Living rooms are getting more laid-back and less fussy
As 2019 draws to a close, we’re getting ready to enter into an entirely new decade. And according to leading voices in the design community, we’re also getting ready to leave behind some popular living room mainstays.
Living rooms are getting more laid-back and less fussy, which means a lot of once widely-held “rules” are going to the wayside. Here are the things they say it’s time to phase out from your living room:
Meticulously Styled Bookcases
A glossy coffee-table book here, an unlit candle there, coordinating geodes everywhere—no more. “I will admit, I’m over groupings of same color book spines and the overall matchy-matchy look in a bookcase,” notes Pimlico Interiors designer Melissa Lindsay. “That being said, there is still very much an art to accessorizing bookshelves—to obtain a look that feels relaxed and almost haphazard.”
Creating a layered look takes time, and it isn’t just about shopping for pieces that are visually appealing. Style bookshelves to evolve with your current pursuits and passions. “Millennials are more about experiences, versus stuff,” confirms Schwartz Design Showroom owner Alexis Varbero. “Instead of having bookshelves done in a nanosecond, they are filling their spaces with meaningful items and trinkets from travels.”
The Matching Furniture Set
“There is nothing worse than walking into a room and having it look like the designer just left the building,” D2 Interieurs CEO Denise Davies laughs. “I think matching furniture is phasing out. My clients like a room to look well curated rather than overly designed.”
Davies says the key to creating a layered look is to include two different sculptural chairs to add interest and sophistication, opposed to a matching set. “I also like having a few different coffee tables that can be moved around giving the room multiple functions, especially when entertaining,” she adds.
The shift is also reflective of the way we entertain today. Instead of formal dinner parties around the grand dining table, hosts prefer a flexible atmosphere for cocktails and conversation. “The formal nature of the living room is being replaced with an unexpected comfortable living space, housing unique design elements like billiard or games tables, bars or even modular seating,” adds Bungalow owner Wende Cohen.
Millennial Pink
Don’t panic: Everyone’s favorite shade of pink isn’t leaving for good, but it’s evolving. “We still love the rosy blushy pink (a.k.a. Millennial Pink), we just see it transitioning into a warmer version inspired by the peachy undertones pulled from organic untanned leathers that are a big upcoming trend,” Cohen confirms.
“I’m seeing a shift toward blush with warm or peachy undertones and pairing this soft palette with its more moody counterpart: a rust color,” Lindsay agrees.
