Following trends can be dangerous in home décor, where rooms are designed to last decades, not months. But while we tread carefully when it comes to decorating with trends in our homes, we can’t deny the fact that it sometimes can be hard to resist the temptation of adding a handmade ceramic here or a hanging planter there, especially when that’s what we’re seeing across Instagram and in magazines everywhere.
So what’s the secret to decorating with trends? For starters, smaller accents are much easier to infuse into a decor scheme if the rest of the space has a neutral base. As for the larger trends — like the ones that require painting a wall or gut-renovating a kitchen — here’s our advice: mull it over for a few months, and see if you still like it. Or as Nate Berkus would advise, don’t use any materials you wouldn’t have seen in a 1920s home.
Ahead, we’ve rounded up the top 10 home decor trends seen thus far in 2017 which are likely to stand the test of time.
Hygge
After the Marie Kondo frenzy caused an entire generation of decor lovers to throw out most of their belongings, homeowners are now jumping on a new lifestyle philosophy: the Scandinavian hygge movement. Its principle: to create a cosy home filled with soft textures and dim lighting — and to savour a slow way of living with family and friends.
Beige Tones
We’ve called it on a couple of occasions over the past few months, but beige is decidedly on its way to becoming the new grey. Interior designers like Jeremiah Brent have jumped on the trend: creative, beautifully modern spaces in the colour that was once synonymous with boring.
supplied
Handmade pottery is enjoying a resurgence as a room accent.Handmade Pottery
Here’s another trend we didn’t necessarily see coming but that’s been popping up everywhere: handmade pottery. Often styled in groups or as part of smaller vignettes, beautiful handmade ceramics has been adding an organic edge to rooms everywhere. Stylist Emily Henderson is a fan — she uses handmade ceramics to style anything from bookcases to coffee tables and console tables.
Tiled Kitchen Islands
This is a trend we definitely did not see coming, but it’s one we’re definitely on board with, not only for the look but also for the wallet. Tiled kitchen islands will never replace a chic waterfall marble countertop, but it’s cool and cutting-edge. We’re on board.
Monochrome Spaces
Retire your brights. It’s all about monochrome spaces in 2017. Muted pastels are taking centre stage, with people using the same colourway, not only for their walls, but also for their trim, ceiling and furniture, creating a beautifully unified look.
Greenery
"Greenery" was Pantone’s colour of the year, so it’s no surprise it’s a big home décor trend in 2017. But people have taken the colour green to a whole new level and even embraced using more plants in their homes. Specifically, hanging plants are this year’s comeback kid of the plant world.
Hidden range Hoods
This year may have been the year of statement range hoods, but many designers are taking a new "less-is-more" approach to the ever-evolving issue of unsightly range hoods — they’re simply building it behind a simple clean and modern gyprock case to give kitchens a more subdued style. Statement range hoods, on the other hand, are still very much en vogue.
New Modern
In 2017, West Elm has spearheaded a mainstream revival of the new modern style, a clean, minimal esthetic with curved lines, mixed materials and a whole lot of appeal. "We are entering a new era in design," said Johanna Uurasjarvi, creative director at West Elm. "There is an exciting movement toward new, original forms, architectural and clean shapes with refined and thoughtful details."
Transparent furniture blends into any room.
Transparent Furniture
Retailers such as ABC Home and Urban Outfitters (among others) have alerted us to this trend: transparent furniture is back. We’ve seen an array of transparent or coloured glass tables pop up in interiors everywhere — and we’re on board with this fun, colourful trend. What’s more, it’s the perfect small-space solution, since transparent tables blend in any tiny room without weighing it down or looking bulky.
New Traditional
On the other end of the design spectrum, another style as old as time is resurfacing. First spotted on the runways in February, the traditional style has been making its way back into the modern decor vernacular, but in a new and unexpected way. Fringe trim, ginger jars and classic shapes are definitely back with a twist.
— Tribune Media
