Yes, please! Let's get rid of the books as props, especially those poor books with their covers ripped off and tied in bundles. How completely stupid is that? And I am very sick of mid-century modernism as well.

I am beginning to be guilty of #2, but at least I can recognize it. No more midcentury pieces are coming into my house. No way. I love what I have, but enough is enough. The only thing keeping my apartment from not looking like a time warp are the white walls and the art. Oh, and the Ikea couch. Who would've thought my Ikea couch would be the saving grace in a room of otherwise relatively expensive furniture ripped out of a DWR catalog. It's honestly getting embarrassing, like I'm just buying the safest pieces I can (which I am) since I figured you couldn't go wrong with a Barcelona chair, etc. I'm trying to be a little more, uh, eclectic and risky in my approach.

Arranging books according to color is one design thing I've never understood.

I also do not like the cow hide on the floor.

I didn't know mid-century modern was a trend. It seems to me that is has been popular, in varying degress, for at least 10 - 15 years. Do trends last that long?

Linnea, another commenter on AT today referred to her knock-off Barcelona as "trendy" so I guess to some it is a trend to some. I consider mid-century pieces to be solidly classic, iconic and safe investments. I think the danger in mid-century is that sometimes your living room ends up looking like the set of Mad Men. You know, the Saarinen table topped by the Aalto vase... (do not, Archdarling, do not bring home that Aalto vase).

I completely agree with all of these. Especially the MCM. So sick of seeing the same room styles! It's basically the same furniture, different space. Nothing unique about mid-century modern these days.

I totally agree about the cowhide rugs - I never understood that one.

Oh, snap! Absolutely in agreement.

I don't think having Mid Century pieces is bad, I think it is when a room has only mid century and looks kitschy or like a set or completely impersonal.

I don't think of Barcelona chairs as mid-century modern archdarling-they are just modern, designed in the 1920's.

OffbeatBoutique - I agree! Arranging books by colour is a HORRIBLE idea! I would never, ever, ever, ever, ever (!) be able to find a book when needed.

Similar to "books for props", I dislike "art for props" -- I'm all for art, and have a large collection, but each piece has a meaning --- some were painted by friends, some are from trips abroad, others are local scenes from where I grew up. Putting up a picture just because "it looks nice" isn't enough.

Cakegirl, you're totally right -- I stand correct!

Err, corrected!

You know a trend is "over" when it's lost all meaning. Anything produced from 1950 - almost 1980 is now "mid century modern" on etsy and craigslist. Anything even remotely ornate is all of a sudden "Hollywood Regency" - yuck. That having been said, I'd be perfectly happy with my home looking like an IKEA catalog exploded, no matter how of the moment their designs are.

And I love Mary McDonald's comment. I can think of a few popular bloggers whose claim to fame is their handiness with a spray paint can.

agreed...
however, i must say that i still (and will probably always) enjoy the skittle colored garage sale junk. it just keeps things young! just a few pieces here and there though, because a little goes a log way.

I'm for the painted furniture. It's still a good way to freshen up and reuse older pieces that aren't in great shape. And some solid painted pieces beat a house full of cheap IKEA (said because I have my share of this).

Not everyone can buy all new quality pieces right away (or ever). DYI isn't so much a trend as a necessity for some (most?) people.

I'm actually OK with arranging books by color; I did it with my cookbooks. I remember what all the books look like, so it has made them easier for me to find, not harder.

"Artwork" with sayings.
Crafting of any sort.

I collect mid-century pieces and have for a very long time time (at least longer than it's been a DWR-fueled trend). I'm more sick of the trend than anyone -- yes, please let it die and leave it to those of us who actually love it despite its being a trend, not because of it.

Oh, and yes please to the death of DIY!

I hesitated when I was obsessed with turquoise - I wanted to high gloss turquoise / aqua everything! That hesitation led to a small, carefully selected collection of cool letterpress artwork,- in mostly aqua/turquoise. In doing so, I must have saved myself from the skittle colored regency trend! WHEW! I did eyeball some of that on Etsy and think: ooooh...just one mirror maybe? And people that "decorate with books as props" instead of "display books they love" are not people I would want to have cocktails with. Humph.

some of us do diy projects and buy things at garage sales because its within budget and we have kids to feed. also, we have a mid century house. kind of makes sense to have a few mid century pieces in a mid century house in my opinion

I beg to differ on the MCM issue......MCM is classic and as "traditional" as chintz and mahogany was during the Reagan years. There's a reason that MCM is so popular; because the lines are clean, purposeful and the scale is perfect for smaller, mainly urban spaces. Not everyone has a baronial palace that can handle the pretentious mc mansion furniture sold at places like Restoration Hardware.

The books as prop thing was a waste to begin with....again, another "trend" perpetrated by RH.

As far as DIY goes, it will always be in style.....not everyone can afford to hire a professional decorator to interpret their dreams. It figures that this list was compiled by decorators assembed by ELLE home....the only magazine that makes Architectural Digest look like a K-mart catalog.

One last thought; if people followed their heart and developed their own style and tastes, these "trends" would be a thing of the past. Fashion is ephemeral.....personal style is everlasting.

What I would really love to see go by the wayside is the "Keep calm and carry on" poster. I notice it in so many of the house tours. At first I thought it was cute, now just uninspired. Also glad to see less MCM. Must all chairs look completely uncomfortable?

Definitely agree with a lot of these, especially the poor quality DIY objects.

I'd like to comment on trends in interior photography ... vastly overexposing photos to give rooms a "light and airy" feel (or to mask various imperfections or details or make them look bigger because you can't see where windows stop and the walls begin) needs to take a breather.

Another thing that needs to stop is applying vintage color effects to photos in order to provide a more appealing context to the room's design. I love Instagram as much as the next guy, but some rooms look best as they were originally shot, not given an artificial patina of sophistication or age or wisdom.

Agree with Mario Buatta, "Everything is done for styling, and nothing has to do with living-- there's no place to have a conversation or set down a drink," I once visited a friend who is into minimalism, most of us were left standing holding our drinks. 'Keep calm and carry on' and all those other silly phrases can definitely be binned.

Absolutely agree. My husband has been saying the same things for months....

@Sassypants200
I just had a conversation about the "keep calm" with my bestie at the store today....So sick of it.

I agree with most these. But the truth is, not everyone can afford Ms Mary McDonald, and skittle colored thrift may be an affordable design substitute. For a lot of people, lavish, excessive design budgets arent available, and most of us watch Million Dollar Decorator in disgust. Style isn't limited to large budgets so bring on the creativity and DIY!

Oh and what really needs to stop is this trend in accessorizing of mounting a bunch of little 4 x 6 pictures ten feet high on a wall just for the sake of having something there. At that point, they may as well be in the attic because no one can see them anyway Ditto for mounting pictures six inches off the floor.

Thank god someone has the sense to reject the non 'style' that is 'mid century modern'.

In addition, another trend that has been taken a bit too far are the words and/or phrases used in various ways. All the lettering on walls, pillows and artwork is so tiresome!

I agree with most except the whole DIY thing. I don't think it is trendy to DIY, I think it is necessary in our current economy. Also think about all the crap we go through and how filled our landfills are. Not consistently buying new, but instead finding a purpose for the old is a very good thing. And people come up with the greatest ideas. It's fantastic to see something completely worn turned fabulous, or a reuse that you wouldn't generally think a use for.

I realize this hurts the average designer but more power to the people I say. It's always good to be able to rely on oneself!

Agree with most of these. I am sick as hell of styled, staged photos. Who cleans their rain boots and then sets them on top of a little table?

Actually I grew up with MCM the first time around and love it for that reason, I inherited some danish tables from my parents and they are still going strong.

I hate when any beautiful classic style becomes 'trendy'. It becomes totally overdone everywhere. Even when MCM was popular, the really well done rooms were ones that would stand the test of time today with a few period specific pieces added. Overdone rooms of any style are like a woman wearing everything in her jewelry box all at once IMO.

And yes, I'll be VERY happy when books are simply books. Shelved with the titles readable and in some order that makes them easily findable without having to remember if it's a white book or a blue book.

Since I can remember what people were furnishing their homes with before midcentury modern came into vogue again, I would call it a trend. Eventually, it is going to have to fall out of favor because it is so ubiquitous right now.

Please dead this list AT. All five if these are way overdone here. I would like to wade through fewer Eames chairs and DIY experiments to get to the good stuff.

Of course designers are sick of DIY because it renders them unnecessary. I am a chronic DIY-er mostly because it's the only way I can afford to have nice things. I'd much rather have to fix up a nice strong old piece of furniture that I'll have for years than buy some piece of IKEA crap that looks nice now but six months down the road...who knows?

