Current trends are talked about all the time. There are a few people out there who despise anything trendy and just do what they want to do. Most people, however, go all out for current trends, even if they don’t realize it.
When we were house hunting a few years ago, I cringed when we walked into houses with stainless steel appliances and granite counters. Not because they are ugly–both of those are just fine, but 90% of the houses we looked at had them (the only ones that didn’t were the houses that needed complete remodels). And why did they all have stainless and granite? Because it was the only thing that would look good in a kitchen right? If you don’t have those, you’re probably just poor or have terrible taste.
We have white appliances, because they are more our style. I laughed after we purchased them and heard someone say “Ugh, white appliances are SO dated.”
Then last year, it was announced that stainless steel is no longer in fashion, and appliance companies are focusing on black and white again. So, in a couple years, when the new trends trickle down, people will sneer at stainless and say “Ew, that is so 2010.”
I am NOT one of those people who hate trends though. I am also not (necessarily) one of the people that say you should only use trends in disposable pieces like throw pillows. I think trends are good; they keep things fresh and ensure variety. Rather, they can ensure variety.
My problem with trends, though, is over use. In my opinion, the only reason anything looks dated is because it was all we saw for 10 years and we just can’t stand it anymore. Like silver tones, a few years ago, we finally got so sick of them that gold and brass tones are back, and (once again) silver is dated and ugly. And our attention span is getting even shorter…how long did chevron everything last? Before that it was damask. And the 4 woodland creatures we rotated through in 12 months?
Did you ever notice how we can look back and appreciate art deco, or mid century modern, but anything from the last 20 years, we think is ugly? The 80s were hideous! Until we started liking neon and color blocking again, that is. Now the 90s are hideous!
If something is beautiful now, it should be beautiful forever. What do you think?
sarah
February 6, 2014 at 11:15 amWhat a great, insightful post! It’s funny how fickle we can be when it comes to trends. We’re always looking for something fresh, and that usually mean the “anti” of whatever trend we are in at the moment. It also seems that our appreciation for decor largely occurs in hindsight and with a certain amount of distance. I think that’s why we are so drawn to art or midcentury decor. I find that the way we remember these style, though, is never quite the same as when we were living in them. I lived through the 80’s and our interpretation of it feels different. It’s more nostalgic, and I think that’s partly what draws people to it. I’m starting to notice people reinterpreting the 90’s, and have heard it referred to as the decade of minimalism. I’m kind of excited to see how we reinterpret the early 2000’s.
Christina
February 10, 2014 at 9:13 amThanks, Sarah! It’s true that each style comes back a little different, and that’s what makes it fun. It’s nice to see old styles blended with new ones to form a new style. It’s just a shame that we seem to overdose on them to the point we don’t want to see it again until the next decade or two. 🙂
Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouse
February 7, 2014 at 3:48 amI agree with you! But it’s sometimes very difficult not to be trendy. I’m trying to find an oven for my kitchen remodel. I know my readers will be disappointed, but I don’t want stainless steel, I want it to be white! Well, no white oven in any of the stores I went to or they are really crappy cheap quality! I think I found one that will be ok yesterday afternoon, but I have to order it without seeing it as no store shows it in white!
Christina
February 10, 2014 at 9:08 amWow, you can’t even find one in stores? That’s a shame.
Quality readers won’t be disappointed. Besides, stainless would stand out like a sore thumb in your little white cottage!
Leena
February 7, 2014 at 4:53 amI’m so with you on this, but I admit that I’m influenced by trends, luckily I cannot afford to redecorate every year so our home is not up to the trend 🙂
Here for a few years it’s been a trend to have integrated appliances in kitchens, they do look good but I do not think kitchens should be renovated more often than every 20 to 30 years and modern appliances wont last that long. How are those integrated appliances changed in ten years? Also the high gloss kitchen trend was here just last year and now already it’s not so hip anymore. In bigger renovations following the trend can be dangerous. None the less I do not know what decicions I would make if we would renovate the kitchen or bathroom, would I follow trends unconsciously?
What are the 4 woodland creatures? 😀
Christina
February 10, 2014 at 9:05 amGood point about the integrated appliances. Personally, I wouldn’t mind doing a big remodel according to a current trend, as long as we felt the design was sensible and would one day represent the era. If it’s truly beautiful and well designed, it should be that way forever, whether other people are sick of it for the next 10 years or not.
The animals were birds, deer, owls then foxes. And I wanted them all, but didn’t buy a single one because they just wouldn’t have matched our house. 🙂
Thalita @ The Learner Observer
February 11, 2014 at 4:36 pmI totally agree with what you’re saying! I have a chevron rug – I have always loved the pattern – but after the great chevron uprising, I felt like I couldn’t look at my own rug anymore! It’s still a great pattern and I love the colours, but I’ll wait a little while longer before I put that rug out again… I also have white appliances and when we bought our house in 2012 I was SO happy we weren’t going to have stainless steel! It’s actually not as practical as white. Go figure!
Christina
February 12, 2014 at 10:05 amGlad you didn’t get rid of your rug–it is a great pattern. Would have done the same thing!