Why you shouldn’t invest big bucks in design trends

TRENDS are amazing, right? But do you really want to invest in them – and should you?

Here are some things to consider before you fork out your hard-earned cash on the latest interior design fad.

Firstly, what’s a style and what’s a trend? It’s important to know the difference between styles and trends before we go any further.

An interior design style covers the overall look and feel of a room (or the entire home).

Coastal, Scandinavian, industrial, Hamptons, bohemian; these are all interior design styles. They’ve been around for an eternity and they each have specific characteristics that make them unique.

An interior design trend is a smaller moment in a space.

It could be a colour, texture, pattern or object. Millennial pink is a trend. Dark floral wallpaper is a trend. Black cabinets in laundries are a trend. Jewel-tone velvet sofas are a trend.

Got it? Awesome. Now that the difference is clear, let’s explore why you shouldn’t invest a lot of money in a trend.

There’s nothing wrong with being hooked on trends and loving the latest fads.

We do it with fashion all the time, so why not bag the latest design trends for your home as well?

What you need to be aware of though, is that trends by their very definition are only around for a short period of time and then they’re gone.

You have to ask yourself if you’re the sort of person who’s cool to keep something in your home that could soon be considered a bit daggy.

If you are; all the power to you. Buy away!

The other thing about trends is that they can tie you to an era. Floral sofas; so ’90s!

Oversized drapes on windows; what an ’80s flashback! When you’re about to invest money in a trend, ask yourself how you’re going to feel about it in 10 years.

The use of marble in kitchens and bathrooms is already considered to be the huge trend of the 2000s.

How will you feel about investing in these permanent fixtures now and what will come of it in a few years time? Will you be eager to replace it – and will you be able to afford it?

Budget is a concern for most of us. We only have a limited amount to spend on our homes.

Knowing that trends come and go in the blink of an eye, you have to be careful about spending a lot of money on larger pieces.

A big velvet sofa in millennial pink fabric, for example, looks awesome. And it’s so on-trend right now. It’ll also set you back a few thousand bucks. Do you have the money to buy a new, more subdued sofa in a few year’s time when millennial pink is considered on-the-nose? It’s worth thinking about before you buy.

The other thing to consider is whether or not you can work the trend into your home easily. So you love large-scale floral wallpaper in dark black and pink tones. So do I. But do you know how to style around it, and do you know how to make it work with your existing decor?

The images of the wallpaper you’re seeing in magazines and in catalogues have been put together professionally by a team of stylists.

Just ensure you have the skills to make it work in your home, otherwise you’ve invested a lot of time and money on a trend that you’ll look at and feel disappointed by.