TRENDY OR TRENDING?

Yesterday I did a poll on Instagram evaluating whether different design elements are trendy or timeless. The results were interesting. Here they are:

– Shiplap | 39% voted trendy and 61% voted timeless
– Carpet Floors | 35% trendy, 65% timeless
– Picture Lights | 30% trendy, 70% timeless
– Brass Fixtures | 32% trendy, 68% timeless
– Matte Black | 59% trendy, 41% timeless
– Subway Tile | 26% trendy, 74% timeless
– Wood Beams | 14% trendy, 86% timeless
– Moody Rooms | 58% trendy, 42% timeless
– Zelliage Tile | 41% trendy, 59% timeless
– White Walls | 14% trendy, 86% timeless
– Wood Trim | 13% trendy, 87% timeless
– Contrasting Trim | 60% trendy, 40% timeless
– Puddy Cabinets | 51% trendy, 49% timeless

A few surprised me.

Shiplap, white walls, AND brass fixtures in the Barclay House. Oh my!

When looking at whether an element is timeless, I look back at old architecture and design over the course of history. There are patterns; timeless elements come in and out but are consistently present over time.

I think the words trendy and trending are often confused. Timeless elements end up trending and we see a spike in their popularity. But, they are not trendy; they are just popular at a given time. 

The opposite of timeless is an element that spikes in popularity for a short period of time, never to spike again. I think this is what is meant when we say something is trendy. These elements also end up trending.

I also think in some ways it is in the eye of the beholder. Incorporate what you love in your home whether it is timeless or trendy, trending or not. It’s your space!