DIY is also an indication that people realize we need to take better care of our planet. Upcycling an old piece is generally far more ecologically sound than buying a new one, even those made with recycled goods.

I am so tired of cowhide rugs. I thought the trend might be dying but sadly found I'm wrong.

Mario Buatta is so right. There are blogs and magazines that show these lovely spaces and at first glance they may look great. But upon closer look you see that there's no comfortable seating, no place to relax, no possible way to comfortably watch the tv. Why bother with the tv at all if you're just going to mount it somewhere that "looks" perfect and chic but you have to rearrange the furniture just to watch it.

Not very comfortable to be denied something you like.
Having something you like in your house is a freedom.
Your home, your way.

I too am weary of those stupid, smarmy, treacly words and sayings. I will die happy if I never have to see "Live Laugh Love" or "FAITH" again. I don't want to walk into your home and feel like I'm being preached at. It's like being inside a self-help book.

/rant

I agree with the book thing (books are meant to be read and enjoyed, not damaged and used to collect dust!) and Richard Shapiro, but I think it should also be expanded to not having a monotonous theme whichever style you go for. I am sick of the Belgian style light grey furniture and all the white wash furniture and those industrial style rooms that are so cold and lack any personality.

Amen, amen. Yes, LMIL--I have been thinking that the Belgian look is so prominent it's already over. The "new" industrial, too.
Great design has no tightly-defined look and quality is always wonderful even if it is rehabbed. I just think that decorating well requires such skill (and courage!) that we often fall into the trend trap with blinders on--and copy the copycats' cliches.
.

I don't think theres really anything necessarily wrong about the things listed just that people should do everything in moderation. But that can be said about anything really...

I think... ultimately... surround yourself with what YOU love and never do anything just because someone else says it's "IN" or it's "OUT" because YOU are the one who needs to be comfortable and happy with your space. I do agree, that with ANY trend or style, home design should be a mix of things. Blanketing your space in just ONE style or idea can be boring and lacking in personality. Put yourself in all you do. It really shows and I believe makes your guests more comfortable.

I will agree that just because we CAN DIY everything, it doesn't mean that is ALWAYS the best option. Sometimes it just looks crappy. You have to know when you just don't have the skills to accomplish something, but never be afraid to try to do things yourself.

I have to wonder how many of those persnickety, DIY-hating *decorators* began to realize their dreams by applying their own interpretation to someone else's idea?

They would do well to never forget their humble beginnings lest they awaken from their delusions to discover they have aliened the trendy masses.

just sayin'

*alienated*

what's wrong with choosing art based on simply liking the look of it? that's so silly to say you can only choose art because of a personal connection to it.

i'm tired of the books arranged by color, the "wall words" all over everything, the MCM overload. i don't mind the DIY trend for the most part, though some is definitely better than others (as with everything on the internet).

I like the framed words thing - but only if it is a word/s you love. Hate the Keep Calm thing, Place names on bus rollers, Live Laugh Love, You are my Sunshine, blah blah blah. But a beautiful soliliquey from a Shakespeare play that I love, or a quote that is an in-joke for my family? Those are words I love and will make me grin or remind me of passion. Words can be so much more powerful than a crappy picture.

anything with a crate or pallet...I just don't get it all but I'm totally on the MCM bandwagon. I've had one piece for years and recently added to it with the perfect dining table with three leaves and six chairs found at a thrift store for $160. It fits my small dining room perfectly and I'm so in love with it in style or not!

I definitely agree with the list, especially Hollywood Regency. Personally, I can't stand the look. That said, besides being unimaginative, any look/era that's overdone ends up looking cheap and staged, rather than personable and livable. While I appreciate this piece from Elle Decor, I have to say I wouldn't mind seeing Elle Decor itself dead and buried. They've been guilty of propagating the precious, staged, and unlivable look for a long long time.

Here's a few I'd like to see die:

Faux stag heads on walls!! God enough already.

Chevron patterned anything.

Chalkboard painted anything.

Thank you White on White!!

SO over the faux stag heads.

Ditto to "Keep Calm and Carry On".

The common sense that many have reminded us...

yes, yes, by all means if you honestly LURVE love love love a thing, then go for it. but, most of what has been mentioned in this thread has either been overused as a design element (fake antlers on everything.. sigh) or is just kinda dumb (books as a design element, often deconstructed! for shame.).

Lets put a PNW spin on this -

Can we move on from fake (or real) taxidermy, masculine library everything, ironic pictures of old people you don't know, citykids who have hardly even smelled horsepoop before decorating with cowboy whimsy, and yes, the framed ironic or inspirational quips.

That being said, there are always well executed exceptions to all rules. :)

Shhhhh....Pinterest may hear you.

Letters, letters. Everywhere.

If you don't read the books, I don't think you should decorate with them. Turning them backwards? Completely dumb. But arranging by colors I like! I do judge a book by its cover and remember what my books look like, so it's actually not hard to find them when I need them. They're pretty color coded. I will buy an ugly classic if it's recommended, but if I'm out looking at yard sales or something, the best covers get considered first. ;)

Agree.

Totally guilty of No. 2 - trying to incorporate contemporary pieces and less iconic mid-c pieces in my home.

Hm... honestly, they're talking smack about other ppl in their industry, aren't they? XD I'd think very few laypeople would do #1 and if they did #4 would eventually realize things weren't working and initiate a change.

I disagree with the comment regarding granite and too much of a good thing...too much of a good thing would be a house using granite everywhere...floors, bathrooms, furniture tops etc, etc..not just one application in a house. Just because people have embraced a classic design such as the application of granite on kitchen counter tops--this is not a good reason to say well everyone has that, I have to do something else. Everyone has a roof on their house also, but one should not steer away from that for practical reasons. God forbid we go away from "good design" practices, because it's "been done"....

It's so funny, what one person loves another will hate. I don't get the Keep Calm thing either, ditto the bus blinds. I have some friends who, in my humble opinion, went totally overboard with the MCM, I feel like I'm stuck in a time warp when I go to their house!

Any kind of gratuitous book stacking or knick-nack displying, If you don't love it then it's just more stuff to dust.

But I really, really want a cowhide!

I hate trendy rooms. I think there has to be moderation and balance. I am so sick of chevrons, cowhide rugs, and a room completely "done" in a particular style.

You know what the worst trend is? Designers telling us what's in or out or what they're over. If you like MCM, decorate your house with MCM. So called designers can kick rocks.

Three things I'd love to never see again: animal skins on the floor; antlers, real or otherwise; a poster that says"Keep Calm and Carry On.

I love what Mario Buatto says here about the best way to see how a room functions. If I had the money to buy a house and have it professionally decorated, I'd choose a decorator with that philosophy.

If you are sick of MCM, books for display, cow hide rugs, "Keep Calm" posters, spray painted items, DIY projects or anything else that everyone has whined about then don't use them! I personally want to hurl everytime I hear that a kitchen has to have SS appliances and Granite countertops and you know what? neither of my kitchens have them.For once try a little imagination and decorate your home with things that YOU like and that YOU think are comfortable, you have to live with it not anyone else.

Honestly, I can't think of a good reason why anyone should care what these designers think. I design my living space to make me happy. Trend or not, it's my space, my stuff, my money. If I like it, and it looks/feels good to me, then the rest is irrelevant.

since when are granite countertops trendy? last I checked they've been around forever, are affordable, practical, attractive and are far less trendy than concrete, butcher block, etc. etc. etc.

I agree with the "granite" statement.....in ten or fifteen years, the stone countertops that are (were) so fashionable will be so very dated. The "Belgian" and "steampunk" industrial looks that saved Restoration Hardware will be the same designs that put it out of business. As visually appealing as the antique reproduction look admittedly is, it's yesterday's news.

I can't agree enough with the fake or ironic taxidermy--ugh! But I don't mind DIY as long as it's done well. Regretsy exists for a reason, after all!

DIY anyway.

I grew up with mcm and Danish modern and have some furniture inherited from family. But it's not the ONLY style I have. Bottom line: decorate for yourself so you're comfortable in your home. If something's trendy and you don't like it, don't do it.
The only thing that really needs to go is the idea that our homes need to be "curated." Curated decorating and collecting is for museums.

Not to offend anyone with granite but it looks like vomit. sorry.

Wait, so are you sayinf everything Apartment Therapy has championed for the past 5 years is now old hat? Proposterous.

