Sometimes trends can be too easy to follow. Especially when it comes to interior design, people can latch onto trends a bit too quickly. While there’s nothing wrong with considering trends as you’re remodeling or redecorating your home, you have to be careful to not let them influence you entirely.

 

Let’s take a look at when trends are worth following and when they are not in interior design.

 

New, innovative materials

It seems like every week there’s a new material or a new use for an existing material available to design with. Sometimes, these new materials are widely beneficial for one reason or another, especially when it comes to price point and/or flexibility. Other times they just show up everywhere because they are trendy. Ask your interior designer if a particular new material is worth looking into for your particular home and lifestyle.

 

For example, just because a new flooring material tickles your fancy doesn’t mean you should just rip up the existing floorboards for it. However, any time there is a way to make a design element more environmentally friendly, less costly, more functional, or all of the above, it’s worth considering.

 

Retro or nostalgic design trends

Once in awhile, there’s a shift in design trends towards revisiting design trends from past decades. If you’re trying to make your home consistent with the design of a certain time period, this might be some trendy stuff worth following. But when considering “blast from the past” sorts of trends, try to find elements that are either timeless or interesting without being overpowering.

 

It’s OK to have retro or nostalgic design elements in a space as a conversation piece or just to fit in with your own personal style. But it’s easy to overdo it, so bear that in mind. Many trends are in the past for a reason.

 

Homebuyers today like this

One of the most dangerous trends in interior design is following what current home buyers seem to like the most. Essentially, a lot of designers tend to favor design elements that help sell a home. Neutral color palette, trendy materials, and overused products might help sell houses. But the reason they do is that they serve as a canvas for new homeowners own style.

 

When following design trends is good:

If a trendy design element, product or material fits in with the style of your home or within the updates you’re trying to make, it’s worth considering. If it makes your home more functional, such as an organizational product, it’s usually going to be a good thing.

 

When following design trends is bad:

Using trendy design elements, materials, or products just because they look cool isn’t really sound design or decorating. Even if you might save some cash now, you may regret it later. If it’s more to set up a certain look, style, or theme, think hard before considering it.

 

While design trends are powerful forces, don’t let them overtake you. Some are good for everyone, some are good for a few. Some are just passing fads. Others only work for certain homes and for certain people. At the end of the day, when redesigning or redecorating your home, focus on what is most important to you.