Remember when you’d buy a whole dining set with a matching table and chairs? Well, that’s pretty much on the back burner. Right now, the winning concept is to embrace the funky flavor of contrasting furniture. The idea is to find loosely corresponding pieces you really love and throw them all together. Think chairs in a different color than the dining table or a group of dining chairs of varying styles. The result is a space that feels eclectically rustic and personal.
If you have a tropical plant, this isn’t a call to immediately give it away. Fresh plants will never not be in style, but I’ve noticed a few varieties that are particularly in favor right now. A few years ago, the monstera craze wiped out nearly the entire supply of the variety in all of my local garden stores, and now, dwarf trees are becoming sparse. From large ficuses to mini olive varieties, these trees are used to ground a room in a way that brings nature indoors. After being inside for over a year, a little dose of the outdoors feels like a welcome proposition.
Yes, mid-century modern design is still alive and well. Even more than 50 years later, millennials especially can’t stop buying futuristic 1960s Italian lamps and Herman Miller furniture. But one hallmark of the retro design wave has particularly struck a chord: chrome. You’ll notice items featuring the metal finish, like mirrors and dining chairs, are all very quick to sell out at places like Etsy and CB2. While decorating my new apartment, I too went on a chrome blitz, buying a Sonneman-inspired table lamp for my sideboard. You can easily inject this trend into space with a vintage light fixture or a mini side table, but to avoid a clash, keep the metals within your room to one shade.
As you continue down this list, you’ll notice that eccentricity and individuality are two overarching themes within the latest design trends. This also extends to wood furniture and accents: Burl has slowly picked up steam, appearing heavily in the latest collections from CB2 and more. Each piece of burl is completely unique, as it’s the result of abnormal and deformed growth within a large tree.
Here’s where it’s perfectly acceptable to embrace the quirky side of things. Playful lamps in a variety of sizes, shapes, shades are trending heavy, and it doesn’t look like it’s slowing down anytime soon. If you have the budget, Etsy is a great resource to find rare vintage lamps, or you can order one direct from a design studio like Entler or Eny Lee Parker.
We’ve seen this one coming for a while now, but it wasn’t until this year that the checkered trend really took off like wildfire. One of the easier ways to embrace the style is small decor objects to decorate a tabletop or mantle. On the opposite spectrum, checkered shag rugs are practically a fashion girl staple—they’ll cost a bit more, but you’ll have it forever.
Next up: This Accessory Combo Is a Fashion-Girl Favorite for Summer.