.... Decorating your house with what you can afford is a trend now? Intelligent financial decisions about reusing furniture and decorations should be "dead and buried"? FYI, some of us can't even afford (space and money-wise) the furniture most people take for granted (beds, couches, etc.) Although I don't propose everyone who does these things are that hard off, could it be that emulating small, cheap decorating habits is the only thing that makes financial sense for some?

I also didn't know other people's homes were so open to ridicule. God forbid someone show you warmth and hospitality in a room decorated with books. /facepalm

I'm with the poster who mentioned granite and stainless steel- those of us who are a little older can remember when they became a trend, and I think both of them are waaaayy more played out than any of the ones mentioned in the list.

I am just starting my MCM collection, but apparently I am so far behind the trend, I may come out smelling like a rose! Let me know where to come pick up your MCM 'junk.' I will be right over with a truck...

I am a reader and I have 50 years worth of books--I cannot even begin to say how many--and I would never be able to find the book I'm looking for if they weren't organized by genre: (poetry, novels, history, other nonfiction, reference books, cookbooks) and then by author (except reference books and cookbooks). It hurts me to see books so disrespected that they are turned backwards or organized by color, both of which make me think they aren't read.

I like OJANET's comment that granite countertops usually look like vomit. I want my kitchen to look clean and bright and that can't be achieved with granite in my opinion.

Ok I'm going to have a whinge about ampersands and letters in the household. I've had enough! If it doesn't tug at your heart-strings let it go.

First- LOL at words on the wall feeling like walking into a self help book!

Second- If you love it, live with it

Third- I'm midcentury myself, so I decorate with pieces from the late 1800's. Like bureaus and desks that are strong, old furniture with drawers that still slide painlessly open and shut.

Books? I read them, and then reread them, and keep the ones I love. (which are WAY too many, btw)

Decor styles? I love airy Swedish, spare Japanese, industrial loft, cluttered cottage, and Hollywood regency.

But my home is great-granny chic combined with global eclectic. So I'll visit YOUR house and appreciate YOUR style, and you can come have tea with me in mine.

If it's beautiful (to you), functional (to you), and fits the budget, who cares? I hate these sorts of posts: people either rally or sulk.

When my husband and I converted a warehouse for our home/studio use a lot of people assumed we would want to put in SS and granite. Without offending anyone, I tried to explain that in a few years they will look as bad/dated as our parents' avocado green and harvest gold appliances. Plus they don't show much creativity/individuality IMO.

Granite, stainless, laminate "wood" floors, and stone tile......I've been waiting 20 years for those to go away...

I'm a historian, and I love my "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster, because it makes me think of Winston Churchill striding over ruins in the East End during the Blitz.

I agree with all of it, but I think the whining about the DIY is because most DIY 'looks' like it was DIY. If you can make a comparable knock-off of an original that you can't afford, then by all means do it. But don't come at me with a concoction of yarn, glitter and ModPodge and ask me if it looks like a designer piece. The answer will always be no.

What needs to be dead and buried is the tendency of looking at everything as a trend. I come to this website to share the enthusiasm for living and appreciating the things around you. That should be the "trend" and exactly what you should bring into your home.

Trends I'm tired of? Snobby commentary on about others' tastes, and the concomitant assumption that of-the-moment, expensive and über high design is what makes a place.

Ditto on Keep Calm posters. Any and all taxidermy and cowhide rugs. Just... ew. Live, laugh quotes as well. All of that=very cliche.

Another pet peeve is those rooms that are pretty much all done in white. Curtains, bedding, furniture, etc. That just looks like a scientific clean room or something, and not something someone lives in. I guess to each is own and more power to the person who can keep that type of space looking spotless. I personally need to have some variety.

Taxidermy - real or faux has got to go. Maybe it's because a wild boar head hovered above my head when I overnighted at a family member's home as a child & was traumatized for life?!

I am totally sick & tired of the staged shots. I try to visit blogs to see what real people are doing in their homes, not the super rich. Real people have dirt & chaos but we rarely see it.

MCM? I love the clean lines but it can be a bit theme-y in some homes. I think an eclectic mix is so much more interesting.

DIY? Depends on what it is - many of the "crafty" things I am not into so much but I love me a good furniture redo. Besides, I don't want my pieces to look like everything else out there. Many times the only way to achieve something different is to modify it yourself. In my next life I want to be a furniture maker so I can create whatever I want whenever I want.

Live with what you love, no one but you should determine what goes in or out of your home.

Why is there a preoccupation in the decorating world with dead stuff; deer antlers, hides from some poor deceased animal and granite counters in the kitchen? The first time I ever saw granite was in a cemetery - the tombstones. I was horrified when people began putting this in kitchens. In order to see if its clean you have to take a sideways glance - I'll take a pristine, white kitchen counter, please.

None of the designer responses surprise me, as they really are done-to-death trends in design right now. I don't take it to mean that I personally should suddenly hide my books, despise my mid-century-ish dining chairs, or be ashamed of the (vivid teal) paint job I gave a sad, sad coffee table; but that designers and design publishers should be offering us different and creative design, for both ideal and real living. I don't think anyone is really opposed to Doing It Yourself, but how many lamps made of books do we need in the world (answer: NO MORE).

LAU @ CORRIDOR KITCHEN

old hats are in now

I think overdone, trendy design is better than no design. It's important for your living space to be what you find esthetically pleasing. I think what all of the above listed over done design trends have in common, is that they are all examples of what people put together when they are trying too hard & not basing their design on what represents them. Fill your space with what you love & you'll end up with timeless design :)

Hear hear StevethreePo! Trend, schmend.

I design and decorate my own spaces. And love to browse all the blogs: diy, professional, amateur, you name it.

Also, Having a good chuckle from several of the comments. lol Thank you all :)

I agree with Focus and Annemarieat. What's wrong with being a little 'crafty' and painting an old closet, etc...oh wait, the Designers for Elle Decor said it's not a trend anymore, so I have to wait and see what's the next trend, lol.

Those likely to DIY aren't a designer's target clientele in any event, so no loss. As far as developing one's own style goes, I'm trying, but it seems that everything I see these days is either too cluttered or too soulless. Nothing in between.

Perhaps just do what you love? Use what you have? DIY if you need/want to? Hrm... I might agree with lots said above... but mostly we LIVE in our house... so there are books, and old furniture of many styles, and some painted dressers, and even a few ironic sayings (only allowed on mugs and in small spaces)... and I may have been a city kids... but there is DIRT on my Vermont mudboots now. Now... would someone please tell me REALLY how to take a closet sized mudroom on a farm with a family of 6 and keep it clean in mud season? Nope, didn't think so.

I agree on the books (or anything else) just as props and the brightly colored furniture. I don't mind MCM too much if it's done well and doesn't feel like a film set (but then any home that feels like a film set isn't right).
Never understood books by color (pretty yes - but impractical).

Other design things I can't stand:
- too many pillows!!! If it takes you half an hour to go to bed because of too many pillows it's time to get rid of them, the same if you can't sit on the sofa because of too many pillows.
- taxidermy: what is hip about having dead animals on your walls or shelves? Nothing
- Words like 'love' or 'home': yes you like love and this is your home, no need to spell it out.
- I like well done DIY but often (on ikea hacker) it just looks like a cheap plastic bowl that is being used as a lamp and not actually a cool lamp.

I write a daily mid-century design blog, and my son-in-law sells MCM furniture, and I don't know how anyone could call a classic chair by Hans Wegner, a beautiful sofa by Peter Hvidt or a gorgeous handmade bench by George Nakashima "trendy" or wish to see them dead and buried. The mid-century items that we generally refer to as "googie" or "kitsch," however, aren't my cup of tea.

That said, if a boomerang coffee table or a Keep Calm and Carry On poster or granite countertops make you look forward to coming home at the end of the day, then I say go for it. That's why we decorate our homes, isn't it?

pyrexmaniac - ditto

snowdogmaine - lol @ rain boots

chesterandtrudy - i do remember that episode of Ab Fab. luckily my friend lived on top of shops and we took off to the corner pub, phew.

DIY is alright by me for two reasons, avoiding further waste + creativity.

BLASPHEMY!!!!!DIY forever! DIY isn't even a trend, its a lifestyle! plus it would essentially put these "decorators" out of business.

@enialedam

"Putting up a picture just because "it looks nice" isn't enough"

Really?? I think that's a very legitimate reason for choosing art!

if i see one more sheep skin/fur thrown over a chair (usually a Bertoia chair....)......

I'd like to see Elle Decor dead and buried.

i love mid-century modern, but the problem is when people overload to the point that it looks like they're actually living in the 1950s. the great thing about mid-century modern is that less is always more.

