Skip to content

Top Navigation

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Food and Recipes
  • Culture and Lifestyle
  • Style
  • Holidays & Occasions
  • Home
  • Gardening Ideas
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Southern Living

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      Here are the haircuts you'll be seeing everywhere this year. Read More
    • How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. Read More
    • 50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      Not sure what to write in a thank you card? Here's how to show your gratitude with a handwritten note. Read More
  • Food and Recipes

    Food and Recipes

    See All Food and Recipes
    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    It’s not all in the senses, but they sure can help.
    • Recipes
    • Quick and Easy Dinner
    • Kitchen Assistant
    • Casserole
    • Holiday and Occasion Food
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Healthy and Light
    • Side Dishes
    • Party Food and Drink
    • Appetizers
    • Meat
    • Breakfast
    • BBQ
    • Drinks
    • What's Cooking
  • Culture and Lifestyle

    Culture and Lifestyle

    See All Culture and Lifestyle
    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    Let your besties know how much they mean to you with these unique nicknames.
    • Quotes and Sayings
    • Biscuits and Jam Podcast
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Healthy Living
    • Coastal Living
  • Style

    Style

    See All Style
    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The beginning of a new year often has us all feeling like starting off fresh by taking on better habits, getting rid of old ones, and—most commonly—changing up our look. While others are hitting the squats and going into the salon for a pixie cut, why not start slow and steady with a cozy winter manicure in a color that feels new to you? It takes only a little courage to step outside your usual OPI Lincoln Park After Dark or Essie Bordeaux, which is all you need to kick 2022 off on a fanciful foot.  From new wintry takes on classic dark nail colors to unique pops of color that'll have you feeling the opposite of boring, these are the best nail colors to try this January and tick off all the way into spring. 
    • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Fashion
    • Short Hairstyles
    • Nails
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Skincare
    • Long Hairstyles
  • Holidays & Occasions

    Holidays & Occasions

    See All Holidays & Occasions
    • Thanksgiving
    • Gifts
    • Christmas
    • Mother's Day
    • Hanukkah
    • New Year's
    • Easter
    • Mardi Gras
    • 4th of July
    • Weddings
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home
    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    There's no denying how the pandemic fundamentally changed the world—including how we live (and work) inside our homes. An overall trend toward celebrating the history and originality of our homes is displacing ultramodern aesthetics and sharp lines as we all look to create cozier, colorful, more personalized spaces that better suit our lifestyles. We're turning away from big-box stores and toward vintage items—first, out of necessity due to supply-chain issues, and now, for design reasons—to add charm and character to every room in the house, including the kitchen. Here, interior designers from around the South share their predictions for what's trending in kitchen design for 2022 and beyond.
    • Home Decor Ideas
    • Idea Houses
    • Kitchen Design
    • Before & After Photos
    • Bathroom Design
    • Curb Appeal
    • Bedroom Design
    • DIY Home Decor
    • Color Palettes & Paint
    • House Plans & Builders
    • Inspired Communities
  • Gardening Ideas

    Gardening Ideas

    See All Gardening Ideas
    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    Plus a few strategies for keeping them out-of-doors
    • Container Gardening
    • Gardening Flowers
    • Fruit, Vegetable & Herb Gardens
    • Garden Pests
    • Plant Guides A-Z
    • Indoor Plants
    • Fall Plants
    • Landscaping Ideas
    • The Grumpy Gardener
  • News

    News

    See All News
    • Celebrities
    • Local News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Southern Living
  2. Home
  3. Home Decor Ideas
  4. Distracting Design Trends to Avoid, According to Designers 

Distracting Design Trends to Avoid, According to Designers 

Elizabeth Sweet
By Elizabeth Sweet February 28, 2022
Skip gallery slides
FB
bedroom wall paint colors black
Credit: Aaron Dougherty Photography

Trends can be great fun, or they can pull us off track. When designing your home (or a client's, if you're a design talent), heed the experts: Choose what you love, and you'll love what you choose. Make your home unique rather than mainstream. Pick colors, textures, and materials that speak to you, and they're sure to stay in style.

Erica Evensen of Austin's Evensen Design agrees. "We always encourage clients to buy pieces that resonate with them and not to buy items to simply fill the home," she says. "Your interiors should be a reflection of your personality, with things you love curated over time."

Are you redecorating, renovating, or simply need some direction? We've asked a handful of Southern designers to share a tempting design trend to avoid. Keep their advice in mind, and you'll soon have a timeless space to enjoy. 

