By Stephanie Stebbing
Brace yourself. If you’re a fan of macramé decor or succulents, you might not be a fan of the new 2019 design trends. It’s time to trim the fat and cut out old, outdated styles to make room for new ones.
We’re noticing a few new patterns emerging and they can be summed up with this: opposite of what 2018 and 2017 looked like. The last couple of years liked minimalism, mid-century modern, and rustic. Not to say that all that should be tossed right out the window, but we’re scaling it back a bit. We’re introducing the concept that using a few elements from a few different styles is welcomed, which is great for those of us who can never make up our minds.
What’s out and in
Out: Labeling each room in your house with a huge wooden sign as if walking in and seeing the kitchen appliances or washer and dryer wouldn’t be enough for your guests to determine that they are, in fact, standing in the kitchen or the laundry room.
“So, what do you guys do in this room over here … the one with the refrigerator and the pantry? OH, never mind, that ‘EAT’ sign on the wall is really helpful!”–No One Ever.
Sorry to burst your bubbles, millennials.
Out: Minimalism
Walking into an all-white room with a succulent plant on the windowsill, a cactus plant in the corner, and a long macramé wall hanging tells me that the residents of this home are most likely between the ages of 22 and 44 … and that’s it. It tells me nothing about their personality, the type of activities they like to do in their free time, or where they’ve been and what they’ve done. Anyone could live there.
In: The opposite of minimalism is, you guessed it, maximalism.
Let your personality shine through your home. Overuse your favorite colors. Fill your walls with photos and art. Choose eclectic pieces that you like because you like them, regardless of whether or not they “go together.” Blend styles. Be you.
Out: Accent walls
This one surprised me, but most expert interior designers are expecting that this trend will be left behind in 2018. Accent walls have been a great way to add a punch of character into a room that otherwise may look a little boring. However, choosing a fun wallpaper or bold color for all four walls will give your space even more character and will help your furniture look more cohesive with the rest of the room.
In: Bringing elements of the outdoors, in (biophilic design)
Design practitioners have spent a lot of time researching how our environment affects our mood, physical, and mental health. When the world outside feels chaotic, we tend to look to our own homes for comfort and rejuvenation. Using natural materials that have been very minimally processed, keeping house plants, using as much natural lighting as possible, and using more water and greenery in your design elements are great ways to implement biophilic design into your home. This has been proven time and again to reduce stress, enhance creativity and thought clarity, and improve our overall health. (This is a great article to read if you are interested in trying biophilic design in your home.)
In: Handmade pieces from your local small-businesses as opposed to cookie-cutter decor bought online or in chain stores.
We love this trend because it supports small businesses and, at the same time, allows your personality to be reflected in your home. Plus, it makes you more comfortable in your own space and gives you tons of great conversation starters.
So if we’ve learned anything with these new design trends, it’s that if you’re buying a home or thinking about switching up your current home decor style, you can’t go wrong by scrapping it all and starting anew. Cheers to embracing change, friends … and Happy New Year!
Stephanie is a marketing assistant with LePage|Johnson Realty Group, LLC in Lake Norman. Article originally appeared on CharlotteLakeNormanHomeSales.com.