I have no doubt that the designers quoted in Elle Decor are, themselves, indulging in "new" decorating ideas that will make this list in a few years. Books lined up by color: works for those of us who ALWAYS remember what color the book is. MCM: some of it is/was pretty good stuff and a few reminders of days gone by make interesting additions to rooms DIY: turning a cast-off into a treasure is bad? As for granite..I'm over it, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the fact that it's loved by many. I'm just sick of those househunting idiots on HGTV who think a granite countertop and SS appliances are THE hallmark of high-end kitchens. Over-exposure has made them pretty mundane. (Yes, the granite, the appliances AND the idiots.)

btw, i also have a daily mid-century blog: midcenturymoddesign.tumblr.com

trend = lack of creativity

We have a small home and have to rearrange things for a big party. We CAN NOT take a party as a cue on how to arrange our home. Our daily life is what matters!
Also, DIY is great because it's fun, creative, ecological, and personal. Trend or not.

I never knew granite counter tops are a trend - I just know they are durable and pretty expensive and granite is what this country sits on.. I do prefer the black shades rather than the red. I'd take granite over our nasty stained white particle board counter top any day...

Our style is eclectic minimalist, meaning our furniture is inherited and thrifted and from different periods of time. The pieces themselves may not be minimalist but the amount is. We live small and keep the bare essentials plus some beloved decorative stuff and our kid's stuff of course. We don't have much but I'm picky so that what we have is something that we really like.
Trends bother me.. waste and dissatisfaction are built into them.

Who are any of us to say someone should or should not decorate their home in a certain style? I say if something speaks to you, then use it to your heart's content. Judgy McJudgersons, be dammed.

Design your house however you want! Make it about you and your family's lifestyle! It should be liveable and practical, displaying beauty in functional pieces of furniture/art.

And hooray for the (prospective) death of MCM! It's 2012! Make something new!

And while I'm on the topic of "making"... I'm all for DIY! That's how everything was originally made anyways. If you need a table... make it! If you need a bookshelf... make it! Maybe I'm a little more old-fashioned than most 24 year olds, but I think it's great to put your stamp on the items in your home instead of spending ridiculous amounts of money on a designer's name.

I agree with everyone in the article especially the first one about books. I'd like to add this wallpaper http://uktv.co.uk/images/350460/25601_woods.jpg It was nice at first but I feel like I see it in every house tour. It's time to move on like chocolate furniture.

It is funny...because...I actually never thought of these things in terms of "what am I sick of".
With me it is mostly about if I like it or not....in other words, not only do I not worry about if "it is or it is not a TREND", but I don't even worry about what others think.

For example, the books arranged by color: Personally, i don't like it...in GENERAL.
So I would not do that for the huge amount of books that I have (For which I need to find book shelves! :)).
But... because I am by nature very anti conformist...(I have attendency to question "rules", "ways of doing things", etc...) I actually might do it with kitchen books displayed somewhere in the kitchen. Why?
1)- Beacause of the anticonformism thing...,
2) because for kitchen book - and only these - I actually remember what they look like ....

So, as much as I don't see my self buying more and more mid-centuray furniture....I actually like a piece here and there...

I guess the key word for me is eclectic!!...Which means that most likely - if you follow your heart - your home will not look like any one else! :)

It is funny to hear all of the comments- "Do whatever you want, it's your house. As long as what you want isn't granite countertops or MCM."

The designers are not saying that one should never do these things in one's home, but that these are things often done poorly. A trendy design element often becomes a caricature of the original.

I think the only "trendy" thing I have right now is lots of gray paint in my house and a large sunburst mirror over my fireplace mantle (which I absolutely, unabashedly love to pieces). I want to do a chalkboard wall somewhere, mainly for the kiddos, but agree that it's overdone.

My favorite quote up there is: "Just because it can be reclaimed doesn't mean it should be." I agree. But so much of what I see on AT is brilliant anyway. As someone who DIYed my design (not the individual pieces), I think it really is all about what you love and what you think is pretty. Don't use a trend just because it's trendy, but because you love it and think it looks good.

i am soo agreeing with RIED and BruinToo. Damn, why isnt there a 'reply button' here!!!

I predict a resurgence of the more "traditional" Baroque and Edwardian elements. Basically because you don't usually "find" one on the side of the road like the midcentury pieces that were abandoned and then brought en vogue by the thriftsters. I still adore some of the mid century pieces- thus my burgeoning collection of step tables. It is a challenge to mix the styles, but the overall look is fresh.

I'm tired of kitchens where people take the doors off their upper cupboards. It just looks (to me) like a cupboard with its doors taken off, even if it is painted white!

The only 2 of these that I agree with 100% are using books as props and dysfunctional decoration. I love to read so I have a lot of books and once I caved and arranged them by color. Worst. Mistake. Ever. It lasted 2 days. If you like to read, embrace your books. Your home should feel like you, not a magazine photo. It's one of the reasons I love AT; a lot of the rooms here feel lived in and used.

MCM I think is over done, but if you like the style, go for it. DIY I think is a budget necessity a lot of the times. Sure, not all DIY projects are turn out well (or were even good ideas to start with) but a lot of great, unique pieces/features can be achieved through a little creative DIY.

Of course the antiques dealer is sick of MCM. He doesn't make as much money selling it.

Of course the designer is sick of DIY. She doesn't make any money when people are actually doing things themselves.

No surprise here.

Lists like these make people so self-conscious about their decisions, afraid to make choices, and self-loathing over decisions they've already made. DIY gives people the power to improve their lives through real invest in time with their space and possessions, but criticisms that denigrate a person's accomplishments because they're not "magazine worthy" undermine the value that people get out of taking risks and making their spaces and possessions truly unique.

#6 on my list -- tired magazines like Elle Decor that tell people how to improve their lives through shopping. Uggh.

If no one ever put another vinyl decal on their wall, I'd be thrilled. Double points for refusing to put words on your walls.

On the DIY/painted furniture thing. It's a good solution once in a while, but to do it well and have a piece that actually looks good in person? Hard. Very hard. Patching, sanding, caulking, more sanding...a quick coat-o-spray jobbie only looks good in photos.

The "keep calm and carry on" statement does have meaning. When you think about your city being bombed by the German air force each evening, then a reminder during the day to just stay calm would have been a help, as I am sure it is for those in very trying times today. Many of you mocking the "feel good" word art need to understand the comfort it brings it's owners. As for those who decorate with it as a trend or decorate to follow any trend............seriously......"get a life".

I think DIY has a place and time, but there are somethings that should be left to professionals. I love to sew and craft, and often copy the pillows and other linens I see in catalogs, usually with pretty good results. But as far as re-doing my own kitchen, I'll leave that to someone else to execute my vision.

OK - Hope this section isn't already dead because i have a question! We want to re-do our kitchen, and were thinking soft white cabinets, grey-green slate (local new england) counters and stainless appliances. Are we going to look dated? Does slate=granite? Would love wood counters, but have heard all sorts of upkeep problems, and we have a busy house and are not the type of people to wipe up every drop of water. Would love cabinter-door-covered appliances, but they're crazy expensive and my sister has had problems with hers - since there are limited suppliers. Don't even talk to me about open shelving - i mean, honestly. So tell me - will we be sorry?? And if so, what to do?

p.s. Joel S, re: "tired magazines like Elle Decor that tell people how to improve their lives through shopping. Uggh."

Bravo!

I agree that books as props was an awful idea. And mcm is overdone but I do like the " trend". Diy done poorly always ruins a room, but done properly is very responsible to me. Im all for upcycle/ use was you have. It also makes your space even more personal. It is a necessity for people on a tight budget.
I have to say that if I see one more brown accent wall in a blue room I will go mad.

I like mid-century Danish coffee tables. Some other MC styles are also cosy and functional and stylish. Can't get into anything that is too stark, slick and modern.

Agree with not liking granite and I truly despise Live Laugh Love type crap. Kills me. It was hard to even write it! ;) But to each their own.

I am tired of the sanctimonious pisspots who honestly believe their taste is better than mine. I guess that makes me a DIYer which is why I come to this site and many others.

As an avid reader I love the books as decor trend. It turned my piles of books around the house (on coffee and end table, on night table, even on the back of the toilet) from clutter into a decorative element. I also really liked the freedom of shelving books by colour. It makes the bookshelves (yes as well as piles of books I have multiple overflowing bookshelves) much more visually appealing and since I usually browse through a whole section looking for what to read it doesn't matter that they are no longer shelved by genre and author. I periodically ruthlessly purge the shelves and transfer the piles onto the shelves, but they grow again within a few months. And yes, I have joined the digital age and use a Kobo reader as well for ebooks...like I said, avid reader.

