I've been following decor blogs since we moved into our house over a year now, and I've come to terms with one thing: decor trends are real and pervasive! I don't think it's a bad thing, but we're influenced by what we look at (which should be a wake up call to be sensitive to what we put before our eyes.) As I've watched blogs this past year, my tastes in decorating styles has changed and evolved, and things I never thought I'd like or want in my house, I do!
But like many of you, I like in the land of "budget." I can't afford to redo my interior every year to keep in step with "trends" and if I invest heavily into trendy instead of timeless, I'm going to find my house on one of those
"trends we hope die" lists.
But I thought it would be fun to make a list of some of the trends that I'm seeing pop up in the decorator world, and you let me know if you like it, hate it, have it, or are over it. I'm sticking with mostly accessories on this post, and some of them are older trends that I'm just now getting to - I'm not a professional people! These are in no particular order, and no offense if you hate these, have these or want them. If I've missed something, add it below in the comments!
Birch logs
If trees could be trendy, birch would win. I never flip through a decor magazine without seeing birch logs. My husband even notices now that I pointed it out. I don't have any birch logs, but I would like a little decorative pile by our fireplace.
Garden Stools
These things are everywhere, it's bizarre. At first, when I noticed this trend, I was very resistant. I didn't like it, it didn't seem to serve and function, and the decor it added didn't really appeal to me. I've caved quite a bit to the point that if I saw a nice white or green solid colored garden stool on sale for $30, I'd pick it up for sure, but I don't think I'd spend any more than that.
IKAT
It's taken me forever to really figure out what this is, and to recognize it. Apparently Ikat is a woven fabric from a whole bunch of countries, vague enough? (
more at wiki), but it has a very ethnic look to it, and it is so crazy popular right now in all sorts of crazy colors, upholstery, and applications! Like many trends, initially I was not fond of it at all, but I'm currently decorating my husband's den, and I've found a couple more traditional looking ikat fabrics for throw pillows hoping to evoke its more timeless less trendy side. The photos below aren't necessarily my favorite uses, but it's just to help you get familiar with the pattern if you aren't already, and recognize it when you see it because you're going to see it everywhere.
This is more of the IKAT vibe for Jason's den.
Chevron
Graphic prints are big right now, but Chevron is one I just have a hard time connecting with. The only place I really like it is in wood flooring patterns, but there I'd call it Herringbone.
Grainsacks and Burlap
I've always been fond of "upcycling" or taking old things and recycling them into something new and lovely, and the grainsack trend is a perfect example...gone wild. Old feed sacks are in such demand now that they are getting hard to find at a cheap price, so now we're faking them! I don't have any authentic grainsacks, but I am using some bleached drop cloths for a few things, which are very inspired by the traditional grainsack.
I've always been entranced with burlap. It's such an industrial, hard-working fabric that now we're seeing reinvented as a poor man's linen in elegant expressions, and I love it. I've got lots of burlap kicking around my house, it's so versatile and inexpensive, and there are many uses for it. I will say that in its cheap raw state, its smelly, itchy and scratchy. For a while, I had a burlap curtain, and it just smelled so much that I had to take it down. I wouldn't use it for upholstery, pillows, or anything that I'm touching.
Moroccan Poufs
Crochet, leather, or quilted, poufs or moroccan ottomans are very trendy this year, but as for me, I've been to morocco, and I fell on the floor trying to sit on these things just like I did at Marshall's two days ago. I don't understand the usage logic, but they do look cool.
Ceramic Animals and Busts
Some people love white ceramic animals, and know they do. I didn't think I did, then I realized that I do have a white ceramic horse head! The owls kinda freak me out though. I would like to expand my bust collection.
YHL
Antlers
Whether ceramic, paper mache, cardboard or real, just the horns or the head to go with is, antlers are IN! And it's not just for cabin's and lodges anymore. They're showing up in modern, eclectic and traditional decor. They can be a paper weight or accessory, part of furniture or lighting, something to hang on the wall to serve function or simply decoration. I've seen all kinds: deer, moose, elk, bull, those African varieties, you name it! I don't have any, but I definitely want some antlers for my husband's den. (Except for the ram's heads. Those kind of freak me o ut and remind me of Dragnet with Tom Hanks and Dan Aykroyd.) Unfortunately, with supply and demand, the price has gone way up. Calling all hunters, I need me some antlers!
