the best home decor trends, in my opinion

Emma Chamberlain
You want to know what I love? Well, I love a lot of things, of course. So let me rephrase. Do you want to know one of the things that I love? Okay, fine.

I'll tell you. Home decor, interior design, architecture, the art of the home. Wow. I love it. I think one of my most extensive Pinterest boards is my interior design Pinterest board.

Let me check. I'm gonna fact check that. Let's see. Okay. It's not my most extensive, but it's up there.

I have 2240 pins on my interior design Pinterest board. That might be my second largest Pinterest board. My. My largest is obviously clothing, where I have 4675 pins. That is an absolute monster of a Pinterest board.

I think it's very common that people who love fashion love interior design and vice versa, because they sort of go hand in hand. There's an art to both of them, and it's a very personal art, depending on who you are. I'm a very visual person, and I think that that's why I love clothing and interior design. There are ways to express yourself, but there are also ways to sort of please yourself. That sounds sort of sexual, and I don't mean it like that.

I'm not, like, sexually attracted to a lamp. Thank God. I mean, if I was, I would handle it, but, you know, and I do what I had to do, but I don't know. As a very visual person, I just fucking love this shit. Like, it just.

It really gets me going. It adds so much color and light to my life to enjoy fashion, to enjoy interior design. So in honor of my love of home decor and interior design, I decided that today I would share with you some of my favorite home decor trends. They're not necessarily trends that are popular right now, but they're trends in general. Like things that have come and gone or things that have sort of stuck around for years and years and years.

Just things that I really appreciate in the home, things that scratch that itch in my brain. Like, when I see it, I'm like, ugh, I love that. You know? This episode is brought to you by Instagram. So something that happened to me recently was I posted some art and some home decor on my story, and a lot of my friends reached out and were like, where is the store?

Where did you buy these things? They're so cool, and I don't know, there's just something so cool about sharing something to the world and not knowing who it's going to reach and then connecting about it. With friends, Instagram lets you express yourself in small, fun ways and can lead to some really cool conversations about shared interests and beyond. And I think that's pretty cool. This episode is brought to you by Squarespace.

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Imagine you find something that you love. Maybe you see your friend wearing a. Cool t shirt, and you're like, oh, I want that. And then they give you the website. And you go onto it, and it just doesn't feel quite right.

That doesn't make you want to buy that t shirt. A good website is crucial when it comes to selling your product or a brand. Squarespace is the all in one website platform for entrepreneurs to stand out and succeed online. It's okay if you don't know the first thing about design. You can choose from professionally curated layouts with the Squarespace blueprint.

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Imagine you find something that you love. Maybe you see your friend wearing a. Cool t shirt, and you're like, oh, I want that. And then they give you the website. And you go onto it, and it just doesn't feel quite right.

That doesn't make you want to buy that t shirt. A good website is crucial when it comes to selling your product or a brand. Squarespace is the all in one website platform for entrepreneurs to stand out and succeed online. It's okay if you don't know the first thing about design. You can choose from professionally curated layouts with the Squarespace blueprint.

Squarespace even has AI that can help. You kickstart or update your website copy. If you're selling products. Squarespace makes checkout seamless for your customers with simple but powerful payment methods. Head to squarespace.com for a free trial and save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code.

Emma Chamberlain
Emma, let's start out with something that also applies to fashion. A pop of red. I remember my dad told me, I always say I've told this story probably 80 times. My dad told me once that almost everything in life could use a pop of red. An art piece, a room in a home, an outfit.

A pop of red can really bring life to almost anything. I would say in almost every room in my house, I have some sort of pop of red. I don't know why it works so well, but it fucking does. It doesn't work for every aesthetic. Like, there are definitely some aesthetics that, you know, don't work with a pop of red.

Like, for example, the super beige, concrete, minimalist sort of aesthetic that's kind of popular right now. That would look kind of weird with a pop of red. I'm not necessarily a huge fan of that aesthetic. It doesn't feel homey to me. There's something cool about it.

Like, if you're going to a museum or something, and it sort of has that kind of design, it's kind of interesting to look at. It has a weird feeling to it. That's fine. I would say a papa red doesn't really make sense in that setting because everything's beige, usually. Uh, but for almost any other aesthetic, a pop of red really adds dimension to the space.

For example, my kitchen growing up consisted of a lot of blues and greens and yellows, a lot of pastels, and it was pretty light in there, right? The walls are white. And my dad put a red clock in the kitchen, and it just pulled everything together. For some reason. It just.

