Decorating Trends That Are Out in 2020… or Are They?

If you’re at all involved in the design, color or decorating world, you know just how fast trends come and go.

It feels like just yesterday when shag carpets and popcorn ceilings were all the rage. If you mention those things now, people will shake in their boots!

In order to stay with the times and keep your space looking and feeling updated, you may need to adjust some of the styles to avoid keeping around trends that are no longer, well, trendy. 

That being said, don’t get rid of things for the sake of being “in!” If you like decorating trends that are “out” then keep them! Your home should reflect you, not what the crowds are doing.

But, if you enjoy keeping up with the latest styles, keep reading. I’m going over some trends that are out of style in 2020 along with some suggested changes in the coming year.

All Over Neutrals

Neutrals always have, and always will, have their place in design. However, you might have noticed that much of the 2010s were focused on all over neutrals and minimalism. This created sleek spaces that screamed futuristic cleanliness.

That sense of cleanliness is what keeps neutral colors so popular. They are fresh, easy on the eyes and feel stress-free, all win-win feelings in the design world. But neutrals often are better when they have a color alongside them that completes the picture and offers a little energy!

While neutral colors are not out of style, as a color consultant I’ve noticed there’s now a greater emphasis on using neutral colors alongside bolder color choices, breaking out of the common trends from the past few years and limiting the monochromatic look that has dominated the 2010s. 

As I mentioned in my trends in color for 2020 blog post: 

There’s less of a desire to fit into a mold, which means that people are creating personalized and unique environments that complement their rooms and aesthetics.

If you’re not ready to completely say good-bye to neutrals, consider an accent wall or some bright colored trim to breathe some modern life into your rooms. 

Replacing bedding, pillows, blankets, towels and other decor with color or more textured options is another way to step out of “last season” and into the current one. 

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Looking “Too Perfect”

Speaking of the neutral minimalism of the 2010s, the past few years have also seen a huge amount of decor and styles that aim for “perfection.” 

All white rooms, minimalistic sleekness, sharp lines and rooms with no color at all were common. Think of all those white and grey kitchens and bathrooms you’ve seen over the past few years!

Trends in 2020 are much different. People aren’t afraid to add in imperfect pieces and they aren’t afraid to think outside the box. 

Designers and color experts alike are branching out from what looks “perfect” in lieu of things that feel cozy, homey and more realistic — without overcrowding the space. I suggest adding personal elements to greatly improve your design adding color, texture and gentle reminders of great memories. 

Monochromatic perfection just doesn’t suit everybody, which is why it’s thought to be one of the decorating trends that are out this year. Just look at the younger generations like Gen Z and Millennial color trends: they’re zany and fun, mixing vintage, modern and new aesthetics.

Keep It Real

With the rise of biophilic interior design, the use of true natural products and live greenery can’t be understated. 

As designer Laura Hayslett says, “[Faux plants] may be great initially, but the character of a plant comes from how it organically grows. And faux plants will always remain the same and eventually get dusty.”

But make sure that you have a few real plants around the house to get that natural feeling of growth & change baked right into your design. Also, live plants have a number of physical and mental health benefits that make them far superior to their faux counterparts.

Looking back on what I enjoyed about researching biophilic design, adding natural elements into a space is a trend that I hope is here to stay. Whether you are adding plants, fresh air, lots of daylight or natural colors and woven fabrics, keeping it real is a design direction that is surely here to stay!

Maximalism

Maximalism has been a somewhat reactionary trend to the minimalism of the past decade. From overloading rooms with accessories to covering entire homes with bright & bold wallpaper, patterns and interior paint colors, maximalism is a love it or loathe it type of style. 

In terms of popularity and trendiness, though, maximalism is on its way out. Loading up rooms with things just for the sake of being “maximalist” creates clutter and can make many spaces feel smaller. 

Instead of getting rid of items that might be cluttering your rooms, I would recommend cycling decor in and out, such as art and more seasonally appropriate items. This gives you a chance to constantly refresh your rooms to give them a new and fresh feel without going overboard or making things feel fussy. 

This will also help if you want to adjust color schemes, general aesthetics and styles more easily as you’ll have less “stuff” to deal with overall.

What Do You Think? 

These are just a few of the decorating trends that are out and other trends we hope will stay around… in my opinion, of course! 

Do you have other ideas of what trends are out of style in 2020? Are there trends that are hanging on that you would like to see stick around? I’d love to hear your thoughts on trends that should go, or that you’d love to hang on to!

Let me know in the comments below! You can also contact me for more expert advice, tips and to set up a design consult.