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Are you tired of constantly refreshing your home décor to keep up with the latest trends? Do you feel like your carefully curated space looks dated just months after a makeover? You're not alone. There’s trend fatigue out there, a growing weariness of the endless cycle of fleeting design fads coming at us at a thousand millionty miles an hour in their droves. In the fashion world. The wellness world. Interior design. Even the spiritual world.
2018’s screeching Ultra Violet (PTSD from that one!). Millennial Pink. The Unexpected Red Theory. Upholstered walls. Microscopic luxury bags you can’t even fit a phone into. Eyebrow culture. ASMR. Korean Mukbangers. Upholstered walls. Mesh flats and see-through plastic shoes ( Which will age like milk!).
This blog post explores the concept of timeless design and enduring style as a refreshing antidote, shining a light on ways to create a beautifully balanced and personal contemporary home with lasting appeal. And yes, giving one or two appropriate trends house room, too.
Trends, fads, fashions, megatrends, timeless looks. A quick glossary of terms before we begin.
A trend is a general direction or style that gains popularity over time. Popular trends can last for several seasons, sometimes several years, and can influence various aspects of design, culture and behaviour. A megatrend is one that hooks into the zeitgeist and endures. It is a broad, long-term shift in societal values, behaviours or technologies that has a profound impact on various aspects of life. A megatrend can last for decades or even centuries like Biophilic Design, Digitalisation, Urbanisation.
A fad is a flash in the pan: a short-lived, fleeting phenomenon that quickly gains, and then loses, popularity. Pet rocks, neon-coloured clothing, mesh flats, 2018’s passion for Ultra Violet... fads. Fashion refers to the prevailing styles and tastes of a particular era or season. Fashion is often associated with clothing, but applies to interior design, architecture and most creative fields. Bell-bottom jeans and Art Deco architecture fit in here. A timeless look is a design aesthetic that remains relevant and appealing across generations, unaffected by fleeting fads or passing trends.
Traditional craftsmanship, the little black dress, minimalist architecture fit in here.
Let’s put them into context for you here:
An example of a trend: Industrial chic décor was popular for several years.
An example of a fad: Mason jar chandeliers were briefly popular, then quickly lost altitude.
An example of a fashion: Mid-century modern furniture was the prevailing style of that particular era.
An example of a megatrend: Sustainability is a long-term shift in societal behaviour and values.
An example of a timeless look: Classic, simple and well-crafted wooden furniture, for example, the Farmhouse Kitchen Table, remains appealing across the generations.
So. What is Trend Fatigue?
Trend fatigue is the feeling of exhaustion and frustration that arises from constantly chasing the latest interior fads, fashions and design trends. It's the sense that your home is never quite "finished" because the goalposts keep moving. This cycle of buying, discarding when the novelty wears off, and redecorating can be expensive, unsustainable, and ultimately unsatisfying. We see a trend explode on social media, in magazines, and in stores, and – whether it has relevancy in our lives and home aesthetic or not – we invest, and then, seemingly overnight, it's replaced by something new. This excessive, conspicuous consumption and constant churn leaves many feeling overwhelmed and disillusioned with the whole concept of interior design. It’s hard. But it doesn’t have to be.
What is Timeless Design?
Timeless design, on the other hand, focuses on creating spaces that transcend fleeting trends. It's about incorporating enduring principles of design that remain stylish and functional for years to come. Think classic architectural details, quality craftsmanship, and a focus on comfort, durability, functionality and liveability. Timeless design isn't about avoiding all trends, but rather about selectively incorporating elements that complement a core foundation of enduring style. It prioritizes quality over quantity, investing in pieces that will stand the test of time, both aesthetically and functionally.
Design Hacks for a Timeless Home (with a touch of trend):
The watchword is “curation”. And here are some actionable tips to help you curate a timeless home that reflects your personal style:
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Cleverly Blending Trends with Timeless Looks: Don't be afraid to incorporate current trends, but do so strategically. Instead of investing in a trendy sofa that might look dated in a year, consider adding a pop of trend through easily replaceable accessories like cushions, throws, or artwork. This allows you to refresh your space without a complete overhaul. For example, if the current trend is bold geometric patterns, incorporate it through a rug or a set of decorative pillows, pairing them with a classic, neutral sofa. (And yes, you can indulge your need for bouclé here!) Our current favourite trend blender is to take an absolute classic: a white bevelled Subway Tile like our Metro Blanco Biselado Gloss Glazed Ceramic Wall Tile 100x200mm, and give it a trendy twist by adding a contrasting grout colour, or laying it in a modern way. Herringbone, basketweave or a vertical stack are very popular installation patterns right now... all of which are ages old, and make regular happy returns to the trend lists.
