Following Decorating Trends

Decorating styles seem to be constantly evolving. So how can you tell the difference between a temporary trend and lasting style?

There was a time when everyone had either brown, orange or harvest gold appliances. They were very stylish at the time--not so much now.

Some may remember when macrame plant holders were all the rage. It might be difficult to find one now. (Not that you'd particularly want to.)

The following trends in decorating are quite popular now. Which ones have you embraced? And which have you avoided?

(Board and Batten)

There are a lot of pretty things going on in this room but the board and batten is the moulding style on the wall behind the sofa. There are so many variations of this style that lends itself to a look that's timeless.

(Chevron Pattern)

This zig zag pattern is showing up on floors, walls, furniture, clothing and home decor. It makes a bold statement and isn't for the faint of heart. Best used in smaller doses.

(Gallery Wall)

Gallery walls are hot, hot, hot right now. Grouping a number of pictures together and hanging them on the wall is nothing new. (I remember my mom hanging family photos like that years ago.) This is a trend that will always have staying power since there are unlimited ways to set up and personalize a gallery.

(Gallery Wall with Frames)

The grouping of frames can be like an art sculpture. Especially when the surrounding elements are incorporated into the design. (Like the sculptural bench in the picture above.)

(Antlers)

We're talking of the decorative style of antlers made of a synthetic material. (Not the pair that Uncle Ray has hanging over his fireplace next to the moose head.) There tends to be two camps as far as the antlers are concerned. There is either a great love for them or a great dislike. They are a conversation starter for sure--hang at your own risk!

(Stenciling)

These are not your mother's country stencils of the past with ribbon, ivy and geese patterns. Today's stencils are more of a sophisticated variety and are popular done in an all over design. They can mimic the beauty of wallpaper with the ease of paint.

(Poufs)

They are a roundish, sturdy, floor style pillow. Most are used for purely decorative purposes like to add a punch of color to the room. They tend to be on the pricey side with some being in the upwards neighborhood of $400. (A little too rich for my blood!) They remind me a little of the bean bags of yesteryear.

(White Paint)

Probably the biggest trend we see is people who paint things white. Buy a dresser at Goodwill-paint it white, find a frame at a garage sale-paint it white, buy a table from Craig's List-paint it white. This is one of the easiest trends to follow since all you need is a can of paint to use on items you already own.

So whether your style is trendy or timeless, there are a multitude of ways to beautify and personalize your home. Go with a style or element because you love it, not just because you're chasing a trend or because it's what's hot at the moment. Surround yourself only with people and things that bring you joy.

Happy decorating!

(photo credits: kitchen-Martha Stewart; gold kitchen-uglyhouses.com; macrame-CathyofCalifornia; gallery wall-elizabethannedesigns; all else-pinterest)