PS. The decor trend I hate the most is painting over all those marvelous wooden cabinets and furniture. In a few years the trend will go back to wood stain. Paint crappy or damaged cabinets/furniture yes, wood with a beautiful grain, as I see so often in the before and after photos, no no no.

Wall stickers must go. Mostly featured in kids' rooms. I came home to find my husband had stuck pink & brown bubbles all around our tot's bed and held my tongue but we need a coat of paint and I CAN'T WAIT to peel those off the walls!

#1 DECOR PET PEEVE: irresponsible upcycling, where it's just done for "the look." A prime example seen on another design site: a giant entry mirror framed in vintage rulers, which was lauded for being a creative re-use. All of the rulers clearly had a lot of functional life left in them (as rulers!), but clearly the owner went out and bought these in mass, and after glueing/nailing them around a mirror, destroyed any sort of use they might have beyond being purely decorative. ...and this is a decor item that the owner will probably get tired of in five years.

I think decorating with dead animals or dead animal skins is completely disgusting, cruel, and unnecessary. Leather included.

But other than that, I think the rest is pretty subjective. As long as you like it, and it's functional, go for it. I live in an MCM house and have some MCM pieces. Not because it's a "trend" but because I actually like them, they fit well, and imo, are timeless and classic. I prefer a clean, minimalist look. Some say that minimalism is cold or uncomfortable looking, but I don't agree. To me, most people's places are overly cluttered. But it's not my house so have at.

That being said, I really don't like some of the homes featured on AT that are over-stylized and look completely impractical and like it's just been done for the picture.

I'd like to think that the reason that trends like faux books (or any kind of "prop") is on the way out is because people are coming to their senses and not buying up McMansions with all manner of extra, unused space that needs to be "styled."

As for MCM/Regency/etc., we'd all be wiser to incorporate a few different styles into our decor- eclecticism, rather than hard-core regency. mcm, what have you. Because you do get sick of it after a while. If you've been hard-core then you kind of have to purge everything all at once in order to move into a different style. It's no wonder that people got sick of the sticky-sweet OTT girly stuff of the Hollywood Regency craze and now feel drawn to the warm, earthy tones of the 70's style that's coming back in.

Haha. So many good comments here. My personal list:

1. Keep Calm etc. pithy phrase posters.
2. Ubiquitous chalkboard paint.
3. Letter signs in rooms, like "laundry" in the laundry room, or "eat" over a table.
4.Cowhide, animal heads, glorified dead animal anything.
5. PABOI (birds)
6. Disposable decor, removing useful items for style reasons. Repurpose it!
7. 4,000 square foot new homes declared "green"
8. People who are praised for their interior design who are really just shopping the trends.

Too much of any one thing is too much. Good taste and classic pieces are always in but never a room full of any one period. Creative design thinking and refinement over time is the way to go IMO.

What's funny is that no one would know if these were bad trends unless you have interior designers as friends. So unless that's the case, keep doing what you're doing. I bet your guests think you have the coolest house ever regardless! I have a chalkboard wall and every guest says mine is the first time they've ever seen it.

Nothing wrong with DIY... for me I do my own reno because I can not afford to pay others to do it for me...

Hmmm. . . I think this all goes back to Rose Tarlow quote about using things you love that have meaning, and, as others have cited the meaning may be that you can afford the item and its cute and comfortable and useful. I most agree with Pyrexmaniac above. And while we are at it, may I defend MCM for a minute. Two points. Much of it is real furniture made with real wood, which is much better that the fiberboard stuff found in shops today and also it is built for human-sized older, urbanspaces, which many of us are living in. As someone else said, not everyone has a humungous great room to fill with the furniture of giants!

My husband and I inherited a beautiful birch McCobb dresser and side tables from his mom. They fit perfectly in our 1937 cottage and are quite classic in a kind of MCM Shaker style. Our bed, meanwhile a West Elm thing. It's okay, but not nearly as nicely made. McCobb has dovetail finishing and all-wood. What is not to like?

The colored book thing, however, never made sense to this bibliophile. . . there is truly no accounting for taste!

I totally support and participate in DIY. But really, how many times can I be expected to marvel at the fact that someone in the universe repainted a dresser?

Is there a reason to do theme rooms anymore, or even worse theme homes?

Melanie Q - My last home had high quality slate counters that were actually mined here in my home state of Maine. They were really beautiful but the problem was that slate is quite soft. We were careful but still ended up with scratches that were hard to get out. Then when we had kids, it just became more of a problem. Everyone's been ragging on granite but our current home has beautiful granite counters from an independent stone guy and they are really unique - nothing like what you see at your local home center. And very durable.

Wow! What buttons this has pushed! I guess any invitation for bitching is always received with glee.

Here is my take on trends: If I like something, I don't worry if a bunch of other people like it. Same thing with nobody else liking it. (Except for the hubs, of course.)

Also, I'm all about embracing my decade, because much later I want to look back on the photos of places I've lived, and what my friends and I were wearing, and say, "Oh my god! How 20 tens!" and laugh. I like being present. It doesn't mean I'm a slave to it, though.

And on books: I normally arrange them in a very specific way by genre, but also so that all the writers who are next to each other would get along. The poets are all together, as are the playwrights, novelists, existentialists, and feminist theorists. I arranged them by color once, because it was pretty, but you can't have Infinite Jest next to the French/English Dictionary. That makes no damn sense.

And, my hot pink Keep Calm poster helps with my anxiety disorder. I've had it for six years.

Don't bother calling me a hipster; I live in Portland and go to art school. It would just be redundant.

This incorporates the books used as display, but the big one for me is over crowded coffee tables.
Where can you put your drink? The coffee table is so full of tchotchke you can't actually USE it to put your coffee down.
This leads to sofas so full of pillows one can't sit down and stainless steel appliances you have to clean with Windex every time you touch them.
Basically, anything you can't actually LIVE with is a dying trend from the minute you put it in your house.

Wow! Lots of comments - no time to get through all. I do agree with sassypants, Keep Calm blah-blah-blah, must go. So does the term 'mid century modern' I'm so sick of it. Also, those white ceramic garden stools, they're everywhere! I do have a confession though - I have a carpeted toilet seat cover ... hey, I have no men in my house, okay!

Dysfunctional Decoration

My beef with "designers" will always be anything done just for looks with no function or sentimentality associated to it. Everything has it's place and looks good in the right context. However, it looks hokey when you have a nautical theme and don't know how to sail or use books to decorate and never read. It's just lame. Arranging books by color? How the hell are you going to actually find anything? Lame.

MCM is way. over. done. But I still have a weakness for new pieces I've never seen before.

Hollywood Regency was never in. People who thought it was in were crazy.

DIY is legit. It's better than buying books from the fleamarket because you like the color of the binding.

I know that, sometimes, apartment dwellers have no choice but to park their bikes in the living room but often these bikes appear to just be props. Not sure why, but this really bugs the crap outta me. Do these people actually ride these bikes? If so how are they kept so clean? My bike gets dirty and it lives in the garage. Anyone else sick of the bike as decor trend?

Heh. I live in an architect-designed mid-century home that I got for cheap because nobody here understands MCM. I live with MCM furniture, all of it thrifted. There is also a craigslist sofa and ten IKEA bookshelves full of books.

As long as I live in this house, I will live with my MCM pieces. I love them, the house loves them. I couldn't care less if it's overdone on AT or in New York or in some other place, and I couldn't care less what some trendsetter at Elle Decor thinks. If I ever relocate to a stately Victorian, I will likely acquire some different pieces. It's al about the space.

Owls

I declare it the year of the turtle.

Many of the things I don't like now, I liked before. Many of the things I like now, I expect not to like later. Though I respect that people can put whatever they want in a room, I still have to agree that, at least for the time being, I'd like a few trends to subside. Here's my list of cliche'd items I don't want to see for a while (but I may end up dong myself as some point anyway):

- taxidermy heads (real, fake, paper, doesn't matter)
- chevrons
- props in rooms that get removed as soon as the photo has been taken
- reupholstering chairs with so many conflicting fabrics/painting with so many colors so that they look strange anywhere but on a pedestal
- living room after living room without a television. There are still a lot of people out there who still own television (even if only to play video games and watch movies), right?
- super minimalist rooms (ex. large room with nothing but a mattress and a bit of bedding)
- vintage writing on everything. This is 2010, not 1940! I love the old text, but I don't believe that this person using these items today actually exists.
- "I spray painted it and now it is good!"
- words painted directly on the wall
- books as art (but, you know, times change. I have my books in color order and it is waaay easier for me to find them now.)