It looks balanced. It, for some reason, helps to balance things. I don't even know if that's what it technically does psychologically. Maybe I should google it. Why is a pop of red so awesome?

Okay, so according to a website that I have never heard of, beautyeq Dot co. Okay, it has attention grabbing power and instantly adds drama and sophistication to any space. In a world where neutral tones have dominated for so long, people are now looking to infuse vibrancy and personality into their interior spaces. Red answers that call, you know what? What really rings true for me is the personality piece of it.

There's something sort of ballsy about adding a pop of red. There's something sort of. God, I wish I had a better word. But quirky about it. I hate that word.

But there is something sort of quirky about it. It's a sign that you're willing to take risks, that you're willing to play with color. You know, that goes for an outfit or for a space in the home. So I fucking love a pop of red. A pop of red can also come in many shapes and sizes.

A pop of red could be an entire red couch in a room. It could also be a tiny little red clock. It could also be a tiny little red lamp. It could also be a painting that is composed of primarily red. Like, it could be anything.

I fucking love it. All right, next, warm, natural wood. I feel like when I was growing up, it was very popular to see new homes be constructed with light, beachy wood, sort of gray, almost looking wood. Like, if you go and tour a modern apartment in Los Angeles, chances are the wood that's used in the home is going to be a very pale, gray looking wood. I understand the appeal.

It's versatile. It's modern. It has that sort of clean, modern aesthetic. Like, I get it. I mean, I don't.

I don't love it. I just don't love it. I prefer natural, warm toned woods. Like, my house has a lot of warm toned woods. Like, if I were to compare it to something, to, you know, sort of demonstrate what the color is, it's not quite milk chocolatey, because it's a bit orange here than that.

Okay, well, I can't think of something that mimics the color that I'm trying to describe here. So imagine milk chocolate that had a little bit of orange added to it. So it's a bit more orange. I love that type of wood. I find it to be charming.

I find it to be cozy. You know, there's definitely a point where it becomes too orange. And I don't really love that, like, light orange wood. It's hit or miss for me, but, like, a deep, orangey brown wood. That's awesome.

Also, I love when homes or spaces maintain their original wood. Like, in my house, for example, it was built in the fifties, and the wood is pretty much the same. Like, the wood floors are pretty much the same. My wood floors are, like a light, light beige tan. But it's on the warmer side.

It's not gray and modern looking, and I enjoy that as well. But the wood in my house that I'm the most attracted to is the deep, orangey brown wood. I have it on the ceiling. The doors are that color. I find that it feels cozier and warmer, and I'm ultimately looking to create a space that feels sweet and kind and inviting, which is not necessarily popular today.

It depends. I mean, it's hard to say because there are so many people doing so many different things with their. With their homes. Architects are doing a number of different things in homes as they're building them, but I don't see houses built with warm wood as much anymore. It tends to be, again, more cool toned, more modern looking, more sterile looking.

Okay, next we have small art on a big wall. I've seen this done in a way that's so charming. Like, for example, I saw this photo on Pinterest a few weeks ago that showed somebody's bedroom, and the bed was pushed up against the wall. And above the bed, there's a big, blank white wall. And there was just one little painting sort of off center over one of the nightstands.

And there was something very soothing about the way that that looked very simple, but yet there was still this little piece of personality on the wall, which was the little art piece. And I'm kind of afraid of hanging things over my bed. Like, my wall behind my bed is completely empty because in California, we have earthquakes. And I have a deep, deep fear of a painting falling into my eyeball or something when if there's an earthquake, I'm not in the mood for that. I considered putting some sort of soft, like, tapestry or rug over my bed because if that fell, it would maybe scrape me up a little bit, depending on how heavy it was.

But it wouldn't, like, kill me or, like, you know, severely injure me. But I haven't done that yet. And it's kind of not looking like I will because I haven't done it yet. So there's a few spaces in my home where I have a singular small art piece hung up on the wall in comparison to the space. Like, I don't know, there's something about it that I really like.

I think I like how simple it is. There's something really relaxing about, at times making subtle, small choices that are effective. Less can be more sometimes when it comes to creating a really serene, nice vibe. But also, I think, at times, putting a small piece of art on a wall that's otherwise empty can make the space feel bigger in a way that's at least my experience. Like, can kind of make the room feel larger because there's this small piece of art that in comparison to the blank wall of the room, it makes it feel bigger.

