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There’s no denying stylish home decor exists perfectly well outside the bounds of interior design trends, but there’s something eternally satisfying about succumbing to a trend that instantly renders a space au courant.
In 2016, it was made-for-Ikea minimalism, and this year, many of us fell prey to the allure of millennial pink. But like all trends, what goes up must come down.
In the last year, we’ve seen a stark departure from the sterile minimalism that dominated Pinterest and Instagram feeds in 2016 — and as millennial pink continues to saturate the home decor market, it won’t be long before millennial pink fatigue sets in.
While Scandi-style interiors still inspire, concepts such as Hygge and Wabi Sabi point towards an attitude that embraces the authentic signs of a living presence in the home — subtly mismatched decor, a little bit of mess and touches of asymmetry.
Colour-wise, a newfound appreciation for clay (millennial pink’s low-key counterpart), sage and chalky renditions of brighter hues have taken centerstage.
Here, the decor trends we’re leaving behind in 2018, and what we’re embracing next.
Out: White on white
Minimalism is fine — but white-on-white can make a space feel more like a showroom than a home.
Instead, complement white with indoor plants, bold artworks and plenty of texture.
In: Grey-Blue, Clay and Sage
Image courtesy of Jotun
According to [WGSN](https://www.wgsn.com/blogs/2018-colour-trends-all-eyes-on-walls/|target=”_blank” |rel=”nofollow”) and [Jotun](https://www.jotun.com/me/en/b2c/inspiration/colour-collection-2018/|target=”_blank” |rel=”nofollow”), the trend towards this palette is not particularly surprising — we’re a little bored of minimalism, but not quite ready to paint our walls marigold.
While emerald green had a notable presence in interior mags this year, it was not widely adopted on a commercial level.
Industrial grey-blue, neutral clays, faded terracottas and botanical-inspired pale greens show we’re collectively ready to dip our toes in colour in 2018, albeit slowly.
Out: Millennial Pink
Let’s face it — millennial pink’s downfall has been a long time coming. The colour dominated runway and interior trends heavily in 2016, and still had a notable presence in 2017.
In 2018, its allure will likely start to wane, and it won’t be long before it begins to look dated.
In: Clay
Image courtesy of Jotun
Luckily, for those of you who aren’t quite ready to let go of blush tones, consider clay — millennial pink’s grown-up, neutral counterpart.
It’s understated enough to create monochrome looks without feeling overwhelming, and its neutral quality makes it ideal for pretty much any room in the house.
Out: Sterile Minimalism
Minimalism had a good run — but these days, it can feel a little underwhelming.
While there’s no denying bold minimalism has its place in 2018’s decor catalog, the sterile minimalism that dominated social media in 2016 and early 2017 now seems to lack character — and has a tendency feel contrived.
In: Eclecticism
Photography: Maree Homer
A room that’s been decorated over time, with sentimental pieces and trinkets from travels around the globe or family heirlooms, has a lot more character than a room that appears to have been outfitted after a single afternoon trip to Ikea.
Individualism and authenticity is key here, so forgo the gold pineapples and choose pieces which have meaning to you.
Out: Industrial Overload
Faux finishes, whether it’s shabby chic, imitation marble or faux industrial, are best left behind going forward into 2018.
Faux-Industrial in particular. It has cemented itself as the go-to aesthetic for hipster bars and brunch spots everywhere, and has thus become especially overused and decidedly cliché.
In: Modern Rustic
Photography: Felix Forest
While it may seem like an oxymoron, balancing rustic elements with contemporary pieces is perfect for those after the homely charm of a cabin, who don’t want to delve into full-on kitsch territory.
Here, a freestanding fireplace and vaulted ceiling pair perfectly with minimalist furnishings (namely, mid-century chairs with angled legs), making for a cosy, yet contemporary, space.
The key? Use authentic rustic pieces, nothing faux.
Out: Copper & Marble
Who among us didn’t fall prey to the gold-pineapple-on-the-mantelpiece trend of 2016? You deserve a medal, because we certainly did.
With copper, rose gold and faux marble saturating the market (often in useless, impractical iterations) emerging home trends point towards functional, understated decor that actually serves a purpose. Which brings us to…
In: Storage as decor
Image courtesy of Anthropologie
Storage is an incredibly important facet of every home, and while Marie Kondo may have been onto something when it comes to decluttering, we’re not quite ready to rid ourselves of everything we own just yet.
Instead, consider stylish decor ideas that display your knick-knacks in an aesthetically pleasing manner. After all, although chopped wood and biscuit tins aren’t the most exciting home decor pieces, everything has its place — so why not display it in a stylish manner?
