Whether you’re a new home or condo builder/developer, a fellow interior designer, a contractor, or someone who lives in a house or apartment, you’ve likely encountered this classic interior design dilemma: 

To embrace fun new trends in your interior design, or to stay safe with time-tested classics?

I love trends – they can be a lot of fun! But there’s a time and place for trendy choices. Read on for my thoughts on the topic.

When to Embrace Trends & When to Keep It Classic

Trends! 😍 They’re so much fun. They make a space feel fresh, lively and oh-so-current. We love seeing the latest looks on Instagram and Pinterest, jump at the chance to explore design shows, and can’t resist clicking on articles with titles like “The Interior Design Trends You Need to Leave in 2019.”

The way that I incorporate trends into my interior design projects depends on the type of project it is. If my team and I are working on a commercial or retail space, there’s more flexibility to play around with current trends and styles. If we’re designing a home, we tend to limit the use of trendy items to places that are easily updatable in the future, like furniture, paint colours and artwork.

My rule of thumb is: Don’t go too trendy with materials.

I recommend keeping your finishes relatively classic and non-trendy. I’m talking backsplashes, countertops, cabinetry, flooring, etc.

These are big ticket items that are a much bigger deal to update in the future.

Whenever I see a glass backsplash, I can’t help but think “That’s SO ’90s!” Tiled countertops? So ’70s. Tuscan kitchens? So passé. Linoleum flooring? No one wants that anymore! 😬

Have some fun with trendy paint colours (I love Benjamin Moore’s 2020 Colour of the Year, First Light!), trendy furniture, trendy pillows and throws, even trendy dishware. But keep your finishes classical so that you’ll love them for years to come, they won’t feel dated quickly, and they’ll be versatile enough to accommodate the other changes you make throughout your home over the years.

Finishes: Keep Them Classic

Backsplashes

Subway tiles are a classic choice. They’re inexpensive, chic and super versatile.

Countertops

Countertops that won’t go out of style quickly include quartz and granite in neutral colours.

Cabinetry

Shaker style cabinets work well with a variety of designs. Again, stick to neutral colours.

Flooring

You can’t go wrong with a classic choice like hardwood, in either a dark or light colour.

Thanks for reading! What do you think of the trends vs. classics debate in interior design? Comment below or find me on Instagram or Facebook to share your opinion there!