Your home, your rules: why authentic interior design trumps trends
There's something I need to say, and it might ruffle a few feathers: Just because everyone else is doing it doesn't mean you should.
I'm talking about interior design trends - those ubiquitous styles that flood our feeds, dominate home décor stores, and somehow make us feel like our homes are "wrong" if they don't look a certain way.
But here's the truth: the only person who needs to love your home is you.
Stop apologising for your style
Let's get specific about the trends that might be pressuring you right now:
Love colour? Then splash it everywhere. Don't let anyone convince you that neutrals are the only "timeless" choice. A home filled with the colours that make your heart sing will never go out of style - for you.
Not feeling the Scandi or coastal vibe? That's completely fine. If oak and beech finishes don't speak to you, leave them at the store. There's no interior design rulebook that says every modern home must have light wood tones.
Don't enjoy cooking? Please, I'm begging you - don't install that professional-grade range or fill your counters with gadgets that will gather dust. Your kitchen should match your lifestyle, not someone else's culinary fantasy.
Prefer a rustic, lived-in aesthetic? Embrace it fully. You don't always need to balance your vintage treasures with sleek, modern pieces just because minimalism is (still) having a moment. Patina and character are beautiful in their own right.
The power of authentic living
When your home truly reflects who you are - not who Pinterest or Instagram suggest you should be - something magical happens. You feel more comfortable, more relaxed, more yourself within your own four walls.
That's not just pleasant; it's powerful.
Your home should be your sanctuary, not a stage set designed to impress others or conform to the latest trends. It should tell your story, accommodate your habits, and celebrate your tastes - quirks and all.
Finding the right design partner
If you're working with an interior designer, the most important quality they can have isn't an impressive portfolio or a celebrity client list. It's this: they need to truly understand you.
Look for a designer who:
Asks questions about how you actually live your life
Listens when you describe what you love (and what you hate)
Helps translate your vision into reality - rather than imposing their own aesthetic
Respects your budget and priorities
Creates spaces that serve your needs, not just beautiful photographs
The best design collaboration happens when someone helps you articulate and achieve your vision, not when they talk you into theirs.
Your permission slip
Consider this your official permission to ignore every trend that doesn't resonate with you. To choose the "impractical" colour. To skip the style everyone says is "in." To trust your instincts about what feels right.
Your home is yours. Make it a place that wraps around you like a favourite sweater - perfectly suited to who you are, not who you think you should be.
Because at the end of the day, you're the one living there. And that's the only opinion that truly matters.
What trends have you felt pressured to follow? I'd love to hear about the design "rules" you've decided to break in your own home.