made the whole living room. However, I'd never do the project again. Just won't ever be buying a home with a painted fireplace. Period. That's sort of one of those things on my "never" list.
Not so sure about the color grey. It may not be as prevelant in a few years but since it's just a neutral, I don't think it's leaving any more than beige, white or black are leaving. It's usually the special color schemes that date a place. Think peach and pink. Brown and gold. Etc.

quatorze Depends on the brick. Some brick, like some wood is made to be painted, it is common brick with no special texture, finish, or even coloration and it was assumed by the builders that paint would be applied. Some problems arose when the paints changed from natural paints, like milk paints or whitewash, which are relatively easy to remove, and the harder finish polymer paints, which can be the devil to remove. Oil paint can be difficult to remove, but at least it is soluble with the right chemical and if very old, it powders off. Many paint layers also make removal a bear; this is not the fault of the paint but the laziness of a string of owners who keep applying new paint over old, dulling the crispness of the underlying brick or woodwork until it loses all character. If I were painting brick or wood, I would clear coat it first before applying colored paint, so that the colored pigment does not sink into the pores of the substrate. When the paint is later properly removed, the original substrate should be more or less intact.

Many people would be shocked at the steps the great furniture makers took to finish their wood. It wasn't just a clear coat slapped onto the wood, but many thin layers, sanded well between each coat, cleaned and then even the wood pores filled with coloured putty and finished again, before final waxes and oils in order to achieve that "natural" look. Women who remember the change over to "The Natural Look" in makeup will remember how much work it took to achieve this "effortless" effect...

sartarehare Yes, brick like cinder block was meant to be painted but most brick in homes of the era I'm speaking of were painted in later eras when that look became a trend (like painting wood trim). In a 1920s craftsman, brick and wood was meant to be seen and treated as such. These homes are known for this type of finish work. The paint actually de-values the home and leads to many restoration projects. So you have an 80s/90s era home or newer? Hell, paint whatever you want. We're talking about very different building materials than eras past.

quatorze I currently live in a pre-war NYC apartment, but I grew up in a Victorian rowhouse in Brooklyn. I certainly know the pain of undoing previous owners "improvements" to a space, and believe me, paint jobs were the least of the formidable tasks we dealt with. Try finding a mahogany and leaded glass built-in sideboard walled in by plasterboard and only found by accident when my brother and I were rough housing and punched a hole in the wall, revealing the hidden gem. Or try removing oceans of hospital green paint from white marble mantels; the former owner was an old lady called "The Green Hornet"... And then there was the time we found a marble mantel in the garden, buried in the overgrowth, or the hand carved doors banished to the basement...

I agree that Craftsman style houses were usually meant to have the wood trim and brick fireplaces in their natural state, meaning that the wood was chosen specifically for its graining and color, and the brick fired with special finishes, to enhance the architecture. One can still paint, if it is one's taste, it is reversible; people should just do a bit of due diligence and research to find the best way to apply the finish they want so it can be removed later, and not be a detriment to the value of the house long-term.

If it were my mother walking in as a home buyer, painted brick and trim would win her over faster than natural finishes; one never knows what a person will like...

loridreamhouse We just purchased a home that had tons of grass cloth in it, and it was beautiful, but it wasn't something I could live with, I even thought of painting it cause I'm tired of the gold tones, but decided to tear it out and so glad I did. It was installed in the early 90's and even though the look is back with a vengeance, I can see it as another trend I don't want to be stuck with. It's easier to change a look with paint than dealing with wallpaper, and honestly, I have never cared for grass cloth, I grew up with it in the 80's and am done with it.

andie morgan We have very high ceilings and, of course, walls in our villa rental. I love the idea of a huge mirrored starburst high up on the wall over a bookcase or a desk with a hutch to add interest to a blank wall with something that is not another rectangular shape of a picture frame or square mirror.

quatorze You could also try a bookcase topped with a bust, or two urns, possibly with bare braches in them.

Midcentury Minx Such an interesting discussion that I came back after a couple of weeks to read the comments.
One thing that no one has mentioned: the "espresso" wood finish that was all the rage in the early 2000's. Along with the slate floors & "zen" look that went with it. I dabbled with it for a while myself, but my (first) love for neoclassic/regency design couldn't be denied any longer. I'm now mid-century with a hefty dollop of Hollywood Regency and I've never been happier.

