10 trends being used to modernize homes

Following trends can be dangerous in home decor, where rooms are designed to last decades, not months. But while we tread carefully when it comes to decorating with trends in our homes, we can’t deny the fact that it can sometimes be hard to resist the temptation of adding a handmade ceramic piece here or a hanging planter there, especially when that’s what we’re seeing across Instagram and magazines everywhere.

So what’s the secret to decorating with trends? For starters, smaller accents are much easier to infuse into a decor scheme if the rest of the space has a neutral base. As for the larger trends — like the ones that require painting a wall or gut-renovating a kitchen — here’s our advice: Mull it over for a few months and see if you still like it. Or as TV’s Nate Berkus would advise, don’t use any materials you wouldn’t have seen in a 1920s house.

Ahead, we’ve rounded up the top 10 home decor trends of 2017 that are likely to stand the test of time. Agree or disagree? Tell us which of these you’d use in your home.

BEIGE TONES

We’ve called it on a couple of occasions over the past few months, but beige is decidedly on its way to becoming the new gray. Interior designers like Jeremiah Brent have jumped on the trend: creative, beautifully modern spaces in the color that was once synonymous with boring.

TILED KITCHEN ISLANDS

This is a trend we definitely did not see coming, but it’s one we’re definitely on board with, not only for the look but also for the wallet. Tiled kitchen islands will never replace a chic waterfall marble countertop, but it’s cool and cutting-edge. We’re on board.

MONOCHROME SPACES

Retire your brights. It’s all about monochrome spaces in 2017. Muted pastels are taking center stage, with people using the same color scheme not only for walls but also for their trim, ceiling and furniture, creating a beautifully unified look.

HIDDEN RANGE HOODS

This year may have been the year of statement range hoods, but many designers are taking a new “less is more” approach to the ever-evolving issue of unsightly range hoods — they’re building it behind a simple clean and modern gyprock (plasterboard) case to give kitchens a more subdued style. Statement range hoods, on the other hand, are still very much en vogue.

NEW MODERN

In 2017, West Elm has spearheaded a mainstream revival of the new modern style, a clean, minimal aesthetic with curved lines, mixed materials and a whole lot of appeal. “We are entering a new era in design,” Johanna Uurasjarvi, creative director at West Elm, tells MyDomaine. “There is an exciting movement toward new, original forms, architectural and clean shapes with refined and thoughtful details.”

NEW TRADITIONAL

On the other end of the design spectrum, another style as old as time is resurfacing. First spotted on the runways in February, the traditional style has been making its way back into the modern decor vernacular, but in a new and unexpected way. Fringe trim, ginger jars and classic shapes are definitely back with a twist.

HYGGE

After the Marie Kondo frenzy caused an entire generation of decor lovers to throw out most of their belongings, homeowners are now jumping on a new lifestyle philosophy: the Scandinavian hygge movement. Its principle is to create a cozy home filled with soft textures and dim lighting, and to savor a slow way of living with family and friends.

HANDMADE POTTERY

Here’s another trend we didn’t necessarily see coming that has been popping up everywhere: handmade pottery. Often styled in groups or as part of smaller vignettes, beautiful handmade ceramics have been adding an organic edge to rooms everywhere. Stylist Emily Henderson is a fan. She uses handmade ceramics to style anything from bookcases and coffee tables to console tables.

TRANSPARENT FURNITURE

Retailers like ABC Home and Urban Outfitters (among others) have alerted us to this trend: Transparent furniture is back. We’ve seen an array of transparent or colored glass tables pop up in interiors everywhere, and we’re on board with this fun, colorful trend. What’s more, it’s the perfect small-space hack since transparent tables blend in any tiny room without weighing it down or looking bulky.

GREENERY

“Greenery” was Pantone’s Color of the Year, so it’s no surprise it’s a big home decor trend. But people have taken the color green to a whole new level and even embraced using more plants in their homes. Specifically, hanging plants are this year’s comeback kid of the plant world.