To Trend or Not to Trend: Finding Your Lancaster Home’s Unique Style

If you had a collection of home decor magazines that stretched back through the last fifty years, it would be easy to spot the trends: things we used to love for our homes–colors, textures, designs, layouts–that now make us grimace or smirk. But look at today’s magazine and you’re likely to think the designs you see are classy, stylish, or modern. Our homes should be a reflection of us–what we like, and what we value. But the trends we see sure look great. How can we strike the balance between trendy and classic, between popular and our own unique style?

Why We Love Trends

From shiplap to wallpaper to color-drenched rooms, home design trends catch the eye. Why are we so drawn to trends? Why do we want to incorporate them into our homes? Simply put: we’re hardwired to do so.

Humans are social creatures. We want to be connected to each other, and when we participate in something popular, we gain a sense of connection to others who are doing the same thing. It’s not that we can’t think for ourselves. It’s that we yearn for connection and sometimes find it in following trends. Think about the little burst of satisfaction you get if you walk into someone’s home and it looks similar to your own. That’s connection.

We also tend to trust others’ decisions over our own. If we see a trend repeatedly, we’re hardwired to assume it’s a good decision. Our hard-working brains tend to want to take shortcuts where they can and would rather follow the group into what seems like a good idea than strike out on our own.

Finally, we tend to follow trends because we know they look good. We see a gorgeous spread in a magazine or a beautiful room in a reel posted by an influencer or Instagram and we admire the skill it took to pull that off. Rather than taking a risk and trusting our own taste and instincts, we go with what we see–we already know we will love the outcome, so the risks are mitigated.

The only problem is that trends don’t last.

Why We Should Approach Trends Carefully

If we design our homes based on what’s trending right now, it won’t be long before the look is dated. Trends in design tend to go out of style in ten years–at the most! Sometimes they only last three to five years. This means that if you want to keep up with the current trends, you will be doing a lot of redecorating.

Another problem we will face is the feeling that our homes are impersonal. They’ll look less like curated and personal spaces and more like showroom displays. Your home may be ready for the pages of a Restoration Hardware catalog but without any personal touches, it will feel cold and sterile, no matter how gorgeous the decor is.

Luckily, there’s a better option. It’s entirely possible to find the perfect balance of classic and trendy, personal and current. 

How to Strike a Balance

You can learn how to blend your personal taste with timeless design elements, finding ways to allow your home to reflect your personality and balance a trendy look with a style that will last.

First, Discover Your Own Style

Your home is your home. It should reflect what you and your family enjoy and value, how you spend your time, and what is important to you. It should show a little of who you are to guests who walk through your door. How do you discover and define your own style?

Start by noticing your likes and dislikes. What colors, textures, patterns, and shapes are you drawn to? One way to do this is by looking at your closet. Often the colors, styles, and patterns we choose to wear also reflect what we enjoy in our homes. Spend some time on Pinterest, with design magazines and books, or on Instagram. Notice what rooms and spaces you like and start a mood board. As you add to it, start looking for themes and patterns to emerge. Do you love light colors, blues, linens, and jute? Or are you drawn to moody spaces full of dark wood and plants? 

Consider your lifestyle and stage of life. Do you relish casual get-togethers and love hosting a crowd? Are you an introvert who wants the home to be a refuge? Do you have young kids and feel like life is a little chaotic at the moment? Do you love hosting elegant dinner parties? What do you value? What does your family value? What do you love to do for fun? How can the design of your home support that?

Sometimes it can help to find one design element and build your style around it. It could be a color palette, a piece of art you love, a quirky piece of furniture, or a photo you found online. Try to analyze what you like about it and use it to help you make design decisions.

Peruse design styles and see if any stand out to you. Remember, it’s generally better to pull elements from a style you like rather than copy the entire thing. Some classic styles include 

• French Country
• Traditional
• Minimal
• Contemporary
• Industrial
• Farmhouse
• Scandinavian
• Bohemian
• Coastal
• Mid-century Modern
• Maximalism 

Finally, pay attention to the architectural style of your home. If it’s a modern farmhouse, it might feel incongruous to use a beachy coastal design scheme inside. Allow your home and your geographical location to speak into your design decisions and your home will feel seamlessly put together.

Second, Incorporate Timeless Elements

Using classic design principles and elements that never go out of style will ensure that your home is beautiful now and twenty years from now. While trends come and go, timeless designs and materials have staying power.

For example, use high-contrast neutral color palettes. Stick to warm or cool whites, beiges, and grays, and accent with black and deep gray. Black and white tiles, rugs, and textiles are always in style. Choose furniture with clean lines and arrange it symmetrically when possible. Avoid overcrowding your space with too much furniture, too much art, or too many things going on. Instead, choose quality over quantity and let your space breathe.

Prioritize elements like wood, marble, and leather. Use classy wide plank wood floors and simple tile patterns. Linen curtains, simple molding, and a mix of old and new furnishings will ensure a beautiful, timeless home.

Finally, Incorporate Trends Cautiously

By all means, if you love a trend, bring it into your home! But do so carefully. You don’t want your home to shout “Trendy!” but to say “Confident and unique.” Be inspired by current trends, take what you like, and leave the rest.

One good way to incorporate trends is by using them to inform non-permanent design elements. A small piece of furniture, an accent wall, a paint color, accessories, and pillows–these are all low-risk ways to bring fashionable designs home because you can easily change them when the trends change. You can have the best of both worlds: a home that gives a nod to style and popular looks while still reflecting your own personality.

Bringing It All Together

When you’re designing or decorating your home, you should feel empowered to make bold choices that are “you.” Don’t be bound by trends, but use the aspects of them that you like, that fit your home, and that reflect your style. Give more weight to your own preferences, lifestyle, and passions than you do to what the magazines show. 

Trust your instincts and don’t be bound by what you think your home should look like. Your home is a place that reflects you and should express your individuality. And remember–this is a learning process. It’s okay to make mistakes and it’s okay to change your mind. If you’re overwhelmed or don’t know where to start, we can help. Our team of professional designers can walk you through your home remodel, discussing what you want your home to look and feel like, and then translate that into a design plan that you will love. Contact us today to get started.