One of the reasons I hate to follow trends is just about the time you start to follow one and think you finally know what is “in” you are actually out. BUMMER! More significantly, I just like to be unique and do my own thing. I really don’t like the idea of someone else telling me what is in or out.
When I start to see the same types of accessories pop up in everyone’s home, I have to admit I cringe a little bit. Especially if it is pretty obvious it is done to follow a trend. I’d rather fill my house with things I love or that have significance to me, even if they are not on the current “hot list.”
It is hard though, because when you start to see everyone heading in a direction, it is easy to fall in love with the look and want to copy it for yourself. And there really isn’t any thing wrong at all with incorporating some trends into your own style, if you truly love them.
I am happy to see that the trends are moving away from the stark modern look (which I’ve never liked) to a more eclectic style that incorporates some richer and bolder muted colors, more textures, layers, antiques and items collected around the world. It seems like the current trend makes it easier for those of us who have been collecting things over time and through our travels to be somewhat “in” without even trying!
It is easy to get stuck in a rut of what you’ve always done and not really know how to update your look on a budget, even if you wanted to. By being aware of the trends, it is easier to shop and be able to pick out bargains that keep your style current, if that is important to you. You don’t need to shop at the high end shops when you know what to look for in the bargain or thrift shops!
Worn, vintage accessories and frames are also big. I absolutely love brass and worn metals — gilded, antiqued, rubbed — all of it! — Genevieve
I do appreciate seeing things in a new way, so it is worth looking over trends to see how you could use what you already have and see it with fresh eyes! And in some cases, you might already own some of the new trends! You might even think of them as out of date when really, they are back around again and even being used or paired in new ways.
So I guess if you already have something that is in, even though you’ve had it for 20 years, it makes you a trend setter! YES! Next thing you know, you’ll be able to pull out those mom jeans you’ve tossed in the very back of your closet.
Natural materials with organic textures and finishes will become even more popular — think wallpaper, upholstery and drapery in nature-inspired patterns and neutral colors. — Candice
By being aware of what is out there, you can study what is being done and then shop your own house to update your style. I like to stretch my creative mind a bit to look at what I have in a new way.
I’m happy to see that blond wood floors are in, for instance, is that is what I already have! Yay trendsetting me! My last house had dark floors, which I loved. But here I am in this house with blond wood, and I’m inadvertently IN.
I’ve seen this trend coming for awhile now but haven’t had the heart to say it out loud for fear of revolt — I see people are still ridding themselves of all things brass, but in case you didn’t know, brass is in again. Yes. You can stop spray painting now! Unless of course, you really don’t care about what is “in” and you do actually hate brass. Then spray paint away! And if you see brass at my house, don’t shake your head at me thinking I’m out. I am SO IN.
Brass is the new chrome! — Tommy
The following links and all the images in this post are from Canadian House & Home:
2011 Decorating Trends:
Trend Video at House & Home
2011 Decorating Must Haves
Designers Top Trends of 2011
2011 Reno Trends
So, what you do you think about trends? Is it something you prefer to ignore or do you like to look at what is new? Or like me, are you somewhere in the middle between enjoying seeing what is new and yet not not wanting to over think it?
Let’s discuss trends and how you deal with them!
Funny video on decorating trends! Put a bird on it!
I feel like even if we try to not be influenced, trends DO influence us! Come now, who would want to hold onto the avocado green appliances? I love everything old and vintage, but just painted the inside my house a mocha color. I suppose that is the “trend” now. With the thick white molding, it is so beautiful and I love it. But it was so much working painting it, I worry that it will look dated before I turn around!
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I personally do not think “BOLD” colors never go out; I painted my bedroom mocha(well actually a different name) with white baseboards and it is BEAUTIFUL Its been this color for 7 years. Before anyone around here ever had a red kitchen I was the first…..lol But, it was very hard to paint, 15 years ago. I have used many different paints. But, by far the BEST I have EVER used is AURA by Benjamin Moore. Paint Company’s that paint homes normally use commercial grade and do not let u in on that secret. By the time you use 2-3 coats, primer and everything else..you can by 1 gallon of Aura on an unprimed bare sheet rock. That is NOT advised but my point is this:Aura is pricey, but very worth it, If I had the money I would re-paint all of my bold rooms in Aura….it’s just that good. It goes on like satin and hides all imperfections, and if your painting skills are “weak” like mine, it looks professional.
