Whether you’re renovating your first home or redecorating your well-loved space, tracking the latest interior-design trends can start to feel somewhat intimidating.
The good news is that there are many trends that you can — and perhaps should — confidently let pass you by. For a cheat sheet on which ones may be worth skipping, Business Insider asked Benji Lewis, a UK-based interior designer who has worked in luxury design for over 27 years, what trends and items he stays away from in his own home.
Here’s what he had to say.
Accent walls can leave a room feeling unfinished.
Lewis said he would “generally avoid” accent walls.
Accent walls, especially ones with a small floral pattern or geometric print, can make a space look unfinished or suggest a lack of confidence in your design choice, he said.
If he were to try one, he’d do so “very carefully” and opt for a panoramic wallpaper, which features a scenic mural spanning multiple panels that must be carefully lined up, as an alternative way to make a statement in a space.
These can get expensive, he said, but high-quality ones featuring animals, nature, and fantastical scenes can really elevate a space and look “iconic.”
Lewis wouldn’t have a fully fitted kitchen without a freestanding piece — preferably a vintage one.
Lewis isn’t against a standard, fully fitted kitchen with simple built-in cabinetry and appliances that all use the same finishes and colors.
However, he said, these practical spaces can usually use a bit of personality.
The designer recommends incorporating a piece of furniture that “injects some character and personality into the space” — ideally something antique or mid-century, such as an old French armoire as a pantry or an antique breakfast table as a kitchen island.
“That looks like you’ve given things some real thought,” Lewis said. “It looks creative.”
Open shelving can look messy without proper curation.
The designer said he’s not a fan of open shelving, partly because it requires more thought than just throwing things on a shelf.
Lewis said that people often overlook factors such as lighting, measurements, and the amount of dusting required to make open shelving work in a main living space.
“If you’re going to do open shelving, think about what you’re going to put on it and then design the spacing between the shelves accordingly,” he told BI.
Statement floor lights can be impractical.
Lewis said oversize floor lamps can be difficult to plan around because you must position them just right and carefully map out where the light will ultimately land.
The designer would rather a floor light “be discreet” and not some “big-armed doodad.”
“I’d do a nice, neat little floor light positioned beside an armchair that does a smart, chic little wash of light onto the armchair,” Lewis told BI.
The designer said vintage branded signs have come to feel cliché.
Although industrial style was trending in the 2010s, some of its beloved elements have run their course.
For Lewis, this includes vintage tin signs and advertisements featuring branding from major companies such as Coca-Cola, Morton Salt, and John Deere.
“If you’re wanting that kind of vintage look, then I would choose a movie poster instead, and have it blown up to a decent size [with] a lovely single little spotlight on it,” the designer told BI.
He suggested choosing an iconic old-school movie, like “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”
He also avoids super-kitschy retro statement pieces.
The designer said some retro statement pieces can be more bulky than fun, and make a space feel more like a bachelor pad. Examples include reclaimed slot machines, jukeboxes, arcade games, or other kitschy amusements.
Instead, he might add a “cool” retro vibe to his space in a more subdued, functional way by getting a vintage piece of furniture, like a mid-century sideboard, and placing a nice sound system or record player on top of it.
You won’t find cheesy or “inspirational” wall art in his space.
Signs spelling out words like “love” or “home” or featuring affirmations like “good vibes only” and “live, laugh, laugh” aren’t a trend you’ll see in this designer’s home.
“Why do you need to tell everyone that you’re capable of laughing?” Lewis said. “Just don’t do it.”
He recommends simply forgoing these pieces altogether.
He typically tries to avoid porcelain flooring.
When it comes to flooring, Lewis said porcelain tiling is often the easy, or “lazy,” choice and not one he would make himself — especially when there are so many options out there.
It’s not always the best at absorbing sound, and it can be challenging to replace if a tile cracks.
Instead, Lewis prefers linoleum flooring, especially when laid in all sorts of interesting designs, such as checkerboard patterns.
Beanbags can make a space look messy.
You won’t find beanbags in this designer’s space.
“They just look so messy when they’re not tidied,” Lewis told BI. These chairs can also be awkward to flop into.
There are better ways to add fun seating to a space, if that’s your goal. For example, he said, a “little tub chair” with a high, semi-closed, rounded back is “infinitely nicer.”
The designer replaces recessed ceiling lights with atmospheric lighting.
Recessed ceiling lights, or “can lights,” have been popular in the US for decades; however, Lewis recommends using them sparingly.
“You end up in a room that’s lit like Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport, the designer told BI. The lighting is “useful for finding your pants and socks, but apart from that, it’s just horrible,” he added.
If overhead lighting can’t be avoided, he’ll add dimmer switches. Preferably, though, he’d stick with zoned lighting that can spotlight a piece of art, furniture, or room corners to create atmosphere in a gentler way.
“Use your light to create atmosphere,” he said, adding that you can even hire a lighting planner to help you do so if you’re stumped.
Keep reading other things interior designers say they would (or would never) have in their own space.
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