The world of home decor is constantly evolving, bringing fresh ideas, inspiring transformations, and sometimes, a little bit of trend fatigue. Just last week, while I was blissfully enjoying a much-needed vacation, I had a couple of blog posts pre-scheduled to keep content flowing. It was a time dedicated to soaking up the sun and sipping on refreshing beverages, far from the usual hustle. Thankfully, the convenience of the WordPress phone app meant I could effortlessly moderate comments from my poolside perch. And it turned out to be a good thing, because a recent post, where I invited readers to share their opinions on home decor trends they were tired of seeing, absolutely exploded with activity! The response was overwhelming, proving that many of you share similar sentiments about certain styles that have perhaps overstayed their welcome.
Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Home Decor Trends
It’s fascinating how quickly home decor trends can sweep across the design world, transforming spaces and influencing countless renovations. From the moment a trend emerges, often in high-end design magazines or on influential blogs, it can rapidly gain traction, appearing everywhere from Instagram feeds to local furniture stores. However, the very platforms that accelerate a trend’s rise, such as Pinterest and various home decor blogs, also contribute to its accelerated burnout. What starts as fresh and innovative can quickly become ubiquitous, losing its unique charm and eventually leading to a collective sigh of “I’m so over it.” This phenomenon highlights the double-edged sword of digital trend propagation: widespread inspiration comes hand-in-hand with rapid saturation.
Reading through your comments on that particular post was truly entertaining, and I admit, the relaxed vacation atmosphere (and perhaps a little rum) certainly enhanced my enjoyment. For the most part, I found myself nodding in agreement and chuckling along with your observations. It was all in good fun, a space for personal opinions without any intention to disparage anyone else’s design choices. The discussion was wonderfully broad: some of you pointed out trends that have simply become overdone, while others highlighted styles they never quite understood or personally gravitated towards. A recurring theme was indeed how quickly Pinterest and blogs seem to “burn out” trends, pushing them into obsolescence at an unprecedented pace.
But beyond the individual remarks, a striking pattern emerged: a significant number of you shared the same dislikes for specific trends. As I continued to scroll and read, a humorous mental dialogue started to form:
- “Ah, another reader who’s had enough of chevron.” Sip.
- “Yup, pallet wood. Saw that coming.” Sip.
- “Ha. Ikat, Ombre, and mustaches. Yep, yep, yep.” Sip. Sip. Sip.
This observation wasn’t confined to my own blog’s comments section. As a keen follower of other design blogs, I often browse through my reader app, taking in the latest posts and projects. It wasn’t long before I noticed the same “overdone” elements popping up in other people’s featured content. Without even consciously trying, I found myself mentally “sipping” every time one of these common themes appeared. This organic, lighthearted pattern recognition sparked an idea: why not turn this into a fun, interactive game for a Friday post? And thus, the Home Decor Blog Drinking Game was born – a playful way to acknowledge the ubiquity of certain trends and common blogging tropes.
Ready to Play? The Ultimate Home Decor Blog Drinking Game Rules!
This game is designed for pure amusement, a gentle nod to the recurring themes we encounter in the vibrant world of home decor blogging. Gather your favorite beverage, pull up your go-to home decor blogs, and let the games begin! Remember, this is all in good fun – a celebration of shared experiences and collective observations, not a critique of individual style or hard work.
Drink One: The “So Over It” Decor Trends Edition
Take one sip of your drink for every instance you spot one of these widely-discussed home decor trends, as highlighted by readers in my “Reader Remarks” post. These are the styles that have gone from novel to ubiquitous, prompting many of us to collectively say, “enough is enough!”
- Sunburst mirrors: Once a chic statement piece, now almost a default option for wall decor.
- Chevron patterns: From bold graphic to a pattern seen on everything from rugs to throw pillows, often leading to visual overload.
- Ikat prints: An exotic and beautiful textile tradition, but its widespread commercialization has diluted its unique appeal for many.
- Ombre effects: The gradual color transition, while artistic, has become so prevalent it feels less special.
- Subway tile everywhere: A classic choice that has been applied so universally it can feel uninspired outside of kitchens and bathrooms.
- Gray walls: While undeniably versatile and modern, the sheer dominance of gray has left some yearning for more vibrant or warmer tones. (Fair warning: just take my home tour, and you’ll probably get a good buzz from this alone!)
- Mustaches as decor: What started as quirky and ironic has become a pervasive motif on everything from art prints to coffee mugs.
