Interior design trends are always influenced by changes in culture. The social distancing and working-from-home adjustments of the past two years are definitely affecting what we put in our homes today, as well as what we’re throwing out. Here are eight previously cool styles that will likely end up looking dated very soon.
Industrial Design
While it was super hip to have bare pipes and bulbs for a minute, stark and warehouse-like industrial decor is quickly becoming too cold and grim for our current pandemic conditions. People are looking for cozy, welcoming, and warm spaces to soothe their frazzled home-bound nerves. Industrial touches in strategic places will remain chic, of course, but an entire house full of them just isn’t desirable anymore. In fact, a recent survey of 2,4000 people by UK-based home improvement resource HomeHow found that 61 percent of respondents are already regretting going overboard on industrial decor.
Open Shelving
That same survey found that another 52 percent of respondents regretted switching out their wall cabinets for open shelving. Sure, those dishes and glasses look pretty on the shelves in the magazines, but in real life – the one where we’re all stuck at home more than usual – open shelves aren’t so practical. If dishes are close to the stove, they can attract grease or dust. Plus, compared to wall cabinets, open shelves can seriously reduce storage space and look cluttered if not properly arranged each and every time.
Shiplap and Barn Doors
Thanks to the genius styles of Joanna Gaines, farmhouse decor found a serious following in the 2010s. Still, it can feel terribly out of place in, for example, an urban condo. Today, houses full of shiplap (wooden wall siding) and rolling barn doors are quickly fading from popularity and can be very expensive to undo. If you’re still digging this look, consider a few minor rustic touches and muted colors to satisfy your cravings without a forever commitment.
Large Wallpaper Patterns
Oversized wallpaper patterns are certainly dramatic, but amid all the COVID craziness, most people want less drama in their lives, not more. Large, bold wall coverings are now dwindling in popularity as people seek designs that are more soothing and inviting.
Bold Bathroom Tiles
A similar philosophy is starting to prevail with flashy bathroom tiles. As it is, most patterns and colors circulate in and out of trendiness every few years. And while putting in a trendy pattern could make your space the talk of the town for a bit, it’ll cost you a pretty penny to redo when it finally falls out of fashion favor. If you really love eye-catching patterns, try choosing one with mostly neutral hues. Then you can add extra color through paint and accessories.
Rose Gold Metal
Metal finishes are notorious for shifting quickly in their trendiness. Brass was très chic in the 90s, while oil-rubbed bronze was the “it” look of the 2000s. Now rose gold has had its moment, too, but it’s already headed for the out door. If you still love rose gold, opt for using it in decorative accents, like floor lamps, instead of installing it permanently in your fixtures.
Terrazzo Tile
Known for its playful flecks of color, terrazzo tile came back into fashion in recent years, especially thanks to celebrities like Mandy Moore bringing its midcentury flair into their homes. Unfortunately, its appeal will seem old-fashioned again before long. Choosing a peel-and-stick terrazzo tile wallpaper could allow you to enjoy the look for the moment and easily remove it when it’s totally out again.
Minimalism
Since so many Americans spent so much of the past year at home, the minimalistic, straight lines that held sway in the past are quickly falling from grace. People are now looking for softer contours, comfier textures, and all-around more layered spaces. Plus, the sparse and austere lifestyle became way less attainable as parents, children, and pets sat cooped up in their homes for months. The ultra-sleek style is subsequently giving way to the practicality of stuff ending up everywhere.
As we adapt to life in a post-pandemic world, our sense of style is also being revised. If any of these changes in interior design trends make you sad though, don’t worry. They rotate often enough that your favorites will probably come around again, even if they’re in slightly different forms and 20 years in the future.