How to use home decor trends – interior experts reveal how to be inspired by trends while staying true to your own style
‘The reason trends are so powerful is that they get us thinking’
Very often when I speak to interior pros and ask them about trends, their response is that they don’t follow (or really care) about trends. In recent years, trends have developed something of a bad rep, especially since individualistic homes that reflect your personality and interests has been (ironically) one of the biggest trends. But there are other interior experts that still believe trends have good things to offer – as long as you know how to use them.
When it comes to home decor trends, there’s a middle ground between condemning them altogether and following them to the point of your home becoming something of a fashion victim. And it’s this middle ground that’s the sweet spot which allows you to take inspiration from the trends while staying true to your personal likes and your style.
‘The word trend always seems to carry quite a negative connotation, and I think that's such a shame,’ says Tash Bradley, director of interior design at Lick. ‘The reason trends are so powerful is that they get us thinking.’
Jo Lane, founder of online interior design service See Your Place, continues, ‘It can be really easy to get stuck in a rut, stick to your tried and tested interior style, and dismiss interior trends as faddy and fleeting. But I think new trends can be really inspiring and help you to think about your own space differently.’
How to use trends like a pro
The best thing about trends, whether it’s a colour trend or a new feature like a bobbin finish or scalloped trims, is that it shows the style in question in a whole new light.
‘They introduce us to colours, materials and ideas that perhaps we hadn't considered before. Perhaps you've suddenly discovered a beautiful burgundy, olive green or butter yellow because designers and brands are showcasing it in clever ways,’ Tash at Lick says.
But rather than adopting every new trend that becomes popular, a better approach is to start by observing how you feel about the new look and whether it actually appeals to you and your style, as well as whether it fits in with your taste.
‘Trends help us work out what we genuinely love and what we don't,’ Tash says and continues using the example of colour trends. ‘Colour is incredibly personal. If you fall in love with a colour that happens to be trending, then that's very different from choosing it simply because everyone else is.’
She shares her trick designed to help you see how you feel about a colour trend, ‘One of my favourite tricks when a colour starts appearing everywhere is to wear it before you decorate with it. Whether that's a jumper, a shirt, a pair of trousers or even an accessory, live with that colour for a little while and see how it makes you feel. I always say to my clients: if you're happy wearing it, you're usually happy living with it.’
And once you’ve decided that you genuinely like a trend, the best way to approach it is by putting your own spin on it. ‘If you want to incorporate new trends into your own interiors, I think the best way is to take them as a starting point, not literally copy and paste,’ Jo at See Your Place advises.
The on-trend pieces I’ve embraced in my home
Not only is this viral bobbin wireless lamp from Addison Ross a trend in its own right, but I also got it in the most on-trend colour - a deep cherry red. But I've always been a big fan of red so I'm wholeheartedly embracing this colour trend.
Soft blues - especially when paired with red - has been another big colour trend. But when going through many of my saved inspiration images (even from years prior) these light blue shades were often present. That's why I felt good about my decision to paint my doors and skirting boards in this Lick blue shade.
Burl wood finish is one of the biggest furniture trends of this and last year. But it's one I'd instantly gravitated towards which is why I decided to use a burl wood-print vinyl wrap on my wardrobe. And I couldn't be happier with the result.
As already mentioned, the colour combination of light blue and deep red has been very on trend. But they're also two of my favourite shades so it's a trend that makes me very happy. As does this bath mat which features the colour combo.
A couple of years ago, wiggly lamps started trending. But I loved the quirky shape and the movement they brought to any space which is why I invested in this ValueLights floor lamp - and I still love it!
Even though stripes are something of a timeless pattern, they're definitely having a major moment right now. And I'm fully embracing this motif through smaller accessories like the aforementioned bath mat or this fruit bowl for my kitchen.
‘Ultimately, the homes that stand the test of time aren't the ones that ignored trends completely. They're the homes that borrowed inspiration from them and then interpreted them in a way that felt personal to the people living there,’ Tash concludes.