A good word from Melissa at TIR! I am so with you on this…decorate with what you love and your style will always fit you.
Me, I hate rams heads and I am not a fan of most brass, so even though I see them everywhere now, I’m not running out to find one. I am so happy to hear your voice of authenticity in the midst of all the clamor for more “stuff.” Thank you!
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Yaaaay, Melissa! I have always wanted my dining rm a dark,cozy “night” color-only shiny. Not just cuz I love light reflecting off dark colors,but y’know they’ll take a scrub&survive. I have two bigdawgs with happy tails and you can tell what height they are on light walls. I have looked at old designer pix & love how daring some were with color. So-i made a $10 purchase I love&carry around room to room at difft times of day for 6mos and found perfect colors for what i’d had in my head for years. The House Beautiful 500+ Colors “bookazine” that was out from maybe Feb ’10 to Aug’10. It has whole sections on “the perfect white”,red,blue,purple or orange, by at least 20 designers per color,varied style genres.Plus sections on “night rooms” like libraries,or “north-facing”&”south-facing”. Anyway,I have always been off-trend. I like what I like–NO more neutrals! So I pick out these “brave” shades like aubergine&turquoise, deep colors.And in Dec/Jan HB? I AM “EUROPEAN”&A “TREND”. Awww,poop.
Still gonna do it. 
What a great post!! I like this year’s trends…..strangely its so me:-) Especially the brass, vintage accents and souvenirs from around the world.
Now I can finally say I am trendy without trying to be!!!
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I’m with you on trends…I dabble, but that’s it b/c I don’t really have time to keep on top of it. I do like to surround myself with things I like and have a general thread of similarity throughout the house so objects/containers can easily be moved from one room to another to give a fresh look.
Trends are fun to watch,,,and if you wait 20 years you can be back in style…it is not too important to me anymore, just a little dabbel in trends. I am like you,,love what is around you.
♥
Marcie
Girlfriend! I totally agree with you on the trend thing. I hate when I see people’s homes (on blogs) that all look the same!! Blah! There’s no personality in their homes. Everything looks so set up and perfect like no one lives in them. Not to mention when you are perusing through the blogs of people who have the exact same styles they post the same photos of their home EVERY DAY!! How many times can a girl see the same living room?? Sorry. vent time.
Wow, it’s like you read my mind! I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately as I try to decide how to reno our house. I don’t like to follow trends – for the reason you say – they change so fast it seems. But I’m having trouble deciding what I like and want. I see colors on blogs like this and I think I love that, but wonder at the same time, do I like it because it looks nice in a picture or do I really like it. What advice would you have for someone who is planning to redo their house in the near future (mostly cosmetic changes but some more permanent as well) – how to choose the colors, furniture, accessories, etc that I really like and know I’ll be happy with for a while (once I do this, it’ll be a few years before I do it again!!). I’ve been trying to find a color swatch or something that says – yes, this is what I’m looking for – but so far have not had any success.
Great post!
I am so glad to hear that brass is coming back in! I have always loved brass candlesticks and could not bring myself to paint them. Also, I love the light white rooms and furniture that I see on other peoples blogs, but I truly love color and contrast. My home is painted mostly a deep camel color with white woodwork. It is perfect for us. There is no reason you can’t have “jewel” tones in a more modern look. I love navy and red and yellow, but I have definitely updated it from the ’90′s.
Twitter: inmyownstyle
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Hi Melissa-
When you live long enough you see the way trends work and that it is all a cycle of manufacturers producing something new for us to buy. If they didn’t they would be out of business. I have a few brass objects, knobs, etc in my home – I love the gleam they provide to the mix of texture in my rooms – so I am glad to see that I will be “hip” again. There is the old adage that goes something like this – Everything that goes around comes around – it is just tweaked a bit when it resurfaces to the IN status.
My best- Diane
Thanks for sharing such these top trends for 2011! It’s always fun to see what the pros are thinking and predicting! It’s even more fun to look around my house & realize that I’ve unknowingly incorporated a lot of these “trends” into our decor!
i try really hard to NOT to follow trends unless i love them. trends changed constantly so i don’t like to incorporate anything big or real expensive in my home that is very trendy.