I don't know if that's just my imagination, but it can kind of weirdly open up the space. There might be some sort of interior design scientist that thinks that I'm wrong about that, but I have felt that. But I'm also about to contradict my last favorite home decor trend with the complete opposite, which is doing a gallery wall. I also love an eclectic gallery wall. I don't know how I feel about every wall in the house being a gallery wall.

I think that that can at times feel cluttered and overwhelming. But I think having a gallery wall somewhere can be really fun, but also look really cool and be interesting to look at. In my living room. I'm slowly but surely building a gallery wall of sorts, it's taking me forever because I'm taking my time collecting sentimental pieces. I don't want to rush it because then I'll end up buying art that doesn't truly connect with me.

Like, I've been sort of waiting for it to come to me. And at random antique shops and stuff, I will find things, but it's taken me over a year now to start building it up, and it's still not done. Like, I think it'll probably take me five years to finish, if not more. But I'm letting it take the time that it needs so that every single piece on the wall can be sentimental. But I think it's a fun design choice because, number one, it's fascinating to look at, especially if you make it sort of eclectic.

Each little piece is something interesting to look at, and so sitting down and looking at it every once in a while is fun. But also, it adds so much texture and vibrance to a space. It's, like, similar to adding a pop of red. It's a sign that you're playful. It adds personality.

But also, it's really fun to collect art, and it doesn't need to be expensive. You can also make art. Like, you don't have to go out and buy art. You can make art yourself. For the wall.

That's actually a great idea, whether you're a good artist or not. Say, you know what? I'm going to do a gallery wall in this room, and I'm going to make every single piece myself. And over the course of however many years, whenever you have a weekend free, you could paint something or, I don't know, carve something out of wood, however creative you want to get, and slowly but surely build up the wall. I actually just received a gift that somebody made for me for my birthday.

It's like this plank of wood, and they glued a bunch of sentimental items onto it. And I'm so stoked about it because I'm going to hang that up on my gallery wall. And it's weird and it's random and it's special because it's from someone that I love. And it's so cool that I have a place to put that. And I like that it's weird because it adds to the eclectic feel of the gallery wall.

You know, I also have paintings on there for my dad because my dad paints paintings and his paintings are beautiful and, like, so soothing and palatable and, like, easy to look at. But I've also collected some art that's weird, you know, weird and kind of uncomfortable to look at. And I like the juxtaposition of, like, having all those different things on the wall. And I'm excited to continue building it. But anyway, there's a misconception about art.

That art needs to be expensive or that it needs to be purchased from, like a super, highly acclaimed artist who's selling things for, you know, $100,000. It's like, no, that's ridiculous. You can go to the art fair, you can go on Etsy, you can go to weird antique shops, you can paint things yourself. I think when people think of art, they think of something. It's like an overwhelming, stressful thing to buy.

I mean, I was very fortunate that I was given my first pieces of art for my home from my dad because he paints paintings. So it was, you know, easy. But when it came to buying other art, you know, that wasn't painted by my dad, I remember being really intimidated at first, like, oh, my God, am I gonna have to spend, like, insane amounts of money on this? Not the case. There are so many great artists that are selling their art for affordable prices.

There are so many ways to create art affordably at home. I mean, it's still a little pricey to buy the canvases and the paint and stuff, but compared to buying something from a super prestigious gallery or something like that, it is nothing in comparison. You can get creative with how you find the art for your home, but I think it's very worth it. Whether it's a small piece of art on a big wall or it's a gallery wall, it's worth the search. But I do think it's best to take your time with it and find things that are truly special to you.

Like, when you look at a piece of art, you know, whether or not it evokes emotion in you. Like, you can feel that. I think it's important to wait until you find those pieces. Like, for example, I was recently at an antique shop in LA, and I was just shopping around, like, not really looking for anything in particular, just kind of spending the day there. And I found this super weird, actually, I posted a picture of it on my Instagram, this, like, very weird sort of portrait, like, kind of semi abstract looking portrait of some guy.

And the second I saw it, I felt very attracted to it. I was like, oh, my God, I love this. I love looking at this. It's kind of weird. And it gives me this weird feeling and I like it.

It's almost like trying on a wedding dress. And being like, oh, yeah, that's the one. I don't know why. It's just, like, my gut is telling me that that's the one. It's the same thing with art, and that's why it's such a long process, because you have to wait until you get that feeling, but it's worth it because I think a home filled with sentimental objects is timeless, and you'll be able to live with those pieces for the rest of your life instead of buying, you know, maybe art that's trendy in the moment, that doesn't really mean that much to you, but maybe looks kind of cool and then getting sick of it in a year and wanting to throw it out and replace it.

