Many people confuse the word trend with the word fad. As a result, many are hesitant to incorporate a trend into their lifestyle for fear that it will look dated in a short period of time — and in return result in a lot of time and money to update it once again.
Lori Duval, of J&L Interiors in Leesburg, says that “as a designer when we say something is trending in interiors, it is an element that we are consistently finding our clients drawn to or interested in incorporating into their design.” In other words, a trend is what many people are spending their money on, and as a result, it’s driving the market in a certain direction.
Market trends last considerably longer than fads, usually between four and 10 years, and tend to cycle in and out of style throughout the industry’s history.
In the interior design industry, lighter woods and natural materials have begun to cycle back into style.
“Lighter woods are trending in today’s interiors because they add warmth without making the space heavy,” says Duval. “Lighter wood tones evoke a feeling of comfort by drawing natural elements into the design. Clients today want their spaces to be beautiful but approachable.”
This makes sense as more people started more time indoors during the pandemic.
“We are seeing lighter woods incorporated in many ways into our interiors,” says Duval. “We are using [them] on our floors, bookcase built-ins, mantles, as well as in our accent furnishing pieces, in our lamps and framing.”
While it’s easy to jump headfirst into this trend, homeowners should proceed with caution.
“By incorporating lighter woods into a space, you are adding a natural element. Don’t overdo the amount you use in the space, as it takes away the impact,” the interior designer says.
When working with these materials, shape also adds an interesting design aspect.
“We love to see an organic shape or a geometric shape for a coffee table in the lighter wood. Structured bookcases and mantles also look striking in the lighter wood palette,” she says.
This trend also reflects what people want to do in their homes, representing a change in lifestyle choices. As Duval mentioned, people want bookcases, fireplaces, and paneling — suggesting homeowners want to live in a more formal spaces now, especially after the pandemic when individual rooms lost their intended purpose as people began to work from home.
“Unfinished wood is best used for areas that you will not be using often,” Duval says. “[Like] a built-in, a mantle, or trim work. You get the beauty of the wood but do not need to worry if it is going to be damaged. My favorite application for unfinished wood is in a bookcase. The structure of the bookcase along with how the wood highlights the items you place on the shelves evokes an emotion of comfort and ease.”
How do you make sure that your use of the trend doesn’t look faddish?
“The key to keeping any design from being dated is to not overdo any one element in the design,” Duval says.
Feature image by Tina Krohn Photography
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