Trends, they happen every year… so we better understand them. As a decorating and/or staging professional, it is critical you understand “what’s hot and what’s not.” Our clients are privy to what is trending almost as quickly as you, due to the Internet. As a professional, it is important we read industry publications, attend To-The-Trade Markets, either live or virtually. So now that you are aware, what should you do with this knowledge.
Trends are ever changing. Some are a flash in the pan and others may turn into classics. Their longevity may be impacted by a lack of practicality or cost effectiveness. Just because something is deemed a trend, does not mean it will work well for their lifestyle and budget. As a professional, our job is to assist our clients in making the best decisions for their homes. Your job is to decide what trends are worth keeping and which ones we should bid goodbye. In addition, let’s talk about some ways to update rooms that are deeply entrenched in prior trends.
- All White Kitchens- Say goodbye…they look great on TV and in a magazine but in real life, they can feel a bit sterile. If your client has taken the white kitchen plunge and is feeling a bit bored, consider adding texture and color. Helping with a new project, encourage them to add bold, deep values of green, blue, and plum on islands, stoves, etc.
- Open Shelving – This has never been my favorite as it leads to a lack of storage and is difficult to keep neat. Even when staging, open shelving is a challenge to create style and not appear cluttered. A creative way to use the trend is to have the upper cabinets with narrow set of open shelves which allows you to maintain valuable storage space.
- Farmhouse Extreme – “Sung to the tune of Frozen’s let it show…“Let it Go, let it Go.” Oh, I am not talking about elements like a farmhouse sink or even a touch of shiplap. No, it’s the “Farmhouse” signage on walls, cups, canisters…you know the look. Theme inspired can be a great look, but theme driven can become redundant.
- Say good bye to Barn doors- They offer limited privacy, a lack of light control, and are simply overused.
- Overdone Anything – Shiplap, gray, white kitchen, white subway tile. If a room looks cookie cutter or like the last 6 you saw, it is no longer on trend, but tired.
- Say Hello to Trends with a Twist-Love subway tile, shake it up with opaque subway tile or installing the tile in a unique pattern. Or consider subway tiles new, more sophisticated cousin, Metro Tile, in similar rectangular shapes but in larger sizes like 8 x 20 inches.
- Fake Faux Must Go– Plants, laminate, wallcovering designs, if it doesn’t truly mimic what Mother Nature intended, then it must go. Say goodbye to plants with weird colored leaves or blossoms. Get rid of those fake tulips on the porch in the dead of winter. Don’t try to recreate the look of marble with many of the laminates currently available…they simply aren’t close enough. Consider budget friendlier elements like solid color laminate, butcher block, remnants, and lower end granite. Do not try and make a material something it is not.
Trends are important but most important is the way they are used and blended in a space. Be sure to have a solid understanding of design principles which will help you make smart decisions and create fabulous spaces. Check out our course, Color and Design Principles for Stagers.
Author: Sandra Racz
Sandra Racz operates Signature Redesign LLC and The Decorating and Staging Academy. She has been a professional real estate stager since 2004. Racz, services Scottsdale, AZ and Denver, CO. Sandra’s successful career and happiness in the industry inspired her to help others turn their love for decorating into a business. As the Executive Director of The Decorating and Staging Academy, Sandra also offers training in Color, Home Staging, and Interior Decorating, Seasonal Decorating and Event Planning. Sandra was recently voted One of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Real Estate Staging, by The Real Estate Staging Association® (RESA®). She has won national awards in the categories of Interior Redesign, Interior Decorating and Real Estate Staging. She has been featured in numerous magazines, local newspaper articles and has trained and lectured to thousands of decorating and event professionals. Sandra is a firm believer in giving back to the community by coordinating projects for Habitat for Humanity, the Cancer Society, The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Autism Speaks and serves on several boards. Sandra holds a B.S. in Marketing from Florida State University and a M.B.A. from Troy University. She has held multiple positions in marketing and advertising and taught college-level business classes.