Yes, granite countertops are a trend and one that is overdue to end; pretty soon you won't be able to sell a house that has them. Anyone who thinks they aren't a fad probably just isn't old enough - live long enough and you will be able to spot the fads as soon as they start. E.g. - Twelve years of dark woods, then twelve of light woods, then dark again. It's fine - things get old after they've been done to death - but it always cracks me up when people talk earnestly about them as though there's some deep aesthetic principle behind one being better than another. Designers are a hoot when they're giving us serious talk about why the fad du jour is beautiful and yesterday's fad du jour is ugly. It is all just fashion. How else could you get people to spend $100k every 15 years ripping out perfectly good bathrooms and kitchens?

I am now so inspired I'm getting my jigsaw out to create a lettered plywood sign saying "hovel"

HA! White on White..!!!!! I can't standddddddddddd the PHRASE mid century modern..though the furniture from this 'era' is usually very fine, solid and lovely..and nothing beats finding a 'treasure' you love to have around you whether you found it on trash day or paid for it somewhere..better yet, on the beach.......I'm looking around my home from where I'm sitting and I see a mix of things I am happy to have around me..painted little old tables..(white or charteuse ; ) ) beautiful and softy colored vases and bowls from the 20's and 30's..my basic pottery barn cotton couch, bits of ikea and it's cozy and me! I am nauseated by 'trendy' as well, esp lower end: the preachy logo's, pukey looking granite,animal decor such as the plaster stag heads..they don't look 'nice' anywhere!.. BUT, if they make you happy...(not that granite is lower end...but that HGTV>>ooooh, granite!! argghhh..

Thank you. Thank you. And again. I have wearied of the above to such a degree, I spend 5 minutes on AT compared to the long browsings of the past. Definitely don't find the same enjoyment I did 3 years ago. Much too much of not much at all.

Bellapng..I'm going to cut out some vinyl letters or paint in gold,'coffee spills give me thrills' (from this a.m...dear god...) these posts have ALL been affirming for all of us I think! and JJMOTRE>>agree, I end up spending more time now on the 'kitchn' site and I hate to cook...

What I hate the most is blog posts and magazines telling me what I'm supposed to like. Here are THE colors for 2012! Get the latest looks! THE furniture that's hot now!

What bullshit. I like what I like, and I don't care what everybody else is doing. And I don't have the money or the inclination to replace everything I own every time the season changes. You buy a design magazine for inspiration and all you get is articles telling you to buy buy buy spend spend spend!

@MelanieQ - Don't sweat trends- dunno about anyone else, but my comment was about the proliferation of granite as the only desirable countertop surface by people who demonstrate a shocking lack of knowledge about any other home-related issues (ie- watching first time home buyers poo-poo butcher block and solid surfaces because they aren't granite- even though solid surface countertops are just as durable, and butcher block has been proving itself useful for well over a century now!)

IMHO, granite is really useful for countertops, but builders tend to slap on any color and grade granite they can find- regardless of whether it truly complements to kitchen. Find what type of surface works best for you, and if you like the look of granite, go for it! It's so useful and durable that I doubt it will look dated the way laminate surfaces do today.

Now that I'm a granite apologist, I will say that despite their drawbacks, i love slate and soapstone counters, and envy your kitchen redo budget!

Posts like this drive me mad!

I like MDM and DIY. I don't plan on parting with either anytime soon.

I'll decorate with what I love- trendy or not.

While I myself am a bit weary of the same list, I have to say that after reading all of these sanctimonious "I am so sick of _____" posts it occurred to me that we are all ACTIVELY seeking out examples of design by visiting a watershed site like Apartment Therapy. Seen too many "Keep Calm" posters? Well, how many hours have you spent taking virtual tours via the internet in the last year?

I rearranged all of my books by color after noticing the calming effect this arrangement had in rooms that might have otherwise been overwhelmed by books. What I hadn't anticipated was what I'd learn about them- that I didn't miss them grouped by subject, or the false notions about my taste or my politics that they might suggest. I hadn't noticed that most of the left-leaning volumes have red spines or that the libertarians prefer dark blue. So despite second-guessing myself after seeing so many examples here- ours is the only house I've actually BEEN IN to have it this way.

Imagine if there had been ubiquitous design blogging in the (insert your favorite design period here)... what would everyone have been sick of, before its time? What will we be nostalgic about later?

Designers are afraid of non-designer anything and the Web-enabled egalitarianism of design today. OF COURSE they're hostile to DIY - it's their job to be.

Most of this list is nonsense.

All of these "played out" trends speak to the biggest trend of all. We all want a home that feels beautiful. The niche of hiring a designer to make your home for you is no longer practical. As websites like Apartment Therapy and the such reach out to more people, the more possible it is for regular people to find inspiration in their decor, and to carry it out. Mid Century Modern is popular because it's an affordable way to own a piece of history. A beautiful teak credenza with modern lines is more easily found in a local thrift shop than a mahogany chest of drawers from the 20s would be. DIY is a necessity of the times. (How can DIY even be a trend?? It's the oldest form of decorating.) It seems to me that the designers comments are just a veiled "woe is me" because their expertise is becoming irrelevant. And the fellow commenters who have chosen to chime in on what they find ridiculous in OTHER people's homes - Keep calm and carry on, it's as relevant a mantra today as it was 100 years ago.

These are designers, who charged scores of thousands of dollars to decorate million dollar homes - they have no understanding on what goes on in the average American home.

I'd rather DIY than buy a cheap self-assemble piece of furniture. I'm sorry, but shopping in high end furniture stores, or hiring an interior decorator is not in my budget.

I love interior designers for inspiration,but that's as far as it goes because manyof them turn houses into catalogs.That doesn't date well or stand up over time.The average person, wealthy or not...will accumulate random items over time.I'd like to see more designers make that work instead of 'reinventing' the wheel year after year.
When I want real design inspiration I look to set designers.They get it right every time and IN every time.Interior designers do it 'right' wrong to me.Too trendy and/or too personalized.Even worse is when they are both.Yikes! If you have style... nothing in design is DONE.Hoe presumptuous and uninspired that is to me.
I see mid century as a natural evolution from the deco craze.When deco prices went sky high...mid century became the rage because it was cheaper! LOL! The shabby chic DIY movement is not going away because it wasn't new to begin with.Every time in history has a version of it.
In my own home I use minimalism/Scandinavian for feel and proportion,bright colours because I love them and own numerous wood antiques,from many different times, because I inherited them.I wouldn't let the average designer near my home.Details are everything to me and that includes being able to live in my space.

@Taratikusis....right on true! I live near Toronto....try and find something second hand without beating off a picker or designer around here is near impossible.The prices are outrageous to begin with.I can only imagine what they are selling it for to their clients.Especially if the client doesn't really appreciate it to begin with.Sad really.

The 'keep calm' posters drive me absolutely bonkers, as do most things on this list.
However I think there's huge difference between DIY as it's mentioned here and actual DIY. I feel like a lot of the DIY that gets mentioned on blogs like this is actually maybe just a step up from arts and crafts, so I agree there. 'Oh look, I up-cycled this hideous dresser by painting it blue! OMG.' But actually, that dresser is still hideous. It's just blue. I think blogs like this are actually big perpetrators of this trend, sadly.
But things like building your own furniture, or hanging drywall, or renovating your house solo? That's not a trend, that's just badass.

I put the 'keep clam' poster's in with the craze for and serious collecting of any commercial printed item.To me it's about the same as movie posters etc....graphic design.Very popular collectable for over a century now.NOT going away.Sorry folks.When an interior designer rips on these types of esthetics....just shows me what they don't know about design.Good or bad.

walkin_yesindeed + oldbury8663

i first saw the 'keep calm and carry on' poster in the film 'atonement' and i thought 'wow that is an awesome piece of (graphic) art, i'd like that on my wall'. the scene showed brits huddled in a subway during an air-raid which did not end well. that was in 2007, now there are thousands of spin-offs of 'keep calm'. i walked past the shop 'typo' during christmas week and it made me sick. what was meant to be for the british public is now just a farcical retail fad. i say display it IF you appreciate it's true meaning and not because it's in a magazine.

and on books: why is it when a book is turned into a film, the book is re-released with the main actors on them? i read that book because i liked the original cover or because i liked the author.

Having a particular style that you have enjoyed and utilized for a long time, (industrial and MCM for me) suddenly declared "trendy" then a few years later, "worst trend" - grrrrrr.

Honestly, any of the pet peeves listed here can be great in the right application, and in moderation.

