I have a pet peeve …
I am noticing a real pressure to embrace highly publicized design trends.
Has anyone else noticed this?
I was part of a google hangout last Thursday hosted by Sharon Hines of Mrs. Hines Class.
You can watch the hangout here if you missed it.
We discussed trends for 2013, what they are and how to use them…
This year has brought some beautiful trends and I was pleased to be part of the discussion.
There was a great variety in the panel from designers to bloggers in the decor/diy fields.
It was fun and informative
BUT…
I noticed something during the hangout… I feel like people are thinking their homes won’t be current if they don’t embrace these trends…
More importantly, I got the impression that some people think their homes not being “current” is a problem.
When did this happen? Have I been under a rock?
My opinion has always been that your home should be a reflection of you,
a place to relax and feel comfortable.
A place to “BE”.
Why is there such pressure to stay current?
Now, don’t get me wrong, I am in the design business…
and I love helping clients redo their homes.
Lets face it, things do get tired and need to be refreshed.
We get bored of colours and want a change.
Fantastic! I am your gal… lets have some fun!
Here is where I get miffed…
Just because this is the year that you are going to redo your living room that does not mean you have to do it in EMERALD GREEN
What?… I don’t?
No, you don’t!
Maybe you don’t like gold and navy ( personally, I think it’s the most fantastic sub trend this year but guess what… I am not incorporating it in my home… because it doesn’t fit in my home.)
Trends are an indicator of what will be readily available in the marketplace.
So, if you have been looking for brass pulls for your cabinet hardware for the last ten years and frustrated with how limited the selection has been… now is the time to go shopping!
The range of choices will be far better this year.
If on the other hand, you hated brass when it was in your parents house growing up then PLEASE don’t put it in your home JUST because it is “IN’, chances are you will tire of it quickly and feel guilty for wanting to replace it again.
My suggestion is simple.
Unless you adore a trend, only invest what you can afford to change out again next year.
Try it in small doses first….
A few pillows on the couch.
Wallpaper the back of a cabinet with a graphic print in an on trend colour…
Paint a vintage piece…
Have fun , play with it… but forget about the pressure!
Trends come and go. They can be inspiring, charming and beautiful but they are no substitute for figuring out your own personal style and surrounding yourself in it…
There is nothing that compares to walking into your home and feeling a connection and reflection of who you are as a person.
Don’t let anyone or any trend dictate what that is for you.
All images can be found on my Pinterest board Design Trends 2013 and for ideas on unique ways to incorporate wallpaper check out my Board Wallpaper, not just for walls…
I totally agree…trends, well…are trendy! Do what you love, not what the Jones next door are doing, or even the magazines. Who decides these trends anyhow? I am personally so tired of chevron shades and pillows!!! When is that trend going by by C.?
Hi Julie,
Glad you agree!
I don’t know how long the chevron trend will last… i am a bit saturated with it too!
Cynthia
I love that you talked about the other side of trends.I don’t like the green that is everywhere this year and I am not going to add it into my home. Love the wallpaper idea though!
Hi Kim,
I love the wallpaper idea too! Thanks for coming over to check out the post today!
Right on, sister! I love it when someone isn’t afraid to confront the culture…in any area of life…including home decor. It is so freeing to hear a decorator (you) say do what you love. Thank you!
Hi Sharon,
Doing the hangout on trends with you was a blast! Having you pop over and leave me such a great comment… Even better! You are great!
I don’t have a single chevron anything in my home. I was fired last year. LOL. My thought is I buy/diy what I like, regardless of trend. I am a silver girl, you won’t see my suddenly flip to brass. You will also not see Emerald Green in my home either, no matter my Irish heritage. I don’t do trends for the sake of fitting in. I never have. I like what I like, even if no one else does.
Love this post!!
Hi Shannon,
I love your comment! It is great to hear you know exactly what you like and who you are!
Fantastic!
I love this post! You have such a great perspective, I needed to be reminded of this.
Totally agree! A few friends and I did a collaborative project where we each wrote about Emerald. Turns out, NONE of us like it very much! Which means it won’t be appearing in my home. Thanks for the reminder that just because something is trendy doesn’t mean it’s right for you.
That’s also how I felt about neon. Blech.
Hi carrie,
So glad you popped over and that you agree with my thoughts on trends. I love your blog BTW!
Well said! I agree with dotting trends in here and there and only going full out if it’s something you love. I think it’s easy to get caught up in trends, and it can be an expensive mistake.
Hi Shauna,
I agree that it is easy to go overboard and get caught up in the latest trends. Sometimes those mistakes are very expensive as you point out! Thanks for giving such great input!
Amen!
I’m not a huge fan of the colour of the year, but I think in small doses it could work. Mainly in my gardens…it’s perfect there!
Followed you over from the Canadian Bloggers FB group.
Debbie
Hi Debbie,
Yes Green in the garden is perfect! Glad you found me I will have a look at your blog too! It is always fun to meet other Canadian bloggers!
Great post Cynthia! I couldn’t agree more. I am posting on FB page, great tips!!! Have a great night, Jen
Hi Jen,
Thank you very much for sharing my post on FB! I love how people are connecting to what I was trying to get across!
Hi,
Nicely voiced post! I love looking thru the latest & greatest new trends but it can become overwhelming and then I do nothing. Our garden club has members aged 45-80, we visit each others homes for lunch & the program. The perk is seeing various styled homes. One lady hasn’t re-decorated in decades but her home is beautiful…classic wallpaper, nice touches, simple lines. Her home is beautiful without a touch of emerald green.
Hi Debbie,
I LOVE your comment! It echoes exactly what I was trying to say… that loving your home and being in it is far more important than keeping up with current design trends!