Everywhere you look there’s a new article telling you what’s “in” and what’s “out.” One week it’s bold wallpaper, the next it’s “absolutely not.” While design trends can be fun to follow, think of them as suggestions, not orders
Case in point: back in the early “ish” 2000s, I went all in on the safari trend. Think burnt reds, chocolate browns, chunky picture frames, animal prints. I even whip-stitched four rugs from Ikea together to make one giant statement rug. I covered a couch in chocolate brown, added a giant crackle-painted 80’s style coffee table and for the finishing touch, bought a massive pot with an exotic plant. (Why a plant? Who knows. I kill them. But it felt right at the time.)
And let’s not forget my other room in the house: Paris chic. I leaned hard into my Eiffel Tower souvenirs, my nana’s custom print, fancy wine glasses, and yes… a healthy dose of “Live, Laugh, Love.” Safari in one room, Paris in the other. Clearly, I was exploring my creativity.
Here’s what I learned: it’s okay to love a trend. It’s okay to mix styles. And it’s more than okay to look back and laugh at the choices we made when we were finding our voice. The key is not to let an article (or a designer, even me!) convince you that what you love isn’t valid.
So, if Tuscan kitchens from the early 2000s make your heart skip a beat, go for it. If you’ve always wanted a moody emerald dining room or a bright coastal living space, do it. Your home should reflect you, not a checklist of trends.
Read design articles for inspiration, but take them with a grain of salt. Pull ideas from everywhere, blend them together, and make it your own. And if you ever feel stuck pulling it all together, I have packages for all budgets and would love to help bring your vision to life.
