“ I don't believe in trends...they are designed to make people feel bad about what they don't have.” ~ Nate Berkus

From the Washington Post Home Front w/ Jura Koncius June 11, 2015

I wholeheartedly agree.  Unless you are in a position to throw away everything and start over every five years to be “on trend,” it is risky, and ultimately foolish to blindly follow trends.  If you absolutely really love something, it shouldn’t matter if it is in or out.  Buy what brings you joy.  That said, it is easy to tire of trends because they seem to run in extremes…extreme shapes (oversized overstuffed sofas, teensy or skinny glass subway tiles), or extreme colors (ahem. harvest gold toilets and refrigerators). For classics with staying power Elsie de Wolfe’s mantra of suitability is always a good yardstick!

Here are some trends I wouldn’t mind saying goodbye to this year

Ubiquitous Barn Doors

Barn doors seem to be multiplying like rabbits and they are used everywhere …and in decidedly NOT farmhouse type spaces.  Barn doors in casual, rustic, farm-style spaces? Sure. The Atlanta guest house below is a beautiful example of an excellent use of barn doors (other than on a barn!)

But in every suburban builder home and renovation? Please just stop. Barn doors save floor space, sure…though they do gobble up wall space.  They are basically a pocket door without the pocket.  And IMO they don’t belong on EVERY laundry room, pantry, and TV component cabinet and generally look out of place. These will look like a dated trend in short order. And I would add, the same goes for pretty much every trite farmhouse chic addition to homes that are most definitely NOT anywhere close to a farm.

 Grommet Curtains

I know I may be in the minority here, but  I’ve never been a fan. They have been at lower end retailers for a while now which is usually the last stop on the way out.  I know they save you having to buy rings, but those big gaping holes scream Marriott Suites “shower curtain” to me.  And it is rare to find a high-end classic, custom room with grommet curtains.  So if you are going for a luxury-for-less look, these are not the best way to do it.  Choose simple panels and attach them to rings instead.

Pallet Walls

Pallet walls, pallet furniture (pallet art, cute fake weathered pallet signs..)...I’m all for recycling and upcycling, but really?  It’s certainly appropriate to a rustic, cabin-in-the-woods look and great for those who don’t mind removing the occasional splinter, but a suburban colonial is not a rustic farmhouse, no matter how many recycled pieces of scrap wood you stick on it!.  Pallet with caution.

 Painting Every Room Gray

Gray is a perfectly lovely color, and often an excellent and classic choice as there are many different shades, but it’s not the only color available and should not be the default for Every. Single. Room.  PSA: not every room looks best dressed in gray. Please, there’s a whole world of pretty colors out there!

 Tile that looks like wood. 

While wood-look tile can be an interesting addition for a cottage bathroom or a beach house floor, its best incarnation is in a rustic look and in a fairly small space.  The ones that are trying to look like classic hardwoods are pretty far off the mark.  Classic hardwood has random natural graining and is laid in varied lengths up to 8’ long with tongue and groove joints.  Wood-look tiles come in 4’ or shorter lengths, are printed in a limited number of pattern variations, and are set with tile adhesive and grout.  You aren’t fooling anyone.  The grout lines and tile proportions alone are a dead giveaway, so let’s give up the pretense, shall we? If you want faux wood for durability reasons, there are some excellent luxury vinyl plank options available.

Gigantic showers. 

Luxury shower, sure!  Big enough to park a boat?  Kind of unnecessary, not to mention cold.  Especially if there is only one showerhead!  Do I even want to know how many people you were planning to bring in there with you?

 Furry Furniture

While an occasional piece can be fun, in a playful sort of way – at least until someone spills something on it, please keep this to a minimum.  This is unlikely to have staying power.  Maybe opt for a stool or pillow rather than a whole chair or sofa that looks like a very large stray sheepdog got stranded in your room. Although this one shown below in kidassia fur, is admittedly quite glam and can be yours for a mere $12000!

Ditto for extreme fringe…

For tips on decorating on trend without risking dated decor, check out THIS post

 What’s on YOUR list of trends that should die?