The wealth of comments and perspectives generated by this post – including the negative Nellie designers’ sweeping judgments about how tired they are of the very trends they’ve spent years promoting – are great. The discussion shows that all design elements have their pros and cons and those pros and cons are mainly subjective (except for defacing books - that isn't a bad design trend, it's a crime). Granite is becoming ubiquitous but it is undeniably durable and practical. DIY is as old as time and flea markets will never go out of business. But whether done out of financial necessity (very practical), for the sake of “upcycling” (I applaud) or just because you like the creative challenge (it can be fun!), there is no doubt DIY can be done badly as well as skillfully. That being said, high-gloss teal spray paint may not be the only re-do option but the end result can be very cheery little table at little cost so why not? It is all a matter of opinion.
Where am I going with all this? Basically I agree with Joel S. that sharing views on designs shouldn’t result in making people self conscious or afraid of choices. BTW Melanie Q. I like all the options you are considering. Here is my tip - When I do succumb to the fear of being “trendy” or that my choices will feel dated even to me, I find that looking through old decorating magazines is a real help. I can fairly easily spot that certain design elements stand the test time better than others. While flipping through a 10-year old magazine, it seemed to me that a fairly common inexpensive vintage Danish modern table, a classic Victorian bathroom, or a simple farmhouse table, maintained its sense of style and appeal much better than pricy trendy modern Italian furniture or glossy kitchen cabinets made of chemical-sounding materials. Since shopping for the latest look has gotten too many people into a financial hole they can’t get out of, and no look is guaranteed to be timeless, I suggest you go your own way, get something authentic and of quality, and you will be fine.
So that’s my two cents. Maybe someone can put “My two cents” on a sign in their living room for some inspiration? ;)

Joel S., you said it best.

Whiteonwhite, don't understand what you said, but I liked it anyway.

I'd like the whole "I must have it" trend to go away. I couldn't do the minimalist thing but I like the idea of rejecting the need for things, more things darling (that's Eddie from AbFab again) and living more simply and being content with stuff that I have even when it appears on the OUT list. Everything old is new again, eventually.

DYI is, in fact, a trend. Once upon a time, we made things to decorate our homes with because we couldn't afford to buy them. Now every hipster on the face of the earth is DYI'ing because you can't be a hipster without kitschy DYI artwork and a paper "taxidermy" moose head.

And I think the only people that should be allowed to have "Keep Calm" prints are people who knew what it meant BEFORE it became so darn trendy. I went to someone's house for a party and asked them if they knew the history behind their "Keep Calm" poster and they had no bloody clue. I died a little.

I'm sick of reading "I must have that, source please?" posts under House Tours.

If an owner has a couple of really distinctive things that suit her/his personality, bravo. Stop asking 'pretty please' where you can get one for yourself. That is all.

Here are few more:
Trend decorating
Trellis pattern (totally overdone in the 70's and 80's)
R.E. agents that describe 80's oak as beautiful, solid wood cabinets
Golden oak anything
Wall words
faux painting
chalkboard paint
rusted metal
80's furniture being sold as antiques..really?
and the DIY saying that t.v. decorators use.."anyone can do it" because the truth is not everyone can do it and you shouldn't do it if you aren't good at it and you know who you are.

Granite, specifically rounded layered bullnose. And any suburban princess who refers to requiring "my granite" in their tract house.

Oh, and the term "bonus room". It's NOT a bonus if I'm paying for it.

Great post, great comments. I agree with the poster who said that perhaps we think everything is overdone is because we spend so much on sites like this.

LOVE LOVE apartment therapy, but if not for the internet.. I wouldn't know about chevron, "Keep calm and carry on", books by color or anything else for the matter. I have pretty "cool" friends, but I've yet to see these things anyplace but "internet homes".

To each his own. Maybe people need to take a 10 minute break from the internet and everything won't be over done.

Kudos to people decorating the way they love. Moose heads, wall stickers and Rast dressers. Whatev. You like it? I love it for you.

And what's up with the airplants everywhere? Put it in a pot and water it people!

What causes a trend? I've thought about that quite a bit because we've been working on reorganizing various spaces. I think trends are created when people say "I'm sick of this or that; I want something new so long as someone (Elle Decor?) validates me as a trendsetter". I, for one, love MCM and own a few pieces but no one coming over would described my home as MCM. Our home is decorated with furniture we inherited from our parents, stuff we got in college which is still useful, pieces we found in antique stores, etc., etc. Once I was a chair whore, now I'm a table whore. 'Nuff said. But back to the list of what's "out": if you agree and proceed to act accordingly by divesting yourself of all the typographic prints or Eames chairs in a few years you will have to divest yourself again of whatever you and thousands of others bought to replace the earlier items when you are "sick" of them.

I have never liked faux bois, or taxidermy so I haven't acquired any but I can appreciate it in other people's homes. I like words. I may consider some words too sentimental or twee for my own use but I still like the concept. I bought a "Keep Calm" poster years ago. It remains unframed but I won't get rid of it because there may come a time when I have the perfect place for it.

I have hundreds of books. Most books are shelved alphabetically by author and genre but I do have some books shelved by color. I never have trouble finding one. A friend recently commented on the fact that I was placing books so that only the white/cream pages were showing according to the latest trend. I was puzzled until I realized that they were stacked with the titles showing on the side nearest the place where they might be read. She was looking at them from the other side where they appeared to be stacked in that "styled" way.

I don't have the resources to just pitch everything that has become "dated". I usually just move the furniture, or change the art, or put out different textiles or other accessories. And welcome the occasional piece into the curiosity shop of my dreams.

I love a house that really represents the people who live there. It does not matter to me what is there; as many posters have said--it's their house, not Mario's.

The only disappointing space to me is one that looks like it could belong to anyone.

Actually don't like houses for sale that are overly staged.

But any space that works the way people actually live is always a great idea.

no animal skins or faux skinz tossed on chairs or used as rugs -- so sick of seeing them everywhere.
books as props - no good. Dysfunctional Decorating -- if it's super high-end everyone drools, but it's still dysfunctional and not really a home.

"For Like Ever" posters seem to have died down.

What was the meaning behind those?

I so hope every site out there stops choking us with MCM. It is hideous, imo, not comfortable and very cold and cheap looking. Some may enjoy it which is fine, but too many sites have jumped on the bandwagon to be relevant with trends and they choke us with it. Some DIY is beautiful. IMO, it isnt if it is DIY, it's what the item is that makes it popular or overdone. I personally am tired of seeing open concept, and no cabinet doors. Few people keep theirs pace nice and neat enough to carry it off. Most look like they are living in a storage shed. I would never buy an open concept home, nor would I have most cabinets open. Some open shelves are beautiful to showcase beautiful pieces, but I dont care to see groceries and every plate and contraption exposed. Too much overload of chaos.

I can't believe I read this far and didn't see "stick a bird on it," and only saw "owls" once!
I think busy black & white patterned wallpaper is hard on the eyes but I've seen it so many places.
We have a lot of Mission style furniture and that got really played out. To the point where you could get it cheap & nasty. And we're not going to just go out and buy all new now, you know? Oh well! A home is always evolving!

Would someone please legally ban the word "eclectic"? Aside from the fact that I get tired of reading it, it usually means a collection of "stuff" or things that don't relate to each other!
And I don't care for the words everywhere trend, and the animal heads, whether real or cardboard is a major no-no!

Forgot to mention the poor cow splayed out on the floor. Yeah, it probably made great steaks, but I'm just saying.....

To all the haters who oppose organizing books by color, some of us just remember what the spines look like. It's not a crime to use an organizing principle if it works for you. Plus it makes for interesting juxtapositions-- my copy of the bible and the Communist Manifesto wound up right next to each other on the black shelf.

My trend beef is antique reproduction. The popularity of MCM and DIY has made it fashionable to choose to rescue a quality piece of furniture over buying a particleboard piece that is destined for the trash. This is a good thing-- it means less waste and better stuff for less money. What kills me is that the big box stores have no awareness of the irony of producing new particleboard furniture and throwaway decor that is designed to look distressed/reclaimed. As if the essence of the trend was the idea of "used" as a surface treatment.

