Trends: Hot & Not
I see a lot of less-than-ideal designs, as an interior designer. Sometimes the idea is good, but the execution leaves something to be desired. Here are a few trends I wish would go away, and what we should replace them with instead.
NOT: Form Over Function
![2 photos side-by-side. On the left, a blue round glass vessel sink with round faucet that looks like a mushroom pouring into the sink. On the right, a centerset faucet with 2 knobs and a center spigot very close together.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Trends-Hot-and-Not_Vessel-Sink-Centerset-Faucet.jpg)
Chairs you can’t sit in comfortably. Vessel sinks, which are hard to clean and not user-friendly for those who are short, have disabilities, or are seniors. Barn doors that don’t block light, sound, or smells, like a door should. And my personal bugbear, centerset faucets. These are just a few examples of the trends that result when we place art or appearance above the functional use of a space.
HOT: Simple, Good Design
![Photo of a sleek modern wood sideboard with a sliding white front door that reveals a set of 6 simple drawers in multiple colors of blue that start light in color and get darker as you go down. The legs are also simple wood with a metal finish.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Trends-Hot-and-Not_Finn-Juhl-Sideboard-via-Eternity-Modern-580x296.jpg)
Simplicity is not actually simple. It’s the result of hundreds of considered choices along the path of designing a home for the people who will live there. Choosing quality is always in vogue, whether it’s quality materials or quality craftsmanship, so take the time to research, and you won’t be sorry.
NOT: All Matching or All One Style
![Photo of a bedroom suite in all white, distressed finish, country style, with a matching side table, chest of drawers, and bed with headboard and footboard.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Trends-Hot-and-Not_Matching-Bedroom-Suite-via-RoomsToGo-580x290.jpg)
All-white rooms, or any space with all-one color that isn’t layered or textured to provide a sense of rhythm, harmony, and balance. In a similar way, buying a living room or bedroom suite in identical legs, finishes and colors doesn’t guarantee good design, it guarantees boredom, and the same will happen if you use all midcentury modern furniture (even though we love that style, used sparingly!)
HOT: Eclectic Selections
![Photo of an eclectic living room, with white ceiling and trim, light turquoise walls, wood flooring with a white shag rug with brown giraffe-lines, a silver and orange patterned chair in the foreground, a light-colored round wood coffee table in the center of the room, a brown 3-seater sofa with multiple mismatched throw pillows in orange and turquoise, plus a table with two matching lamps behind the sofa.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Trends-Hot-and-Not_Eclectic-Living-Room-via-Decoist-580x385.jpg)
Select pieces individually, to reflect your personal style and taste, and tell the story of your life through your surroundings. It’s important that the shapes and lines and colors still work together, but you don’t have to discover every piece of furniture at the same time. Choosing just the right pieces is part of the fun of designing interiors!
NOT: Toxic Materials
![Photo of a woman sitting on the floor, adding vinyl wall coverings of fake white bricks onto her wall.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Trends-Hot-and-Not_Vinyl-Walls-via-AliExpress.com_.jpg)
We used to design to make things last as long as possible, which is still true to a certain extent, but we’re thinking more holistically now. Reduce man-made unhealthy materials such as vinyl wall coverings, which aren’t good for the environment or for us.
HOT: Earth-friendly Materials
![Photo of natural wool with a few strands of grass caught in the wool.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Trends-Hot-and-Not_Wool-via-Wikipedia.jpg)
Wool, cotton, leather, linen, and even alpaca textiles are all great materials that age beautifully with use, and don’t off-gas – especially important now that we’re spending even more time than ever indoors. Wood, stone, and bamboo all develop a patina that naturally increases with time. When your space becomes more beautiful as you use and enjoy it, you’ll feel even better about investing in your home.
Update your home with Kimball Starr Interior Design! She renovates homes throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Lake Tahoe. Contact her today for a socially-distanced in-person or remote consultation.