The rise and fall of interior design trends
Take the ubiquitous open floor plan. It seemed like a great, forward-looking idea, at least until everyone had to work or go to school in one room. And as many of us have learned, while a once popular chalkboard wall can be useful for distance learning or for kids to express their creativity, it can quickly turn into a dusty, little mess. attractive.
This is why the Realtor.com® data team decided to look at which design trends are skyrocketing right now, based on Google search trends, and which are in the direction of shag rugs. . What we have learned less is what “Fixer Upper” stars Chip and Joanna Gaines are doing these days and more on what is most conducive to an owner’s lifestyle.
Designers say customers prioritize comfort and functionality over the trend, especially since the pandemic has forced them to be faced with their design decisions on a daily basis.
The pandemic has created “a strong need for multifunctional spaces and multifunctional furniture”, explains the designer Lanna Ali-Hassan, co-owner of Beyond the Box Interiors, a design firm in Washington, DC. Recently, its customers have sought to incorporate more maintenance-free design elements. (So ​​no more all-white living rooms or formal dining rooms.)
“People want to be more comfortable, more relaxed, more like a vacation atmosphere at home,†she says.
So what’s in it and what’s coming out? That’s what research statistics – and a select group of interior designers – had to say.
What’s old is new again, and this disgraced mid-century pillar has made a big comeback.
Terrazzo floors are ubiquitous in public schools, hospitals, airports and other busy buildings. Speckled flooring was also very popular in custom homes in the 1950s and 1960s, but fell into disuse in the 1970s.
Now, one of its main draws is that it is environmentally friendly as it can be made with recycled materials. Terrazzo is made of crushed glass, stone fragments or other organic materials embedded in concrete or resin. Then it is polished until it is smooth.
But terrazzo doesn’t come cheap – depending on the materials and the complexity of the design, it can cost more than granite or marble. Terrazzo floors can range from $ 25 to $ 90 per square foot, according to the Home Advisor home improvement website.
Still, the material gained popularity due to its extreme durability, and designers went beyond the ground and experimented with terrazzo furniture, bathroom walls, and countertops.
“It’s hard as nails,” said Justin riordan, founder of Spade and Archer Design Agency, a home staging company with offices in Portland, OR; Seattle; and Los-Angeles. “You put it down once, wax it once a year and it lasts forever. “
(Scarlett Kuang for Realtor.com)
Almost no one had ever heard of shiplap before Chip and Joanna Gaines Used it in seemingly all home renovations of their HGTV design show freak, “Fixer Upper,†from 2014.
Despite the name, the shiplap was not used for ships – interlocking horizontal wooden planks were initially used for sheds and barns as inexpensive waterproofing. Today, designers are using it to cover interior walls as an economical way to create a rustic-chic, farmhouse-style vibe.
After skyrocketing in popularity, the trend seems to have peaked last year. While the shiplap adds texture to walls and a clean backdrop to a room, it has become overused. It’s a pain to tear too, leading some reviewers to call it the modern take on sticky wood panels.
Joanna Gaines “is one of my favorite people on Earth, but it’s over, it’s done,” says Kayla goldstein, owner of Kayla LLC, an interior design firm in Pomona, NY.
Instead, she says the shiplap should be used sparingly and in small spaces, like behind the TV or just above the fireplace. Painting the shiplap a dark color (like charcoal or navy blue) is also a good way to update this trend.
(Scarlett Kuang for Realtor.com)
Rose gold had a good time a few years ago, but it seemed to have reached its expiration date.
Originally used as a subtle way to add pops of color to kitchens, bathrooms, and light fixtures, pink metal quickly became overdone.
The popularity of rose gold coincided with the rise of Millennial Pink, and with the hue used just about everywhere (including iPhone and iPad devices), blush tones no longer looked special.
While rose gold still has its fans, designers today are looking to implement mixed metals, that is, using two or three different types instead of matching everything together. Classic metals like silver are making a comeback, as are elements of brass and gold, but thankfully not as strong as they were in the 1980s when the motto was “more is more”.
“Gold and silver are continually trading places as the finish of choice,” says interior designer Stephanie Purcell, founder of Redesigned Classics, an Atlanta-based interior design firm. “As for the more rosy shade, it definitely has a shorter shelf life. It’s not a typical color, and while it looks fun and fresh now, it will look dated for years to come.
(Scarlett Kuang for Realtor.com)
Chalkboard paint became all the rage in the early 2010s. At first it seemed like a harmless design trend. Who didn’t want a designated space to write grocery lists, menus, or a simple to-do list? Chalkboard walls can be useful in dens, offices and children’s rooms.
But to be fair, chalkboard painting turned out to be more complicated than it was worth.
First of all, it is painful to apply. It should be painted on a smooth surface unlike regular paint which can be applied to just about anything with minimal preparation. This means scraping or sanding before applying the first coat. Chalkboard paint also needs a long time to dry, ranging from several hours to several days between coats.
Then the paint needs three days to dry before you can apply chalk. Oh, and make sure you use the correct chalk. Extra hard chalk and chalk markers are prohibited. To avoid smearing and smudging, use soft chalk (like Crayola or the one used in schools).
A less painful option, according to designer Goldstein, is whiteboard wallpaper, so kids can draw on the walls without creating a mess.
(Scarlett Kuang for Realtor.com)
Wallpaper is back in fashion, but certainly not the kind that once covered every surface in grandma’s house. Bold designs can easily transform large rooms by creating an accent wall or adding personality to a smaller space like a bathroom or laundry room.
Designate Ali-Hassan says she loves incorporating wallpaper into her designs, but admits she probably wouldn’t have said that five to ten years ago.
“Wallpaper covers all aesthetics, from geometric to sumptuous, including textured,†explains Ali-Hassan. “There are so many different kinds of it, and there’s a place you could find to put it in every room appropriately. “
With some advancements in technology since the 1970s, temporary wallpaper has made this trend much more accessible, especially for those looking for a quick project. (The most time-consuming part is preparing the panels in advance.) It’s also perfect for tenants who don’t want to mess up their walls.
Keep in mind, however, that not all painted surfaces are created equal. It is best to use temporary wallpaper over satin or semi-gloss paint, as the adhesive may damage both matte and matte finishes. And those who line their bathrooms should make sure to use wipeable vinyl. Moisture can cause some types of wallpaper to peel and blister.
(Scarlett Kuang for Realtor.com)
Another design trend made popular by HGTV’s ubiquitous design shows, concrete countertops are versatile, durable, and relatively inexpensive. Concrete can give off a modern, industrial vibe, but it can also complement softer, chic styles.
But while it may look cool, fewer people are embracing it as the perfect countertop material. First of all, it must be applied by an expert. Concrete can crack if poorly poured by a novice handyman. Other Cons: It’s heavy, takes a long time to dry (at least a few weeks), and is absorbent, which means it can easily stain if not properly sealed.
It’s also permanent, so homeowners should really embrace this trend before the first pour.
“The good thing is that he’s here forever,†says interior designer Nancy fire, co-founder of Nancy Fire Designs and Design Works International in New York. “The bad thing is… you have to take a jackhammer to get rid of it.”
For a less destructive option, some quartz countertops are designed to mimic the look and feel of concrete without the drawbacks.