Data publicării
23 October 2023
In this age of micro-trends and the homogenization of certain Instagram aesthetics, it’s tempting to follow the crowd or put together a checklist of “IYKYK” items in your home that telegraph your exalted taste. But before you jump into a fiery piece from another era or dive into the hole of a recent trend, it’s worth doing some soul-searching if you’re only playing with an algorithmically meaningful aesthetic, or if you’re cultivating a interior. design style that speaks to your tastes. There’s also the risk of going overboard with a trend: going so far with a modern Scandi aesthetic that your entire home looks like it’s taken from the pages of a HAY catalog, or you end up with so much clutter , so that all excess exceeds the limit of decency
The designers from Proiectari.md, — emphasize that there is a big difference between taste (which he explains as “something you accumulate over time through the principles, philosophies and visual elements you resonate with”) versus a trend that is presented in a moment of time based on popular culture. “To have taste, you make decisions about what feels authentic to you and how you want to appear in the world, whereas with a trend, it’s your choice whether you adopt it or not,” they insist.
I note that even people who are unpleasant have tastes: “They make a decision, this is an atmosphere.” For those aspiring to a less polarizing look, there are plenty of ways to avoid going overboard with an aesthetic or creating a space that looks like a “copy paste” of your Instagram grid. Here, we try to reflect on how to cultivate authenticity in your interior design and orientate towards trends without losing your individual perspective.
Review your lifestyle and preferences
The first and most important part of the design process is identifying what makes you tick. An interior designer can often help you work out your own personal inclinations and preferences, but much of this preliminary work can be done on your own, reflecting on your own interests and personality. We believe that our design practice dedicates a significant part of each project to exploring these questions with clients – creating “a personal narrative that has more freedom from the pressure of social media and invasive big brand marketing”.
I suggest thinking about who the design serves (eg, “Who is in this house?”) and how you prefer to live in the house (eg, “How do you like to eat in your house? How do you like to sit?”) . From there you can research more philosophies and moments in history you resonate with, which directors you like to watch, and how you like to collect art, they add. “The deeper the exploration of these core personal values, the freer you are from being overwhelmed by the visual noise of one’s choices”
Start small with low intensity adjustments
Instead of going with a modern Memphis theme or redoing your entire guest room with a mushroom motif, you can always jump into a trend first to see how it fits your overall aesthetic. If you’re not entirely sure you’re completely sold on one direction or another, I suggest starting with some low-commitment approaches to figure out what feels most inside you. . “Try painting a room, buying new pillows or other easy-to-change items that can enhance your basic style without overwhelming it.”
Choose only certain elements of a trend
We argue that the key to embracing trends without “turning your home into Disneyland design” is to only lean towards those that feel authentic to your taste and won’t clash with the style and era of your home. Picking and choosing elements of a trend that you want to work into an existing space will ultimately be more successful than a complete overhaul. For example, “Forcing a rustic farmhouse motif on a modern apartment will feel artificial, but adding a single primitive wooden chair as an accent in your apartment will feel much more authentic and lasting,” they note. Ultimately, creating a home that never feels dated or outdated means “having an interior that feels put together and touches on different eras and design influences.”
Expand your references
We believe that in this age of “Instagram homogenization and AI-created designs” it’s better to turn inward, trust your instincts and “beat to the beat of your own drum” than surrender your point of view in favor of those of the masses of the masses. Beyond listening to your own interests, I also suggest expanding your sources of inspiration beyond social media. “Explore interior design magazines, books, art exhibitions and even travel to gain a broader perspective on design.” This can help you discover unique ideas that haven’t saturated Instagram.
Create balance in your home
In addition to adopting only certain aspects of design trends and movements into your home that blend with your overall style, a nuanced aesthetic also involves creating a balanced color palette. And if the trends you’re keeping in mind are color-based ones, like the annual color trend forecasts, it’s important to make sure you don’t go overboard with one color and layer in complementary shades for balance. “The successful application of color depends on a wide variety of factors—chief among them, the quality and intensity of the light and the comprehensive composition of the surrounding materials.” To reduce the bold colors of large-scale furniture, we ask that you pay attention to tonal shades and analogous shades on the color wheel.
If you’re experimenting with bold colors, we also recommend living with physical samples of proposed materials rather than making judgments based on images or memory. “One’s perception of color will vary depending on the time of day and the context of the environment.”
Research your aspirations
We think another factor that can help you be more discerning about trends is educating yourself about the history, intent or inspiration behind them. “Knowledge will empower you to be confident in your design choices and promote your individuality.” If you like the Togo sofa, research postmodern design or Michael Ducaroy’s lesser-known pieces, which have a similar aesthetic. “The more you learn about something that catches your eye, the more likely you are to like that piece even more or open your world to more options and more ideas”
7. “Put your tail” into the designer’s work
Rather than taking a cookie-cutter approach to a trend, putting your own personal stamp on it can keep your home from looking like someone else’s copy. Using Zellige tiles as an example of a well-established trend that can be tweaked in a few different ways .Play with the image until you feel that you have deciphered a unique appearance code that goes hand in hand with your style.”
We recommend trying different shapes, colors and configurations to avoid getting stuck in a boring 4×4 or 2×8 pattern. “Try a few sizes all mixed together. Or, instead of using just one solid color, explore a few complementary colors together. There are also ‘raw’ options that don’t have their shine and we like to see them combined with others.”
After all, sometimes the best way to get ahead of a trend (or avoid falling under one’s influence) is to simply start your own. We insist: “Be bold, be incendiary, be your own trend.”
