Lucy Loves: Trends vs. Classic Finishes
Can I tell you something?
I absolutely LOVE design.
You’ve probably gathered that by now…because I talk about and share design-esque content pretty much every day 🤗
I get inspired by my surroundings almost anywhere I go, and my natural instinct is to look at any space and note unique design elements and/or additional touches that could make it that much more special.
Something else I truly love is helping others create a vision for their spaces (work, home, etc) that feels unique, creative, and most importantly - authentic to who they are.
Now, I’ve been “at it” for a while in this world, yet regardless of how easy it is for me to help someone else make design decisions, I’ve recently faced a new conundrum.
My husband and I have made the big decision to build a new home (just a few miles away from our current house). I am SO excited, and getting to dream and plan for a brand new house gives me all the giddy butterfly feelings.
As we will soon move past the “initial layout” stage and take deeper steps into the design of our home, however, I have caught myself feeling somewhat “stuck” between two things: trends and classic finishes.
Trends…like bright pops of color and funky textures.
Classic finishes…like clean, white marble.
My mind gets into a tailspin when I think through deciding what is a pretty permanent choice in different areas of our home.
Do you ever feel this way?
And let’s be honest - the internet (Pinterest, Instagram, etc) don’t hold back on throwing an abundance of design ideas in our face. That’s a great thing, don’t get me wrong…but when you need to be in decision mode like me, it can make it preeeetty darn tricky!
Check out my Pinterest Board for our new build HERE!
Mauve and terra cotta are in my dreams…and the algorithm knows it 🙃
I’m left asking myself - “Do I order pink Italian marble for the shower? Terra cotta tiles for the laundry room floor?” If I’m honest - my answer is YES! They are so beautiful! But another question follows before I’ve even had a chance to move on from the thought: “Are these choices too trendy?”
Feeling “stuck” in this way (no matter what the topic is) can often lead us to decision paralysis…either not taking action at all, or taking such prompt action that we are just doing it to “decide” rather than really making a thoughtful choice.
Today, I want to share with you a bit of my thought process as I navigate this journey. My hope is that in reading this blog, you are encouraged to go through a thought process (comparison, pro/con, whatever you want to name it) of your own so that you can feel confident in the choices you make in design and life in general!
Three topics/questions I’ve intentionally thought through (and journaled about) when comparing Trends vs. Classic Finishes:
Maintenance: How sustainable is this choice? For example, what happens if a pipe bursts and tile cracks…will I be able to easily replace it?
New Trends: What happens when 2025 trends begin to emerge? Will I fall just as in love with those and wish I had gone with more “changeable” options for the trendy elements I incorporate?
History: Can I look back through the years of inspo boards and see things I chose back then and still love? This helps me take the emotion out of it and notice if I really commit to trendier objects or just like them for a short burst of time.
Here’s where I’ve landed on this topic specifically:
I’ll likely end up going with a neutral-colored tile in my primary bath (instead of the pink Italian marble), and I’ll roll with the terra cotta tile in my laundry room. I know a timeless tile is a good, sustainable choice for my primary bath shower – and history shows that I have loved terra cotta tile for a long time! Time to take action on incorporating into a space I will love for years to come. I will also plan to “scratch the itch” of the mauve infatuation by painting the walls in my powder bath this color, which can be easily changed if a new color captures my heart down the road.
Tell me your opinion!!! Would you do this?
Design choices can be nothing short of tricky – but remember, as long as a space feels like YOU, you are doing a great job!
I hope this encourages you to design spaces that inspire you to live the life you dream of ✨
Are you feeling stuck between a few different options? Let me know in the comments below or email me (lucy@lucysinspired.com) and I’ll share my honest opinion!