- “Keep Calm” signs and other word art: Inspirational phrases are lovely, but the sheer volume and often generic nature of word art can feel repetitive.
- Gallery walls: While great for personal expression, the highly curated, often formulaic gallery wall has become a decor staple that many find predictable.
- Distressed furniture: The intentionally aged look, particularly painted and chipped pieces, can now sometimes look less authentic and more mass-produced.
- Oil-rubbed bronze (ORB) fixtures: A popular finish for hardware and lighting, its omnipresence means it’s no longer the distinctive choice it once was.
- Shaker style cabinets: I was genuinely surprised this made the list! Many readers expressed their dislike not for the aesthetic, but for the difficulty in keeping their recessed panels clean.
- Empty picture frames: Intended to be artistic or whimsical, but often feels unfinished or simply odd.
- Books sorted by color or covered to match shelves: A visual trick for aesthetic harmony, but purists argue it detracts from the true purpose and character of books.
- Animal heads (faux or otherwise): From quirky to common, these often taxidermy-inspired pieces have had their moment in the spotlight.
- Neon accents: A burst of vibrant color that, when overused, can quickly shift from playful to jarring.
- Mason jars in every conceivable use: From drinks to decorative vases, the humble mason jar has been repurposed to an almost comical degree.
- Owls as decor: These wise birds migrated from whimsical accents to an excessively popular decor motif.
- Spray painting absolutely everything white: While a quick fix for outdated items, the uniform application can sometimes strip objects of their original character.
- Maps everywhere: World maps, state maps, city maps – while educational and travel-inspired, their ubiquitous presence can sometimes feel less unique.
- Polished brass: After years of being out of favor, polished brass made a strong comeback, perhaps too strong for some who associate it with older trends.
- Painted upholstery: A creative DIY solution for tired furniture, but the texture and feel often leave something to be desired compared to traditional fabric.
Drink Two: Common Blogger Habits Edition
Take two sips for every time you observe a blogger engaging in one of these common, and often endearing, blogging habits. These aren’t necessarily “bad” habits, nor were they part of the original Reader Remarks post, but they certainly add a fun layer to our game and are instantly recognizable to anyone who follows the blogging world!
- Using periods after. every. single. word.: A stylistic choice to create emphasis or a dramatic pause, often seen in emotionally charged or highly descriptive writing.
- Uttering “Swoon!”: A ubiquitous expression of intense admiration or delight, often accompanying an especially beautiful or inspiring image.
- Posting “Selfies”: The candid self-portrait, often used to personalize content or share a behind-the-scenes look into the blogger’s life or workspace.
- Apologizing for not blogging: A common practice to acknowledge a hiatus or inconsistent posting schedule, reassuring readers they haven’t been forgotten.
- Using “wah-lah” (or similar) instead of voilà: An endearing, if linguistically incorrect, way to announce a grand reveal or finished project.
- Referring to a growing fetus by a food item: A charming trend where expectant parents use descriptors like “peanut,” “cashew,” or “bean” to track their baby’s development. (It makes me wonder what I’ll choose if/when! Hmm. “Tic-tac” sounds good, doesn’t it?)
- Hashtags with no link purpose (#justkidding): Using hashtags purely for conversational or humorous effect, rather than for categorizing or linking content.
- An exclamation point party!!!!!!!!: An enthusiastic, often excessive, use of exclamation marks to convey excitement and energy.
- A blog post featuring only Instagram photos: A quick and visual way to share updates, often repurposed from social media, indicating a busy schedule or a desire for a more casual post.
Finish Your Drink: The Blog Binge Bonus!
If you discover more than five of the combined items from both “Drink One” and “Drink Two” lists in any single blog post you’re reading, then it’s time to finish your drink! Consider it a bonus round for hitting the trend jackpot. This particular rule highlights just how densely packed some posts can be with popular design elements and blogging styles. (Honestly, now I’m thinking this would make a fantastic bingo game too!)
Join the Fun and Share Your Rules!
This game is a celebration of our shared journey through the sometimes bewildering, always inspiring world of home decor and blogging. It’s a testament to the community we’ve built around these passions. I would absolutely LOVE for you to add your own rules to this growing list! What trends are you tired of seeing? What blogger habits always make you smile or roll your eyes (in the best possible way, of course)? Share your unique contributions in the comments below, and I’ll make sure to update the post with the best ones.
Let’s make this an ongoing, evolving game that truly captures the spirit of our collective observations. Have a fantastic, trend-spotting weekend!