4 Design Trends HGTV Stars Would Avoid in Their Own Homes

Interior design trends change rapidly, much like cloud sofas, grayscale color schemes, and all-white kitchens. Despite the pressure from social media to keep your home looking modern, Ray and Eilyn Jimenez from HGTV’s “Divided by Design” advise against certain design choices that not only can become outdated but also make your space feel smaller, cheaper, and even smellier. Their tips aim to help homeowners avoid major design mistakes.

Eilyn and Ray are clear about what they avoid in their own Miami home. Eilyn firmly states, “No fuzzy carpet! They hold a lot of bacteria, they’re dirty and they don’t look good.” Ray even joked about making her a T-shirt that reads “NO FUZZY CARPETS.” This rule is particularly important for kitchens and bathrooms, which can harbor germs, odors, and even mold if carpets are used. However, bathmats that are machine washable are acceptable exceptions.

Another pet peeve of Eilyn’s is window treatments that don’t touch the floor. “Absolutely not. They should pool a little bit,” she insists. Curtains that are too short can make windows and the entire room appear smaller and less elegant.

Both Eilyn and Ray strongly oppose accent walls. “Let’s eliminate accent walls forever,” Ray declares. “Either paint or wallpaper the whole room or nothing. It should be all or nothing!” This sentiment underscores their preference for more cohesive design choices.

A surprising no-go from the couple is buying furniture sets. “I get it. It’s great in theory,” says Ray. “You get a bedroom set, everything matching, probably at a bundle price. But no.” Eilyn adds that these sets do not age well. Ray agrees, saying, “There’s zero creativity there. There’s no pizzazz. They’re just beyond cookie-cutter.” The couple encourages mixing and matching pieces to create a more personalized space.

Design trends are fleeting, and focusing solely on them can be frustrating. Eilyn notes, “One of the things that we’re trying to shy away from is design being focused only on trends, because trends fade. We want design to be timeless.” She stresses the importance of curating spaces that people love with pieces that have personal significance, whether they are vintage finds, heirlooms, or beloved artworks. According to Eilyn, good design is evident and felt rather than something that merely follows the latest trend.

Currently, there’s a trend towards avoiding trends altogether. Eilyn observes, “People want to infuse that character, that old world, and that rich history into design, making pieces feel like they’ve been around for a very long time.” She believes that items with character or a story to tell are becoming more valued over fast-fashion-type purchases.

Another key mistake is seeking too many opinions on your design choices. “Getting a lot of opinions from a lot of people isn’t a good idea,” Ray explains. “Your home is sacred. This is where you live every single day. Forget about what everybody else thinks and follow what you love.” The only person whose input should matter, besides yourself, is your interior designer.

“When in doubt, do it the way your interior designer told you to do it the first time,” Ray advises. “Trust your designer. The best projects are the ones where clients let us have freedom with what they want. They give us an approach and say, ‘Run with it.'” Trusting your designer allows them to bring your vision to life in the best possible way.

In summary, interior design should focus on creating timeless and personal spaces rather than following rapidly changing trends. Ray and Eilyn’s insights can help homeowners avoid common pitfalls and make design choices that will stand the test of time.

Source: Parade