Home Design Trends to Think Twice About

Visiting a builder’s design studio is perhaps one of the most exciting parts of buying a new home: You’ve envisioned what your new home will look like, and you’re ready to bring that dream to life. But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is logical decision-making, encouraging you to think through these selections carefully so you’re not stuck with designs that you come to hate in a few years.

It can be easy to get caught up in design trends and the idea of keeping up with the Joneses, but not all popular ideas are good ones. Here are some fads that should be entirely avoided – or at least tackled very, very carefully.

Color Trends

Wondering what color to paint your living room? How different should the dining room look? Should the kids really be allowed to pick their own color schemes?

Here’s our take:

Millennial Pink

As a millennial myself, I feel like I have to defend millennial pink any time it’s mentioned. But honestly, the color quickly became outdated. People have been going bolder and bolder with color choices, and the soft tone can’t keep up. If you’re still infatuated, think about furniture and décor in this color, but avoid painting all the walls in your room this shade. That way, when the fad fades for good, you aren’t stuck repainting an entire room (or two).

All Black, All the Time

On the flipside, although black continues to be a color trend, it shouldn’t dominate your entire aesthetic. We’ve been moving closer and closer to light and airy spaces, and black can feel stuffy if not done correctly. Either commit yourself entirely to the Addams’ look – Morticia Addams is a fashion icon that deserves our respect – or keep it where you’ve always kept it: On frames, TV stands, and a couple of throw pillows.

Find the Balance

Let’s be honest: Colors go in and out of style fairly rapidly, and it can be difficult to keep up. Neutrals – whites, blacks, and greys – will continue to be in style, but as brighter colors continue to make a comeback, we’ll be seeing more and more incorporated into design choices. Your job will be to find a balance: If you have a cobalt blue couch, you might be able to get away with a black statement wall. Want to bring some green to the kitchen without everything looking like a bowl of lime Jello? Pair it with a white backsplash, or wood furniture.

The trends all lean toward warm and welcoming, so as long as you don’t go too extreme in one direction or another, you should be okay.

Materials

Gold accents, cement countertops, tile flooring … oh my! There are a lot of materials your builder can offer you for every little aspect of every single room. Here’s some guidance:

The Hunting Lodge Look

Let us be clear: We’re not telling you to avoid wood altogether. In fact, it does a lot to add sophistication and raise the overall visual effect of almost any space. What we’re telling you is that unless you’re building a log cabin, don’t go too heavy on wood décor. A table? Sure! Wall paneling? Not so much. You’ll see a lot of people praising finished wood in any and all forms, but proceed with caution.

Going Overboard on Metals

The industrial look continues to be maintain its aesthetic appeal. At the same time, every designer everywhere is talking about bronze and gold accents. The problem here can occur if you’re undecided on which metals you’ll be using – or you choose metals that send contradicting vibes – and your home looks like a collage of the periodic table.

Want the industrial look? The black stair railing is probably not going to go well with your antique chandelier in the entryway. Embrace it instead by pairing that stairwell with concrete countertops and a bit of exposed brick; being consistent with your metal choices is going to go a long way to visually enhance your space.

Florals

In general, florals and flower motifs are going to continue to be popular. But they are also showing up in a few specific ways that we think warrants a bit more conversation.

Wallpaper

This trend that predates modernism is making a comeback, and for good reason: It’s an easy way to add a touch of color or texture to any space. But depending on your age or tastes, you could be thinking of damask; trust us when we say that no one is talking about bringing damask back.

Instead, go for an accent wall with large flower designs. Having just one wallpapered wall means it’s easier to remove down the line if you change your mind, and will also focus a guest’s gaze when they enter the room.

Becoming BFFs with Mother Nature

If you’ve been paying attention to trends, you’ve probably noticed a strong obsession with reconnecting with nature. We think it’s great! Air purification, increased tranquility, and the increased sunlight that will be required to keep plants alive are only a short sample of the benefits we’ve seen come from this trend.

But being a plant parent can be a slippery slope: It’s easy to bite off more than you can chew. If you don’t already have a green thumb, asking your builder create a several-acre garden-scape is not a great idea. Instead, acquire a few hardy succulents and some easy-to-maintain shrubbery for the front yard and call it a day.

Designing your new home is an exciting process, but don’t get so wrapped up that your dream home turns into a nightmare in a few years’ time. Ready to find your new home? Head over to NewHomeSource for listings all across the country, and follow us on social media for more design inspiration!