Start Slideshow

1 of 9

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Trendy Patterned Tile

Patterned Tile
Credit: Getty Images

In many bathrooms and kitchens, you're sure to see patterned flooring and wall tile. For designer Andi Morse, founder of Morse Design, it's a trend to evade. "Patterned tile is a popular trend these days," she says. "I like the look, but it will make your house dated in a few years. I recommend sticking to solids in different textures."

1 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 9

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Sticking To A Defined Style

large dark wood kitchen island modern kitchen farmhouse kitchen
Credit: Nick Johnson

Designer Blair Burton of Blair Burton Interiors says homeowners should avoid a defined style in their home and kitchen (like modern farmhouse, rustic, or Tuscan). "Choose texture and pattern over a specific style," she says. "Spaces that look like they were taken entirely from Pinterest aren't as authentic or appealing."

2 of 9

3 of 9

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Faux Marble In The Kitchen

marble kitchen
Credit: Molly Culver

If you're selecting materials for a renovation, avoid imitation surfaces. For Burton, faux marble is trendy but a no. "Marble must be authentic to make its way into a kitchen," she says. "It doesn't have the same patina and warmth as natural stone." 

3 of 9

Advertisement

4 of 9

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

The Sterile White Kitchen

plain white kitchen
Credit: Getty Images

For Burton, it's prudent to avoid the sterile kitchen trend all together. "If you decide to go with an all-white kitchen, make sure to vary materials and textures to keep the look interesting," she says.

4 of 9

5 of 9

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Open Shelving If You're Not Tidy

Open shelving kitchen
Credit: Getty Images

"If homeowners tend to be less than tidy, they should steer clear of open shelving," says Caron Woolsey, Founder of CW Interiors. "If the shelves are used to display infrequently used items, they will need to be dusted. If open shelving is used to store dishes, said dishes will need to be artfully stacked and accessed regularly, which could lead to a glass or dish getting knocked and falling to the floor."

5 of 9

6 of 9

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Maximalism

minimalist kitchen
Credit: Evensen Design

"I recommend you avoid embracing maximalism," Evensen says. "As much as we love layering styles, textures, and curating unique pieces for our clients, design is all about how you edit a space. If you want to embrace this trend, do it in a small space that doesn't dominate your entire home." 

6 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 9

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Uniformly Painted Walls

bedroom wall paint colors black
Credit: Aaron Dougherty Photography

Terra McNutt of Dallas-based RI Studio says it can be tempting to stick to one monochromatic color when designing your home, but contrast is crucial. "Adding in bold accents and textures into your space is key to an interior you'll love for years to come," she says. "Say goodbye to all-white designs and select an unexpected paint color or wall-covering that adds depth and interest."  

7 of 9

8 of 9

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

All Matching Furniture

white drapery window coverings bedroom rug grey sofa
Credit: Stovall Studio

"Matching furniture may seem like the easiest way to achieve the style or look you want for your interior, but it results in a lack of authenticity," says Cheri Etchelecu Martin of Cheri Etchelecu Interior Design. "Don't be afraid to mix finishes and textures with furnishings that show personality and creativity! You will end up with a more curated space."

8 of 9

9 of 9

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Furniture In Trendy Colors

emerald drapes window coverings leather chair
Credit: Breathe Design Studio

Christine Turknett of Breathe Design Studio in Austin says homeowners should use trendy colors in easily-updated places. "Green is the color of the year, but I would stray from purchasing furniture in colors like avocado or lime green," she says. "Instead, I suggest painting the walls or using accessories so that your furniture will remain timeless and you can change up accent colors easily."

9 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Elizabeth Sweet

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 9 Trendy Patterned Tile
    2 of 9 Sticking To A Defined Style
    3 of 9 Faux Marble In The Kitchen
    4 of 9 The Sterile White Kitchen
    5 of 9 Open Shelving If You're Not Tidy
    6 of 9 Maximalism
    7 of 9 Uniformly Painted Walls
    8 of 9 All Matching Furniture
    9 of 9 Furniture In Trendy Colors

    Share & More

    Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print
    Southern Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Southern Living
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    MeredithSouthern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. Southern Living is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab All Rights Reserved. Southern Living may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Southern Living. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.southernliving.com

    Sign in

    View image

    Distracting Design Trends to Avoid, According to Designers 
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.