Georgia Evenson Never liked granite.....quartz for me if I could....I don't think of SS as a "trend", it's been a good choice for a long time along with white appliances. Subway tiles can go up in so many designs, as well as glass tiles. I luv the industrial look along with some sparkle and grey always over beige for neutral.....this has all been intteresting.....remember....if it's NOT a colour that you would wear, then don't decorate with it....quite simple:)

Deborah Corsi When thinking about trends, there is a huge difference between what designers think and what homeowners think. Once you've plunked down thousands of dollars for stainless steel applicances you are generally going to hang on to those until they start coughing and wheezing. Ditto for backsplash tile, floor surfaces, and other big ticket, labor intensive items. But the small stuff: starburst mirrors, pillows that "talk," flaking finials, shabby chic, retro coffee sets are the things that make decorating fun and ever evolving. Can that sleek stainless steel be at home with your country french chickens for two years and the start a relationship with neon bright modern vases while the chickens go into the closet? Yup. And if you love it and it's your house, well then, I think that is all that matters in the end. I'd probably stop at two chickens, one globe, and three flaky finials. Twelve globes make for a great photo, but not so much fun to have around the house :)

flgrandma Georgia Everson, I really like your comment about choosing colors. ,,, if it's NOT a colour that you would wear, then don't decorate with it....quite simple:)

kit2650 Haha, flgrandma, then I'd have to decorate my entire house in black!! As it is, I love beiges and whites, but not in my clothing. I don't know if this topic fits into "classic" or "not classic" but what do people do when after a long day at work, all they'd really like is to sit down in a nice leather recliner.....but they live in a small apartment and have never found a gorgeous recliner? I don't want to buy anything I don't love....but I'm also not as comfy in a chair with an ottoman. Of course, it's my house, and I should do what makes me happy. But ugly doesn't make me happy! I"ve sold my house and given away or sold all of my furniture. I want to live simply, surrounded by beautiful things. How can I be comfortable in my own living room????

flgrandma KIT2650, I think there are lots of us in a position similar to yours. We've downsized and speaking only for myself, it's taking a while to find what works and feels good and is a reflection of me for my home. I don't have a recliner, but I'd sure add one if it made me comfy. I've heard that Stressless is the best, but the styles are modern and that may not be what you're looking for. Good luck in your search.

privada I have Stressless furniture, and it is pricey but worthy. I enjoy them. They are not too modern, and they are durable. Mine are seven years old and looks like new.

sartarehare I've decorated with the same colors in different combinations in every place I've ever lived: I've on move #27 (hopefully for many years). And yes, they are the same colors I wear and am most drawn to. But I never get tired of them. In fact, the few times I've attempted otherwise on a whim, these items end up being donated or sitting in my closet (in the case of clothing). That's actually why I don't see grey as a trend. I've always used it as one of my neutrals.

quatorze Any color can be many different things, depending on hue or saturation, shade, and the texture of the item itself. Some shades of grey can be very dull as a flat paint, but quite dynamic in a gloss finish. If a flat grey wall is being used to highlight gilt frames and gilt and white furnishings, as in the Swedish style, it can be very compelling. Grey in a silk or cotton damask or a velvet is spectacular and takes a lot of wear, as well as giving the light effects those fabrics are known for. Grey rough stone is very warm, while the same shade of grey as paint can be cold. It isn't the color, but how it is used that makes a room come alive or die. Even that "pariah" beige is spectacular when used imaginatively. If you are just slapping a coat of paint on the walls, there is not going to be much pizzazz with most neutrals, it's what you do with the paint or fabric, and the company it keeps, that makes it work.

malissia4design You said in your title "Trends". As an Interior Designer I only add a trend as a pop or item of interest, most of the design is timeless or what I like to call practical. The advise I give my clients is plan to change the trend items in 2-5 years. Trends are fun, they keep your space alive and interesting, just don't go overboard.

carlajene Eminently sensible, malissia4design, to keep the "trend" items, the ones you will probably want to change more often, in the role of accent pieces. Most of the design remaining "timeless", "practical", or that which the owner has a long-term love affair with, can keep long-term costs within reason.

twelveoclockdream2 Yes wall decals are cool for a short while and only in a kids room. Who wants stickers on their wall really? Stencilling on the other hand is more refined and you can live with it for longer I think.
www.twelveoclockdream.com

cherboe So many people with so many opinions. It's got to be exhausting to feel like you need to form an opinion about every style or fashion that you come across. It reminds me of listening to my children and their friends discussions when they hit their late teens and early twenties. They suddenly become oh-so-wise and knowledgeable on every topic under the sun. I love the freedom of knowing I don't need to form an opinion on everything others do, and in my own style I just try to stick to what I love.
I really enjoy people who decorate differently than I do as long as they are being genuine to what they truly love. It may not be what I choose to live with but if they are genuine it still comes across wonderfully well. Let's give everyone permission to evolve in their tastes without commenting. Criticizing others gets people so tied in knots they don't know what they like anymore.

quatorze I disagree. Most people's comments on these forums are respectful, they just differ. If one is enjoined from making a comment that differs with another person's viewpoint, then what is the point of the forum? It is ideas in opposition that form the synergy from which we learn and our own ideas evolve; that is the strength that debating class was meant to teach.

I agree that one must be respectful, but there is such a thing as being so politically correct, that you end up with no opinion of your own on anything ....

Gloria Graham, AKBD I think the trick is to stay in keeping with the architectural style of the home, i.e. Mid Century is always going to be "right" in a Mid Century home.

Benjamin I like the idea of the wall decals. I feature DIY blank canvas folding screens(that you could stick wall decals on to create a portable wall mural) as printed screens on my website. I like the Moroccan poofs. Here's a pic of a customer who used one of our screens to create a Moroccan theme.