Best & Worst Design Trends of the Decade

As 2019 comes to an end, we’re making time to reflect on the good and bad design decisions of the 2010s. To start: bold wallcoverings have come back in a big way, as have electric touches of fuchsia, and more designers are softening the borders between indoor and outdoor spaces. Bright, open spaces bathed in light neutrals or bursting with lush, colorful accents are becoming the norm across social media. However, as Steve Somogyi of Steve + Filip Design Inc. reminds us, heavy fabrics like brocade likewise had their moment in the sun this past decade—opposing the trend toward airy, Instagrammable interiors. “We loved it for a second, but got over it real quick,” says Somogyi. Here, we talk with seven interior designers and one architect about the trends that inspired them this past decade, and the ones they hope to never see again.

BEST: Indoor/Outdoor Living Rooms

Above Image: The living room here opens up to a luxurious patio area.

"Extending the living space and square footage of a home is more important now than ever. More and more, we are drawn to the outdoors. Exterior living space should feel inviting and seamlessly blend with the interior, creating an organic extension of the house. There are so many beautiful options for outdoor furniture and fabrics today — just 10 years ago the selection of outdoor fabrics was so limited, but now we have endless possibilities. It’s exciting!"

— Jeffrey Alan Marks, Jeffrey Alan Marks Inc.

Design by Jeffrey Alan Marks Inc.
WORST: All-Gray Everything

Above Image: A dining space indulging in color.

"The trend for gray as the new neutral over the last decade has become overused and overwhelming. Fifty Shades of Grey is a great book, but too much gray in a room can feel cold and gloomy. Gray works well as a neutral and is still a favorite go-to; however, brightening up the palette by using milk whites, light grays, and deep color as a base really updates the maudlin feel of the all-gray interior."

— Jeffrey Alan Marks, Jeffrey Alan Marks Inc.

Design by Jeffrey Alan Marks Inc.
BEST: Respecting the Past

Above Image: This space includes accents referencing the Art Deco period.

"This past decade designers have been looking to history to influence their style, and I absolutely love the idea. Experiencing the transformation of a space that can be inspired by the past with current refinements for a new era is fascinating. Understanding the historical significance of a trend enriches the design experience, and most recently we can see that the '80s and '90s are back in a fun and interesting way. Before, French and Parisian style was a big influence."

— Tina Ramchandani, Tina Ramchandani Creative

Design by Tina Ramchandani Creative | Photo by Jacob Snavely
WORST: Flashy Statement Floors

Above Image: Understated neutrals ground this bathroom.

"Statement or pronounced floors can be gorgeous when used properly; however, they were not my favorite trend this past decade. While perfect for small spaces like a powder room or foyer, I find them to be mostly overwhelming."

— Tina Ramchandani, Tina Ramchandani Creative

Design by Tina Ramchandani Creative | Photo by Ellen McDermott.
BEST: Bold Patterned Wallpapers

Above Image: A townhouse entryway covered in a bright blue marbled wallcovering.

"Nothing beats an unexpected burst of pattern and color by way of fearless wallpaper."

— Ashli Mizell

Design by Ashli Mizell
WORST: Overuse of the Words “Midcentury Modern” and “Clean Lines”

Above Image: An inviting dressing area.

"The term 'Midcentury modern' has been used to describe any remotely contemporary piece of furniture from any decade, and the term 'clean lines' is so general. While I love these styles in their truest form, let’s try to be a bit more specific. Maybe the next decade will provide us examples of 'dirty lines' just to keep it fresh."

— Ashli Mizell

Design by Ashli Mizell
BEST: Artisan Furniture

Above Image: Custom furnishings bring a unique touch to this dining area.

"With the impact of social media, artisan furniture is so much more accessible and visible. We have seen so many incredible emerging artists come out of this decade from Brooklyn to Paris. There is a variety of talent all over the world."

— Cara Woodhouse, Cara Woodhouse Interiors LLC

Design by Cara Woodhouse Interiors LLC | Photo by Patrick Cline
WORST: Chocolate Brown

Above Image: Fresh, crisp shades of white and an accent of emerald green.

"Chocolate brown is dated and unattractive. It's a dull choice of color that brings down whatever you try to pair it with."

— Cara Woodhouse, Cara Woodhouse Interiors LLC

Design by Cara Woodhouse Interiors
BEST: Washed-out and Distressed Rugs

Above Image: A muted orange rug in an eclectic kitchen.

"Functional and practical, a good rug gets better with age. We don’t even mind the threadbare look."

— Steve Somogyi, Steve + Filip Design Inc.

Design by Steve + Filip Design Inc | Photo by Jeremy Witteveen
WORST: Brocade

Above Image: Classic and contemporary style merge.

"There was a moment in the early 2010’s when this look was everything. It was usually black and white, but sometimes with a little color. We loved it for a second, but got over it real quick."

— Steve Somogyi, Steve + Filip Design Inc.

Design by Steve + Filip Design Inc | Photo by Mike Schwartz
BEST: Sustainable Design

Above Image: An airy kitchen.

"Among the best trends from the past decade (that I expect will continue for some time) is the idea of environmentally-aware sustainable design, especially in the area of energy."

— Amy A. Alper, Architect

Architecture by Amy A. Alper, Architect | Interior Design by Jennifer Robin Interiors | Photo by John Merkl
WORST: McMansions

Above Image: An intimate, well-scaled vineyard estate.

"Houses of 5000 square feet and more became popular in the last decade, and now interest is waning with—again—attention to sustainability, both environmental and budgetary. Clients are also looking for the emotional comfort of tailored but more intimate spaces."

— Amy A. Alper, Architect

Design by Amy A. Alper, Architect | Photo by John Merkl
BEST: Innovative Bath Designs

Above Image: Mixed materials in a calming bathroom.

"The bathroom has become a much more interesting, important space. We love mixing up the finishes—seldom do we select nickel or chrome. We love pushing the creativity when it comes to the vanity design by adding an interesting stain color, combo finish, or fluted door detail, or perhaps swapping applied hardware for custom integrated pulls. We see a trend towards making the bathroom more spacious and much cozier and inviting, with vintage furnishings, lighting, and custom roman shades in the mix. And the tile and slab options are endless, which makes it so much fun to create a space that our clients will enjoy for a long time."

— Design by J. Patryce Design.

Design by J Patryce Design | Photo by Christian Harder
WORST: Safe Styles

Above Image: Beautiful details bring personality to an under-the-stairs nook.

"A push towards safe design, safe palettes, and safe styles. It is so refreshing when a client allows us to use a bit more color, an interesting pattern, or a mix of styles (such as a rustic, carved stool or antique side table in the modern mix). Likewise, I don't like the online shopping trend where clients believe they can order an entire room from one retailer and have it look lived-in and personal."

— Design by J. Patryce Design

Design by J Patryce Design | Photo by Christian Harder
WORST: Excessively Extravagant Lighting Systems

Above Image: An understated table lamp tops an elegant nightstand.

"Most clients are rebelling against very complicated lighting and dimming solutions. Everyone wants simplicity."

— John Beckmann, principal of Axis Mundi

Design by Axis Mundi | Photo by 3DRS