And that's just, you know, wasteful. And ideally, it's, you know, nice to buy things that mean something so you can keep them forever. I'm also sort of developing that philosophy with fashion because for a long time, I was in the trend cycle, constantly buying trendy things, and I wasn't really aware of not only how that was personally detrimental to my experience every day in my closet, having this, like, overwhelming amount of stuff, but I also wasn't really thinking about the ethical side of, like, over consuming clothing. And I'm trying to be as responsible as I can, the older I get with consuming less for my own well being and for the well being of the world, you know? And so I don't know.

That's why I'm just very passionate about getting better, about being patient when it comes to shopping for things and waiting for something to come along that actually means something or is special or something that's gonna have legs in your life that you see yourself enjoying for years to come. Okay, next we have stripes. I fucking love stripes. Not just in the home, though. Also with clothes.

I'm realizing how much overlap there is with what I enjoy in fashion and what I enjoy in interior design, home decor, et cetera. I fucking love stripes. The other day, I saw a picture of this cute little beachy couch that was white with red stripes on it. Oh, my God. Obsessed.

I was like, that is an amazing couch. If I had, like, in my imaginary beach house in my head that I don't have, that couch is in that house. I love stripes. I love striped pillows. I love striped sheets.

Like, the sheets on my bed right now are white with light blue stripes. I have a vase in my room that I'm looking at right now as I'm recording this that has red and white stripes on it. I just love stripes. I think that they're so charming. I think that they're timeless.

I think that they add a lot of, again, dimension and sort of texture to the room. It's a pattern that I don't think I'll ever get sick of. Whereas there are a lot of patterns that are more trendy. Like when you go on, you know, the popular home decor websites, and, you know, you're looking around at stuff that has patterns on it. A lot of times you'll see things like wonky, irregular patterns.

I wish I could describe it better. I don't really know how. Okay, I just googled patterned throw pillows, and I'm gonna click the shopping tab, and I'm gonna describe to you some of the things that I'm seeing that, to me, are not as timeless as, like, some simple stripes. Okay. When it comes to patterns, I'm seeing a lot of modern takes on florals.

Like, abstract sort of takes on florals. This, to me, is trendy and will not last for. For very long. I'm seeing some classic, timeless, in my opinion, florals, which I actually do appreciate. I'm seeing some.

I don't even know how to describe this, like, kind of mid century modern geometric shape patterns. I actually appreciate those sometimes, but I don't think that they're super timeless necessarily. They're a bit too stylized, maybe. Yeah. I'm seeing a lot of, like, different geometric shapes and stuff, and I just feel like for some reason, those are.

Those patterns feel trendy to me, and they don't feel timeless. And there's something about, like, stripes to me where it's like, it's such a great pattern that will never, ever get old. It adds that dimension to the space in the way that you want a pattern to add dimension to the space, but it's timeless, and. I don't know. I love it.

Okay, next, we have unique wallpaper. Wallpaper is challenging because, you know, wallpaper that we notice, wallpaper that's weird tends to be very maximalist in a way. Like, there's a lot going on. There's a lot of color. There's dense pattern.

Like, it can be very overwhelming. However, I think when it's done right, it can be so epic. For example, in this hotel that I stay in, sometimes in New York, there's this incredible wallpaper in the bar, and it's basically this gold wallpaper. I know this already sounds wild, but just stick with me. It's this gold wallpaper, and it has all of these little drawings of New York City on it.

Like, hand drawn looking people and stuff walking around. I'm obsessed with this wallpaper. It's weird, it's unique, it's unusual. I haven't seen it anywhere else, but it's so cool, and it makes the space feel so warm and cozy. And it's fun to look at.

Like, every time you look at the wallpaper, you see something different, because there's all these different illustrations of New York, and, like, every corner of the room has a different sort of little illustration, and it's so fun. And I don't think I'd ever get sick of that. The problem is, though, is that some wallpaper is trendy and you will get sick of it. And so that's why there's a fine line between, you know, unique wallpaper that I like and unique wallpaper that I hate. Like, it's kind of hard to explain, like, exactly what makes a wallpaper bad and what makes a wallpaper good.