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Authenticity. Personal Resonance is Key: Your home should be a true reflection of you, not the pages of a magazine. Focus on creating a space that resonates with your personal style and values. Authenticity rather than insincerity. Think about the colours, textures, and patterns that you love and that make you feel comfortable and happy. Incorporate items that have sentimental value or tell a story about your life. This personal touch will ensure that your home feels authentic and unique, regardless of current trends. As House Beautiful often emphasises, a home should tell your story.
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Functionality and Practicality First: A beautiful home is only successful if it's also functional. Prioritise practicality and consider how you actually live in your space. Choose furniture and décor that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also durable and easy to maintain. Think about the flow of your home and how you use each room. A well-designed space should make your life easier, not more complicated.
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Invest in Quality: Favour well-made, well-built and durable elements. Investing in quality pieces that will last for years is a cornerstone of timeless design that also promises an attractive ROI when the time comes to sell. Choose furniture and décor made from high-quality materials that can withstand everyday wear and tear. This approach is more sustainable in the long run, both environmentally and financially. And it is the Italtile Way.
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Sustainability: When designing your living spaces, incorporating sustainable elements is crucial not only for reducing your environmental footprint, but also for developing your own individual timeless aesthetic that promotes well-being and harmony in the long term. By choosing eco-centric materials, energy-efficient and water-saving solutions, and responsibly sourced products, you can craft a beautiful and enduring sanctuary that benefits both you and the planet. This is our LiveGreen ethos.
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Diversity: Here’s where you can get smart with the inclusion of appropriate trends into your moodboard elements: varied textures, patterns, a variety of styles. This diversity adds depth, visual interest and personality to a space that will reflect your unique experiences, culture and perspectives.
By focusing on these principles – all of which we endorse, btw – you can create a home that is not only beautiful and stylish but also timeless and personal. Say goodbye to the stress of keeping up with fads and fashions and the more fleeting trends... and embrace a design approach that celebrates enduring style and individuality.
When a trend becomes a lasting look. The rather wonderful thing about life is that certain times throw up opportunities for new ideas to develop into mainstream movements. Three interior trends that flew in because of circumstances, stayed... and settled into noble aesthetic considerations are:
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Biophilic Design: The wellbeing movement which crept in during the dark years of COVID-19 and answered our longing for connection with nature when we were kept inside through lockdown... and became a megatrend and way of life.
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The Home Office: Another COVID phenomenon where work-from-home became the norm... and is now a practical feature of today’s hybrid and remote working situation.
Italtile’s signature style is timeless and enduring. Italtile’s timeless style includes the evergreens – our exclusive stone-look tiles, wood-look tiles, cement-look tiles, subway tiles, kitkats. Embossed and patterned tiles for textural and colour accents. Mosaic tiles. Our exclusive LAUFEN, Cotto and Betta sanitaryware, along with our own DIVINA brand, all offer both traditional and sleek contemporary silhouettes. Our imported bathroom furniture collections reflect contemporary trends that are destined to become future classics. Our beautifully practical, sturdily built waterwise tap ranges are designed to suit both your style and your pocket. The watchwords of Italtile’s kin d of curation are sustainability, authenticity, quality over quantity, diversity.
Every piece of Italtile style is an example of timeless, luxurious design, backed by iron-clad guarantees, warranties and nationwide service.
A timeless design is evergreen. Forever fashionable. Always relevant. Pure, unfussy lines, design simplicity and sleek silhouettes that are a joy to behold – this holds true, whether you’re looking to refresh your traditional, transitional, classic, mid-century modern, urban, industrial, modernist or rural mood board.
Of course, careful and considered curation is the key. It’s never just a random assembly. That’s where we come in, armed with over 50 years of experience. We’re here, instore and online, with design-certified sales consultants who are ready, willing and able to help you navigate the interior design world. Let’s help you steer clear of poorly considered choices that bring a soulless design insincerity to your space. Point you in the direction of elements that resonate with your personality and individual style to create an authentic home. Adopt only the trends that add meaningful value to your spaces. Layer up an inviting space that tells your story, where your loved ones feel welcome, feel embraced, want to sit and stay. (Rather than rooms oversaturated with faddy bits that blare their discordant messages like a radio slightly off station.)
The late, great Gianni Versace left us with these inspirational words, the perfect “amen” to our timeless design epistle:
“Don’t be into trends. Don’t make fashion own you, but decide what you are.”
Now go out and curate an authentically beautiful home filled with evergreen style that sings the hymn of your shining sovereign soul.
Ciao.
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