To paraphrase a popular quote, “A house is made with brick and stone, but only you can make it a home.” A space where it just radiates serenity and relaxation, where you can be surrounded by positive energy and rejuvenate yourself -- that is what comes to mind when we think of our ideal homes. The individual nuances of our design choices and preferences are what make that space truly yours to call a humble abode, but it won’t do any harm to check out how others are designing their own spaces. Who knows, you may find a style of your own as well. Here are three design styles and trends that may be a bit out of date, and how you can bring them to life this 2019. 

1) Out: Gallery walls and cluttered spaces 

In: Minimalist design and open spaces 

There’s no doubt that most families have that one area in their house filled with family portraits, graduation photos, collages, and whatnot. These areas may range from a small shelf or table to an entire wall filled with all of the memorabilia. Now, there is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying the little things and commemorating the big moments in life but there comes a point where eclecticism goes too farm and it just interferes with design. The mantra “less is more” is one widely used today as the trend shifts toward minimal interiors that create a space to breathe and allow for maximum creativity in the design process. 

2) Out: Fake fruit 

In: Real fruits 

I realize that the price of some fruits is quite high at the moment, but please don’t give guests the hope of biting into some delicious apples or grapes only to feel the hard plastic on their hands. This was fun in the 90s, but those days are long gone. 

Also, cleaning the dust that collected on them was not worth the gag value. 

3) Out (hopefully): Gray 

In: Almost any other color

This one may be a bit controversial as gray has been a standard for as long as we can remember, but hear me out. Cool gray and neutral tones have been the go-to palette for a house, and interior designers are ready to shift to warmer territory like a rich cream to pattern with your sheets, deep green to complement any floral designs you may want to utilize, and peachy glow to serve as a canvas for you to paint with bold furniture and flooring styles. The discussion for how to use warmer colors around the house and how to accent those colors to create a more welcoming mood can be had in another article.

4) Out: Leather upholstery

In: Bouclé

For years, leather has been one of the most common materials used for upholstery, and for good reason. When it comes to quality, leather is generally seen as a top-of-the-line, premier product; there’s a reason why a lot of offices have opted for leather upholstery. It’s also been one of the more comfortable materials because it breathes; it dissipates heat and cold quicker than other materials, so it makes for very comfy sitting. Despite all of these benefits, it is not without its drawbacks, however: it’s one of the least eco-friendly products out there, and it also has some health drawbacks. Leaving material that requires massive amounts of formaldehyde, coal-tar derivatives, oils, dyes, cyanide-based finishes, and other dangerous chemicals right in the middle of your home is generally not a good idea. Enter bouclé, a combination of yarn and fabric with a rich and nubby texture that reminds you of traditional hand woven textiles. It has both form and function, as it adds a wonderfully dramatic texture to the room and turns otherwise humdrum pieces into something with life bursting at the seams while also being quite cozy and lovely to sit on. They’re also nearly as durable as leather due to having looped and nubby surfaces that resist stains and wrinkling very well while also camouflaging signs of wear; all this comes together in offering you a couch that is lovely to sit on, easier to keep up, cheaper (generally), and much safer for your home and for your environment. 

It's important to surround yourself with all the positivity you can, especially in this world, and making your home something you can walk into every day and fall in love with over again is an underrated source of joy. These tips should help bring more warmth and coziness to your abode.