I think when it comes down to picking a weird wallpaper, it's about asking yourself, what am I going to like for years to come? I think that that's sort of a good mentality to have when it comes to decorating one's home. It's like you want to take risks to an extent, so that, you know, your home feels personal to you and your tastes. You know, most of us have sort of unique tastes if we were to really allow ourselves to express them. But a lot of times, you know, we tend to play it safe for many reasons.

Let's say, you know, you're renting a home and you can't go and put wallpaper up, so you're forced to sort of stick to the white walls that are in your home. I lived in apartments for so many years, and that was the case where I was like, oh, I'd love to add something to this space, but I can't because I don't own this place. I can't do that. That's one reason. If you own a home, it might be sort of a dream of yours to, like, do something weird to the kitchen, like paint the cabinet screen or, you know, put in some eclectic, weird tiles.

But it's sort of stressful to take those design risks, because if you plan on selling your home down the line, certain design choices can be polarizing and can prevent somebody from buying the home. So there's so many reasons why it's sort of frightening to make these sort of risky choices when designing the home. Like, you can do whatever you want with the furniture, but when it comes to the walls or tiles or countertops or whatever, you know, you kind of have to pick and choose your battles. And I think wallpaper is the same way. But I think if you're willing to take some risk, and you're excited to take some risk, it can be very rewarding as long as you're asking yourself throughout the process, is this something I'm going to like indefinitely?

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Next. Exposed shelving I love when you can see storage. Okay? Like for example, in a kitchen, you know, just having a bunch of exposed shelves with cups and plates and all these things out for display, or maybe even some sort of cabinet that is storing, I don't know. Again, it could be storing plates and cups, could also be storing little knickknacks, sentimental pieces, things like that.

I love this for multiple reasons. Number one, it inspires you to have fun with objects that would normally be maybe basic or boring. Like, for example, if you have exposed shelving in your kitchen, that might inspire you to go out and instead of just buying, you know, basic white plates and cups and things like that, maybe picking out something fun that sort of adds some color to the space. I love that. And I also love when things that are being used on a daily basis are easily accessible.

And when they're just sitting out on exposed shelving, you can just grab it. It's so easy. But also, I like when things that are used on a daily basis are a part of the design as well. You know, it might take a little bit more digging online or whatever to find cups or plates or bowls or, you know, silverware that you enjoy, but it's so worth it to find something unique and personal to you, because, again, it can add to the space even more. I don't know.

I try to pick even the most mundane of things that can somehow add to the space. And that's not necessarily, like, a priority for everyone, right? Like, some people are like, I don't give a fuck. I don't care what my silverware looks, that's fine. But if you're somebody who enjoys it, it's these small, little mundane details that we tend to forget about.

Like, oh, what my cups look like. Who cares? But, like, for the same price as a normal, you know, basic drinking glass, you could find something with a bit more character and then have them out for display in this open shelving and, like, what a gorgeous, you know, situation that is. But also, too, I love exposed shelving in a cabinet, for example, maybe with clear glass doors on it or something, because you can display various knickknacks or sentimental items or whatever in a way that sort of keeps them safe and, I don't know, tucked away into the cabinet, I think it is cool. It makes the home feel more human in a way.

When you can see everything out, like in the kitchen, being able to see plates and cups and all these things and open shelving, it's like you're seeing the living elements of what's in the home. It looks more homey. It feels more cozy. Or maybe with a cabinet with glass doors. It allows you to have this piece of furniture in the home, which is great and functional, but also it allows you to sort of display things in a way that gives that piece of furniture some dimension.

It's not just like this block of a cabinet just sitting there with its doors closed and no one knows what's in there. There could be a portal to Narnia, which would actually be so fun. Oh. When I was a kid, all I fucking wanted was some sort of portal in my house that would take me to another world because there's so many great kids stories that include that concept. Like Coraline, one of my favorite movies of all time.

Whatever. There's this little door in the sitting room of the house that coraline goes through into another world. Unfortunately, that world that she goes to is evil. However, I love that idea. And, wow, I wish that that was real.

Okay, next, a pop of color in unique places. Okay, but let me elaborate. Having a weird colored toilet. Okay. Like, randomly a red toilet.

Or, like, instead of, like, a glass sort of white sink, it's a forest green glass sink. Or a tub having weird colored tiles on it. Or taking basic appliances that we know and love and spicing them up a little bit. Like, we're used to metal doorknobs, but maybe all the doorknobs are red. Like, that's so cool.

