Atlanta Homes
HHello, friends! Sorry I’ve been MIA — I had a couple of projects that needed my full attention and time slipped away the last few days.
This time of year brings many design roundups about what’s “in” and what’s “out.” I enjoy reading them; trends are fun to follow, but I’m more interested in which ones truly matter and which won’t. Mostly, I like learning how to create a home you love with confidence, regardless of the latest headlines.
The inspiration photos here are from the 2016 Home for the Holidays Showhouse in Atlanta. Each room was designed by a different designer and these images are featured in Atlanta Homes magazine. I included them because they represent inventive takes on classic style. Even if every room isn’t your favorite, the idea of adding a fresh, inventive touch to a classic foundation is a great approach if you want a home you’ll love for years.
A common worry when decorating or remodeling is avoiding choices that date quickly, while still keeping the house feeling personal and fresh.
Every year you’ll see lists of colors, patterns, and materials deemed “out” — and often the same items show up on both “in” and “out” lists. That contradiction highlights how subjective trends can be. Some colors or materials are said to be “heading out” for years and never truly disappear. Often, it’s just opinion or marketing at work.
When you hear someone say a look is “so overdone,” remember that no one but you and your family lives in your house. If a style makes you happy and suits your home and budget, there’s no need to avoid it just because someone else is tired of it. If a trend will cause you stress or is a major expense you’ll regret, reconsider. But if you love it and it fits your space, mix that trend into your personal style and it will be fine.
Every home is different, so there isn’t one correct way to decorate. You can draw from classic influences and introduce trends to keep things fresh. It’s the combination and placement of elements that determines whether a space feels timeless or dated.
If everything in your home is trendy but not suited to your house’s style, the look will likely feel dated in a few years. Conversely, if your base is classic and you add a few well-chosen trendy pieces, the home will still feel current years from now.
What reads as trendy in one house might feel like a fresh interpretation of classic style in another. Traditional materials, patterns, and colors rotate through popularity but can remain beautiful and appropriate in the right setting long after trendsetters move on.
If you love a look that’s considered trendy but it suits your budget, style, and home, go for it. You’ll enjoy your space more, and that’s what really matters. Aim to design a home you’ll cherish long-term. If you want safer choices, mix elements so rooms don’t feel like time capsules and invest in quality, timeless pieces while experimenting with trends in low-stress ways.
You might skip an expensive trend for budget reasons, and that’s fine. But don’t avoid every trend you love just to be safe — include touches of your personality. It’s your home, after all.
Color often feels trendy or dated, but how you use color matters more than whether it’s currently fashionable. Color is personal; choose hues that inspire you and harmonize with your surroundings.
In small doses, nothing is a major style crisis or worth losing sleep over.
Choose what YOU love and make your home feel like YOUR dream house, no matter what the 2017 trends may be.
Let’s chat in the comments! Tell me how you envision your own dream house!
PS. Thank you so much for the kind responses to my health story. I’ve read them all and appreciate everyone who shared their experiences — I still have a few emails to get to!
“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” – C. S. Lewis
Related Post:
7 Easy Ways to Personalize Your Home (my article on eBay)