What’s In and What’s Out in Interior Design
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Home design trends seem to come and go like a revolving door. One day they’re in, and the next they’re out! Investing in design that is too specific or comes at the end of a trend, particularly when you may be hoping to sell or appeal to the masses, can be a costly error.
If you want to move away from constant home improvements and turn toward more timeless design elements, you’ve come to the right place! The idea is that you will select timeless furniture pieces as your foundation and periodically incorporate trendy accessories to beautify your space. These trendy items can be easily swapped in and out to evolve your space in your time and on your budget! Your wallet (...and maybe even your mate) will thank you!
I’ll be running down 6 design trends that are either outdated or phasing out. With each of these, I will provide a tip for a timeless design replacement that you won’t come to regret in the years to come. This will be fun, so let’s jump in!
What’s Out Trend #1 – Vessel Sinks
Vessel sinks are sinks that sit on top of the vanity. They became extremely popular in the early 2000s. Not only did they add instant aesthetic beauty, but they also allowed for simple installation and increased counter space.
However, the issue came when many who were jumping on board with this trend installed them incorrectly. They were installed on top of vanities that were standard height instead of a lower height vanity. The vessel sink sat too high which caused people discomfort and was a challenge for families with children who could not easily access it.
In addition, the faucets that were installed were too short and positioned too close to the edge of the sink, causing water to splash everywhere. Ouch! This is a costly failure. As a result, people no longer see vessel sinks as very functional, which has reduced their popularity.
The timeless design option is all-in-one sinks where the counter and sink are molded all in one or under-mount sinks where the sink is installed under the counter.
If you were attracted to the vessel sink for the increased counter space, the under-mount design may be the way to go.
In the image above, this under-mount sink provides plenty of space and comes with a clean, stylish design. Unlike the vessel sink, the under-mount sink is much easier to clean and has great resale value.
Be sure to add your personal touches to the vanity top and enjoy this design that just keeps on giving!
What’s Out Trend #2 – Kitchen Soffits
Now, the next two trends are centered around kitchen cabinetry. Depending on the age of your home and/or the last time you did an update, this tip may be particularly important!
First, a kitchen soffit is usually a boxy structure built above kitchen cabinets. Sometimes they hide wiring, pipes, or even ductwork. But, in other instances, they don’t have anything in them and serve no purpose at all! When short kitchen cabinets were the design staple, they were added to fill the dead space floating above it.
So, before your next kitchen remodel, reserve a small part of your budget for removing these soffits. The removal will instantly give your kitchen a more modern, spacious, and fresh look.
What’s Out Trend #3 – Short Kitchen Cabinets
As mentioned above, kitchen soffits were added to fill the dead space above short kitchen cabinets. These cabinets are typically 30-32" tall.
So, now that we know better and understand that these short cabinets are a design trend of the past, be sure to nix anything with these measurements from the plan as you approach your next kitchen redesign!
The timeless design option is taller kitchen cabinets which will make the kitchen appear bigger while adding additional storage. So, we can easily call this a win-win!
If you have standard 8 to 9-foot-high ceilings, you should be looking at taller cabinets that are roughly 42 – 54” tall. If you have a 10-foot ceiling, like the image pictured above, you can install a slightly taller cabinet and a short cabinet on top of that.
With all the added space you’ll have after the redesign, you can begin to add in some of the organizing solutions you’ve been wanting forever!
What’s Out Trend #4 - Rose Gold/Blush Interiors
Who doesn’t love rose gold? It’s such a beautiful and feminine aesthetic. However, when added as major furnishings, this can easily turn into a design faux pas.
For example, I recently watched a design show where they constructed a ‘blush colored’ basement. Yes, you heard me right, the full lower level! Don’t get me wrong, the space was beautiful, but I felt a sudden inner cringe because I knew the look would be dated even before they began.
Blush interiors are so taste-specific that it will always be difficult for a trend like this to carry a broad appeal for an extended period of time. Simply stated, not everyone loves blush enough to live with it for years on end.
So, if you’re designing to sell or appeal to the masses, avoid blush, and rose gold which may hurt your design aesthetic more than it helps.
The timeless design option is warm neutrals and earth-tone interiors. While there is always room to add in pops of color, warm neutrals and earth-tone interiors seem to stand the test of time.
These design elements are nature-inspired, calming, and bring a unique harmony to your space. Let’s face it, we live in a hustle and bustle world, so people are often looking to be inspired and grounded in their personal spaces.
If the global pandemic has taught us anything, our mental, emotional, and physical well-being is paramount; so, we should create spaces that reflect this need. As you incorporate more of these long-term staples, add decorative elements that bring the whole room together for your own quiet escape!
What’s Out Trend #5 – Faux Plants
Speaking of hustle and bustle, faux plants were acceptable when most of us were only home for a few hours a day and would inevitably forget to water our plants. So, instead of having a room full of dead plants, faux plants became a popular and beautiful option.
The problem? Like our furniture and other accessories in our living spaces, ahem... we still have to dust and clean them! Most people forget this important aspect of caring for faux plants, which makes them, and the home’s interior look lackluster which is NOT what we are aiming for.
The timeless design option is real plants. I know, I know... some of you may be wary of making this switch because of your dreaded black thumb that can’t seem to keep anything alive!
If so, succulents or these easy to care for plants pictured above are often the way to go, especially for those who are trepid. For your first go at it, aim for a small, stylish, and hardy plant that does not require much work or watering.
If you want to walk with me through this, I have a super helpful video which details beginner-friendly houseplants. This will be sure to boost your confidence and ability to incorporate plants as a timeless home décor feature!
What’s Out Trend #6 - Sliding Barn Doors
A sliding barn door is a door hung on a sliding track that slides to the side of the opening. They were all the rage during the farmhouse décor craze. Let’s be honest here, this trend was beaten to death and overused in spaces.
Now as farmhouse chic, is phasing out these doors have become somewhat dated.
For some, this may sting a bit as these barn doors may have been installed in your home a year or less ago. No fret, in my opinion, they continue to work if they are installed in spaces for functional purposes. Meaning, you need to use them because a regular pivot door swings out and obstructs the corridor or the furniture in that space.
The timeless design option is pocket doors which serve the same purpose. They make a statement and are extremely functional. Pocket doors eliminate the space you’d need for a traditional swing pivot door. So, it is a great option for older homes or smaller spaces.
There are many different styles of pocket doors to select from. They can be made to look sleek and modern or traditional. Simply choose a door style that matches your design aesthetic. Do you still need to be convinced? As shown in the image above, pocket doors tend to work in any décor and can act as art themselves!
And that’s It!
I hope you have found these tips helpful as you continuously update and add unique beauty to your home!
If you found that your space fell into more of the “what’s out” category than you imagined, no sweat! You are not alone. What’s more, the designs that are in are thankfully timeless pieces. This gives you time to make updates in your time, on your budget!
If you haven’t already tuned in, check out my “What’s In and What’s Out” Design trends video. While you’re there, don’t forget to like the video and subscribe to my channel to stay up to date on all my interior design content. I can’t wait to hear from you, so leave me a comment too!