Sunburst Mirror and Federal-Style Convex Mirrors
The Sunburst mirror is absolutely an undeniable trend that I see
everywhere! I'm actually pretty indifferent to it. I like it in the Ballard magazines I get, but I don't own one and I'm not shopping for one.
The Federalist-style convex mirror is a weak spot for me. I am an absolute sucker for those, and I own 2 small ones, and honestly want more. Obsessed. But to be fair (to me), I liked these mirrors the first time I saw them at an antique store quite a while ago, and I'm still kicking myself I didn't buy the big wooden one when I saw it for $35. Seriously kicking.
Tolix Chairs
This is a trend that when I first saw them, I thought "Those look uncomfortable, why would I want them?" But now things have changed. They are everywhere and very trendy, but timeless too. I waaaaaaannnnnt them! They are much more comfortable than they look. I've checked them out at World Market and other places. I still can't decide between the natural metal or robin's egg blue, but at around $100 a pop, I've got some time to save and think about it.
Cloche domes
Also called bell jars, and I think you can add the prolific use of apothecary jars to this trend. When I see them in blogs or magazines, I tend to like them. It's seems like you can put anything under glass or in a jar, and it looks nice, whether a birds nest, soap, pasta, candy or Christmas ornaments. And you don't have to dust it. Sounds like a win win. To be honest, I don't have a cloche or apothecary jar, but I'd like one (or five). I do have a teensy apothecary-style thing, but it is sitting on my mantle, because I don't know what to put in it, as it's rather small. On a related trend, I've seen a lot of pantry and laundry room redo's including food stuffs and detergents in apothecary-style glass jars, and I love that!
Subway Art
This trend I have mixed feelings about. When it's done right, I think it can be really classy. I like the Restoration Hardware version (but I definitely don't want to pay for it.) I think the DIY craze has mutilated this trend into something inkjet and tacky. I'll let you do a Pinterest search to get an idea of what I'm talking about. I'm not saying that any personalized DIY subway art is necessarily bad, but it's got to look right, with the right typography and execution. I definitely don't like it when it's anything but geographical places (like house rules, cute sayings, food ingredients etc). I personally don't have any subway art yet, but if the Restoration Hardware pieces show up on Craigslist, I would pick them up if I could for my husband's man cave. I've only selected examples I like below.
Restoration Hardware
Faux Bamboo
Faux bamboo furniture in bright colors and shiny laquered finishes are popping up all over the blogosphere giving new life to thrift store finds all over the place. I haven't gotten any pieces yet, but these inspiration pictures sure do help. I'm keeping these in mind when I shop now.
Sheepskin
I don't have a sheepskin rug, but am in the market for one. I remember growing up when my mom and I went to Sam's Club, I'd always pet the sheepskin throws. And since they've shown up in cottage decor for a couple hundred years, there may be a timeless quality to them as well. What do you think?
Lucite
It's basically a clear plastic that come in and out of style as furniture since it was invented, but now it's "in." I'm still kind of undecided on this trend, I don't mind it when it's mixed in with other furniture, but I don't like matchy matchy table and chairs. I didn't think I owned anything, but I actually do have a lucite tray that my mom found me at a thrift store.
Silhouettes
Cutting out silhouettes seems like some sort of a Pride and Prejudice era entertainment and courting ritual, but its become a full on decor trend. Silhouettes are popping up everywhere, but I don't have one, and I want to learn how to make them. I'd really like to make a silhouette of my dogs.
Cowhide Rugs
Honestly, I can't tell for the life of me how cowhide dresses up and down the way these pictures show it, but I've got to admit, I like it. I think I prefer the white one to the blotchy black and white, but at a couple hundred dollars, I'm waiting on this trend too, but it is on my list!
Other trends include gallery walls and chalk paint (you've seen those in the photos above), master's paintings, imperial trellis prints, antique brass accessories, botanical artwork, typography, terrariums and what else? Let me know in the comments.
