How to Steer Clear of Trends and Develop Your Own Style

A bedroom I designed a decade ago that still feels relevant today. If you decorate with your favorite pieces rather than with things that are trending, your designs will stand the test of time.

Written by Michelle Adams | Photographed by Marta Xochilt Perez and Michelle Adams

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Our editor shares her simple tips for avoiding trends, identifying your own unique style, and confidently sticking to it.

If you’ve taken a look around our site, you’ve likely noticed that the homes and products we feature are fairly timeless. We aim to celebrate the classics and guide readers toward solutions that will last.

As an editor and interior designer, I've seen trends come and go for the past twenty years. I've fallen for some, of course, but with time have learned what I consistently gravitate toward. At this point in my career, I'm easily able to navigate trends so I thought I'd share a few tips. What I've learned is actually quite simple: the use of too many trends in one space dates a home, making it harder to sell in the future without a major overhaul. So, let’s explore what these trends are all about.

Micro vs. Macro Trends 

This is a topic that has fascinated me for several years. Micro trends cycle the fastest and are inherently the most wasteful, if you plan on keeping your home “current.” They’re typically highly specific, such as Moroccan-inspired tiles, the recent Barbiecore craze, or even something as ridiculous as skulls. Remember when skulls were “cool”? (LOL, were they ever cool?) In the mid-2000s, they were everywhere, from bedazzled pillows to embroidered blazers to printed bedding, and now—thankfully—we don’t really see them in fashion except during Halloween. All of that skull merchandise is now likely either in a landfill or in the back of our closets, where last year’s Barbiecore paraphernalia will soon follow. You’ll find micro trends in “What’s Hot” style editorials, and in the equivalent of design obituaries—the “What’s NOT” roundups. 

Current micro trends are often harder for us to recognize (or accept) than already-dated micro trends. Take, for instance, a 90’s home that feels dated. It likely has many of the hallmarks of 90s design: pastels, wallpaper borders, diagonal whirlpool tubs, maple cabinets, vertical blinds, wall-to-wall carpet, yellow-toned wood flooring, heavy floral prints, and so on. Today, a house might get away with having a couple of these features without feeling dated, but collectively the look is decidedly 90s. The same will inevitably prove true of the micro trends of today.  So, while it might now feel very fresh and modern to choose lots of popular design features like terrazzo, curvy furnishings, fluted surfaces, herringbone floors, marble waterfall islands and marble backsplashes, metal doors, shiplap walls, etc., that look, when taken together, has a timestamp on it. 

It’s important to note that, occasionally, timeless pieces temporarily become micro trends. Remember when everyone seemed to have a Moroccan rug, or when Suzani textiles covered the foot of every stylish person’s bed? And today, notice the abundance of landscape tapestries that we’re seeing in influencers' homes and on catalog covers? Unlike trends like Barbiecore, these pieces actually are timeless, so if you’ve always loved them and plan on proudly keeping them once their popularity fades, they can be safe investments. Whenever possible, I recommend purchasing these classic items from vintage and antique stores or sourcing authentic versions, such as a Berber rug woven in the Atlas mountains of Morocco rather than one that’s been mass-produced in China. The quality will surely be higher, and you’ll help keep traditional crafts alive.

Macro trends, on the other hand, are informed by society and what’s happening in the world around us. Climate change, the Covid era, political stress—all of these factors are currently informing the macro trends that we see playing out in many forms, such as escapism, minimalism, the neutral soothing palettes that have dominated interiors for the past several years, a focus on wellness, and so on. Macro trends tend to have longer life cycles since they’re driven by something more substantial and less fleeting than passing whims. 

So how do you go about determining what is trendy and, more importantly, what you actually personally love? Here’s a few tips.

Michelle’s Tips For Trend-Free Living:

Do a quick Google search for top design trends of the year

You’ll likely stumble upon lists of what’s “in” and what’s “out” (which frankly is an editorial practice that I wish would be abandoned). These features are chock-full of micro trends, ranging from popular paint colors to of-the-moment tiles, and they help drive consumption and waste. 

Identify a home that you’ve loved for at least ten years, or a place where you’ve always felt at ease

It can be from a movie or book, or it could be a house you visited growing up, a friend’s place, a feature you tore out of a magazine and held onto, etc. Think about the home’s palette, material choices, layout, scent, sightlines, light levels, general character, and so on. Chances are that that home has a lot of timeless design elements, and chances are you’ll still like it ten years from now.

Spend a day at the library or in a great local bookstore flipping through design books from different regions of the world

You might discover that Irish Georgian interiors are, in fact, exactly what you've been imagining, or that white-washed Scandinavian homes make your heart pound, or maybe you'll discover that you're drawn to the baroque opulence of Lisbon! There is no “right” way to decorate, so do some exploring to find what truly resonates with you. It will help you make more thoughtful purchases when it comes time to design your home. 

Study the Interiors of Iconic Films

When an old movie still looks and feels fresh today, you can rest assured that the set designers and stylists knew a thing or two about timeless design. I recently discovered this site that made me smile and kept me awake till the wee hours of the morning analyzing classic interiors from TV shows and movies. Since I love coastal style, I enjoyed studying this and this. (There’s a lot of ads within the content so be sure to keep scrolling down.)

When researching your own personal style, beware of taking too much inspiration from a retailer’s catalog

I occasionally have friends and design clients text me photos of a catalog spread with notes proclaiming “this is my style!” The problem is that catalogs are created by marketing experts and are designed to make customers want everything in them. Sure, some catalogs contain timeless looks, but the majority are filled with the current season’s hottest trends, which is why they feel so fresh and alluring. Use them merely as a jumping-off point, or as tools to find key pieces you’re hunting for. 

Likewise, be aware of Pinterest 

It will often serve up very trendy interiors. Pinterest is a phenomenal design resource that I use daily, but it's important to recognize that when you begin to see the same looks over and over again, they are, in fact, trending. 

Tune out the trends and build a foundation of your favorite pieces

Regardless of whether you’re in your “forever home” or in a rental that you plan on leaving soon, there will always be a spot for something you genuinely love.

Stick to your gut

If you’ve always loved something, carry on loving it regardless of whether or not it’s in style.

Nothing beats a classic. I fell in love with this home the minute I entered it.

A guest room I designed in 2018. Juxtaposing styles and eras helps a space feel timeless and interesting.