I might have a small accessory or two that i love, but that’s about it. my home has to reflect me, not what others say should be me.
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thank you. it is exciting to see the trends coming up! fun to view.
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I am dying laughing!!! I will pull those mom jeans out in a heartbeat..oh wait, I still wear mom jeans. HELLO, it’s the ONLY way to avoid a muffin top. Either that or sweat to death in a pair of spanx.
Trends, yuck. I remember when I was studying interior design (for 1 semester) at Purdue and I learned what eclectic meant. I immediately thought, yep, that’s me.
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I LOVE a well-chosen hodge podge!
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I enjoyed your post. I haven’t generally worried about what was “in” but rather used what I had or found things that I really loved. But once and a while I have wondered if I should try to be more “in”. This was a good reminder that if I did I might soon by “out” again.
One particular example I can think of is wood furniture. My husband and I like natural wood (varnished and possibly stained but not painted) but lately I have seen people continually painting their wood furniture and I started thinking about that a little too. My husband quickly vetoed it however and I think I wouldn’t have been happy with it for long if I would have done it either. Painted furniture just isn’t us.
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As one who works on a very tight budget I have never been pulled in heavily with trends. Some I just laugh at as you know next year they are definitely going to be out. I love a timeless look- one that will survive for ages. I love to give little facelifts here and there to my style but for the most part my style is just- well- my style.
I do love the fact that blond flooring is back in as,like you, it is though out my older home. Also brass- aged brass is wonderful I think.
Thanks for the post~
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Well, what can be said,when our house is curry yellow, eggplant shutters, green trim and red doors, that’s the outside! Red accent walls, tuscanie yellow other walls, red lino, lots of antiques, and mud, yes mud! We live in the country, have chickens,dogs, and gardens, I love it!
This is so refreshing. I am right in line with everything you have said. I happen to like a lot of what is happening now, but have liked it for the past decade or so. I have a style I like and am able to “update” it with a few trends, but prefer to buy things that really speak to me and that I will like for many years to come. I think it is important to know why you are choosing the items you bring into your home.
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Girl, I am right there with you. I don’t think I have one trendy thing in our house. At least I don’t think I do — I just do what I love.
I think the trends are just beautiful in homes I see in blogland, I just know as soon as I spend money on it, it’ll be gone.
The shiny brass though — it’s almost gone from our house and will NEVER EVER be back. Antique brass I don’t mind. Shiny…be gone!
Ha ha! This is so true – you have to go with what makes your own home YOURS and I happen to like my brass stuff. It’s in great shape and still works, why try to “fix” it? Thanks for reminding me that I don’t have to look to magazines and stylists to discover what I love…
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I live in a very small house that was intended to be our “retirement” home. Then our daughter and 3 children moved in with us. I am still trying to figure out how to make this house feel like mine:)! But, rather than trying to make this into a showplace, I am making it as comfortable as possible, while taking into account my need for order and comfort, and COLOR. I am not hip when it comes to design-I have colors that make me happy–my furniture has seen better days, I use pieces for things they were not designed to be–but my favorite thing about my house right now is that it feels warm and friendly and eclectic. I love my cornices covered with authentic African Wax fabric in blacks and golds, my quirky couch, creaky chairs. I hate my dining room at the moment–cramped and awkward, but one of these days it will work.
When we bought this house, I tried to do something totally different and modern–it just never felt like me–so the new stuff is now in the family room in the basement, and all my old stuff is back upstairs. My daughter hates it–but I love it. As soon as possible, the TV will vacate the living room and it will be that cozy room for conversation and reading.
My biggest challenge is making a house with no architectural interest, small windows and minimal natural light feel bright and airy and interesting while finding room in this little TRUE cottage for all 6 of us. Thanks for the ideas and encouragement to do what feels right and avoid the pitfalls of trends. I have neither the time nor the money to invest in a temporary trend.
Your last line is one that I’ve thought of as well. My time is as valuable to me as money and I don’t really want to do and redo just to keep up with trends. I try to stick to classics and things we really will love for a long time!!
I often tell my clients looking for the trend, “if you love it, it’s the perfect trend”. I find myself liking and adopting every 3rd trend that rolls around. Do yourself a favor and only take bits and pieces from a trend, keeping in mind your color scheme, and you will save a lot of money! Design Happiness!