I'm from Cambridge, England and have had the keep calm and carry on poster hanging on my bathroom wall for years, since I picked it up in the second hand bookshop in Alnwick where the original WW2 poster was discovered in a box of old books. I guess you could call me a trend setter! I didn't realise the craze had spread to America. Now I'm embarrassed to have people see it in my home if they think I'm an 'unimaginative' sheep. Should I get rid of it? (sad face)

i'm tired of the "keep calm and carry on" posters as well as the zillions of spin-offs they've launched i.e. "keep calm and keep cooking". seriously, enough!

also tired of the "Buddha trend" that was in every magazine layout last summer (though admittedly it seems to be dying). Unless you are an actual practicing Buddhist i just think it's pretentious.

i love mid-century mod for it''s simplicity but i also love "pretty things" too much so i don't think i'm ever in danger of overdoing it. i have a sideboard weakness though, i have one as a tv stand, in the kitchen for extra storage and in the dinning room proper as an actual sideboard...perhaps i do have a problem afterall!

LOL. This list describes most of the 2011 Homies top vote getters. Ouch.

My major gripe is the color fad - which changes with the whims of the decorators, but has no other basis in taste. Just because a color is "in" doesn't mean you have to use it. One example I want outlawed is that yellowy, cooked asparagus green that everyone seems to use in large amounts in kitchens and other rooms. There is an emotional reaction to color that affects all of us. So, just putting up a fad color without knowing what it does is odd.
Restaurants know the psychology of color and use it all the time. I don't want to eat in front of a wall that looks like I do when I'm ill.

Ok, so bye-bye already to "man caves".

Guilty! I have a cowhide on my tiled screened-in porch floor, and alas, I love it.

What about bird-cage pendant lights?

Buy what you love, I say. A house that reflects who you are is a home. (how 'bout we put that on a poster??? Yechhh)

Glossy black chandeliers

Yes please! No more cow or other animal skins and no more "Keep Calm.. and Whatever" unsolicited advice as wall art. Ditto saying in general. A vintage "Keep Calm" poster I can see the appeal in- likewise skins at a ranch or something.

Sometimes DIY happens because some of us just need to do things with out own hands. It is out of the need to be creative as much as not being able to afford to buy a new thing made by some other creative person. If I'm not good at woodworking, perhaps with some years of practice I'll be raking in the big bucks making fine furniture. BTW a friend doing the practice made a great dresser for me that fits my space.

Lots of pettiness (in the list and in the comments) Especially the swipe at DIY, which is just plain silly.

And regarding trends -- I've never been good at noticing what they are, let alone interested in following them. But if someone gets joy from being "trendy", so what? How does that hurt me? And that's completely aside from things that people like that just happen to be "trends". (I like the chalk-board-paint walls, even though I don't have one). And who cares if someone's space starts to look "dated", if it's a style they enjoy?

And a DIY project is inherently individual. Even if you're following a "trend", it will still be unique. Sure, in most cases it's not going to look like it was created by a master craftsman, but so what? Kudos for making the effort to actually *create* something.

I'M SOOOO W MARY MCDONALD AND SHELIA BRIDGES! I'M SO OVER THE BROWN/LIGHT BLUE DECOR AND ALL THE FAUX CORAL STUFF...LET IT GO...UGH! I TRY TO STEER CLIENTS AWAY FROM ANY TRENDS-CLASSIC W A MIX IS THE WAY TO GO I THINK- ALWAYS HAVE. I KNOW BIG MAJOR CITIES CATCH ON FIRST AND IT JUST TAKES TIME FOR OTHER PLACES TO FOLLOW AND THEY JUST SEEM LIKE ITS THE NEW BEST THING WHEN REALLY ITS BEEN AROUND FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS ALREADY...EXHAUSTING! GREAT POST!

Eclectic ALWAYS means a collection of stuff.The type of stuff being left up to your own tastes,knowledge and experience or lack thereof. 'Just saying...' No wonder there are so few fans of graphic art and illustration on AT.

That's my peeve about fads in design.Dumbing down legitimate design to serve the masses.By the time it trickles down to the average person ,design becomes mediocre at best and unrecognizable to others ,who do appreciate it originally, to begin with.

Your tastes should evolve as you progress in life.What I find lacking in most every day design blogs...etc is sophistication and refinement in the average person reading them.The audience thinks they know what they like and the reality is that they can't live with it because they are unwilling to commit themselves to anything.....unless it's 'in'.Fads come and go,but design for people with poor taste is timeless.Trust me....it endures through all the fads... forever.

I hear everyone on the "too much MCM" sentiment but I'll say this in its defense: I'm glad there is a renewed interest in well-crafted items. Danish teak furniture is really good stuff- so if it's cool again, I say that is good. Maybe people's taste will expand beyond wood laminate IKEA junk.

Camera collection anyone???

Wall quotes. Yucko.

MCM overload? Well, most of the furniture in our house is vintage, because we inherited it, not because it's trendy. And I love it all. Even if we had the budget to replace it, I wouldn't (I would love to refinish/reupholster some pieces though). I don't know if someone would call it an overload. I don't think it is, but it might be to someone else. I decorate it the way that I like, that is functional for how my husband and I live.

here's one I predict will end: tearing out bathroom cabinets and counters and replacing them with pedestal sinks... peple are going to start wanting that storage back. Same with open shelving in the kitchen. Bring back fuzzy and quiet wall to wall carpets! see, The "trends" determine what kinds of things are available at a reasonable price, so "do what you love" is a bit idealistic...

It's. Not design related but the trebd of everyone saying "Yes, please!" At every turn is getting old quick. I see it everywhere.

Bleh. Stupid tablet makes it hard to spell

Eh, who cares? People are going to love/hate different styles. People are people, after all. Being an artist, and from a middle class family, I enjoy painting/altering thrift store finds for enjoyment and practicality. Do I expect everyone to like it? No. Do I do it for anyone other than myself? No. My favorite memories are thrifting with my mother (who is now deceased), and some of my favorite possessions are furniture she had painted or modified in some way. That being said, if you have the money and inclination, decorate your house however you like! Practical or not, it's your house, your taste, your decision! Who gives a rats @$% what anyone else thinks.

i decorate with books all the time - i pull them out to read or to reference and then they stay on the coffee table because i'm a slob. but you know what? it looks great 100% of the time.

as others have said above, everything in moderation. my bathroom has an orange couter-top, and it's bossy. i'd be a fool not to incorporate some mcm. i kept everything on the clean side with ikea's lillholmen series, soft grey and white for most textiles, with some punches of orange to repeat the colour. i diy'd my own shower curtain and you'd never kn ow. it fits my space exactly and it was half the price of the one i priced out at the bay. using this trend keeps me away from another trend - dysfunctional decoration.

word art is the worst, truly. instead of letting us know 'the world is beautiful!' could you not have found an example? laquered anything has a special home in hell, in my opinion.

there are good & bad examples of design in every era, and it is tedious to see a bad example of a design glorified b/c it currently is the trend, esp if it currently is the trend again (is "mediterranean" or "miami vice" next?) or if it replaces a classic (think appliance & bath tile colours of the 20c). otoh, when people are trendy, they toss the good stuff & it can be acquired & restored for cheap. too bad we cannot toss the over-sized, badly-construction houses w/poor layouts that are sprawling through the u.s., which is the worst trend.
what is the current definition of "regency," anyway?

Cow hide rugs.
Fake animal heads on the wall.
Globes

I had not known that granite was a trend. I think that it never looks completely clean but for some people it works for them. Who am I to judge that? Also, I think that the whole words as art this is a nice trend when done in a classier way. I personally would love to have quotes from my favorite books and poems on my walls. I will admit, those stereotypical phrases people put on their walls can get old. All things are good and dandy if you like them. I will always have book quotes as art because that's what I like.

To Gayleen: Thank you for using the word "people".

Overused and incredibly irritating to have educated "people" now referring to their fellow citizens or others as "folks."

As I told a friend, nicely of course, if it looks like the Brady bunch lives there you have gone too far. She looked at me like I was crazy and kept on keeping on. Avacado green, aqua, gold and orange till I could hurl and she is sooo happy. I guess that's really all that matters. I can go home when it gets too much. Is that any worse than Shabby Chic lace on everything? I'll stay in my Art Deco home with eclectic pieces collected over the years. Different strokes for different folks or so they say.

Hate MCM, Ew. Something to do with being bought up in the 70's perhaps? Esp those nasty white plastic chairs and chrome legedy-things.

Using books to decorate and color code, oh dear...

DIY is great I think, whats not to love about making your own stuff? bypass the designers and become your own! v.healthy, exp in these cash strapped times.

The words on walls thing is just horrible, affected, squirm worthy.

Its kind of strange, how we get our like and dislikes isn't it? to what extent are they really ours I wonder? strange world.

Spray painting chandeliers! In five years every thrift store is going to be filled with neon pink, garish yellow, emerald green, and Barney purple chandeliers! Then we're going to see "how to strip spray paint from a vintage chandelier" posts!