I love that it adds so much character. It adds so much color. I don't know. I just think it's so cool. And, I mean, obviously, these are things that are not.

Like, you can't. Most people are not gonna go out and replace their toilet, their white, normal toilet, to go get a green toilet. But let's say your toilet breaks or something, or your doorknobs are shitty and you need to replace them anyway. I don't know. It could be kind of fun to get weird with it a little bit, but, yeah, I haven't integrated any fun pops of color in these ways.

But whenever I see it, I'm elated about it. Like, I'm giddy about it. For example, there's a store in LA, actually, I interviewed Emily Bode, who is a fashion designer, and she has a store for her clothing in LA. And the toilet, if I remember correctly, is green with, like, a black toilet seat. And it's so cool to me.

And I remember when I saw that, I was like, oh, my God, I wish I would have done that in my house. It's just fun. Okay, next we have jewel tones. Okay, I'm gonna read the technical definition of jewel tones from thenowernation.com. jewel tones are colors and tones that are derived from gemstones such as sapphire, ruby, and emerald.

Typically, jewel tones have a high level of color saturation, which makes them dynamic and eye catching. Historically, precious and semi precious gemstones have been used to signify wealth, status, and royalty. And so when we see these jewel tones interrupted into modern designs, they instantly give a sense of distinction in regalness. I don't necessarily agree with that last part. Like, I don't like jewel tones because they make the space feel more royal or wealthier or more regal.

I just don't align with that. That's not why I like them. The reason why I like them is because jewel tones tend to be deep and rich and warm, and it sort of mirrors the same sentiment that I had towards warm, natural wood in the home. I think rich, deep colors help to create a cozy environment. Like, something that comes to mind is my grandfather's house.

He has warm wood walls. Okay? Like, the walls are wood. Like, he lives in sort of a cabin vibe. And that, paired with lots of jewel toned pieces, like, dark reds and deep yellows and deep greens, creates this cozy space that feels homey and feels comfortable.

That's not to say that I don't enjoy other palettes. You know, like, I also really enjoy something lighter and brighter. Like I mentioned earlier, sort of a beachier theme. Like, when I think of, like, a beachy home, I think of, like, washed out wood on the floor, maybe white paneled walls, blues, like, light blues, maybe faded red, maybe minty green. Like, sort of that sort of palette.

It's a bit more pastel because it's all sort of washed out and worn from the sun and from all these things. I love that vibe, too. That is phenomenal, and that is completely the opposite of jewel tones. But I would say, for the most part, I tend to enjoy sort of jewel tones in my own home, though. I actually mix kind of any sort of color.

Like, I have, like, a lot of pastel sort of pieces. Like, I have, like, light, minty greens in the house. I have pastel blue in the house. I have, like, beiges and tans going on, too. Mixed with jewel tones, I kind of did a mixture of everything.

I like the depth that the jewel tones bring to my house and the coziness that it brings and the saturation of the colors makes things so satisfying to look at. And so I love. I love some jewel tones in the home. Next, we have weird details. This sort of, again, mirrors the sentiment of, like, having a green toilet or a red sink or, like, red doorknobs.

Unusual details are just so fun. You know, they're little things in your home that just make you smile when you see them. I've seen so many cool ideas on Pinterest. Like, for example, bent spoons as drawer pulls instead of using you know, the sort of standard little pulls. I saw someone who took vintage spoons, bent them, and then screwed them onto the drawers so that it's this, like, interesting detail that adds character, but it's also cool.

Cause it's taking vintage spoons, which, you know, maybe are kind of gross and, like, rusty and, like, aren't going to be used anymore and turns it into something new and useful. And I love that vibe. Other things are like, I don't know, maybe a little house phone that looks like a duck. Like, if you watch Jersey shore at any point in your life, you probably remember the duck phone. Their house phone is this sort of duck shaped phone.

And it's weird, but it's also functional. Like, weird, but functional. Shit is so fun. Again, maybe your doorknobs are shaped like fruit. Weird little details like that just bring so much joy.

They bring so much joy when you see them. Like, every time you go to open a door or something and you have a weird doorknob, it's like, oh, my God, it's so fun. Or every time you go to open a drawer in your house, you're like, oh, I love my little spoons as drawer poles. Or whenever you go to make a call. Well, nobody really uses a house phone anymore.

But let's say you do use a house phone for some reason. Oh, my God. I love that my little house phone looks like a duck, you know? Like, that's funny, but also it's special. Like, you're not gonna wanna throw that out.

Cause it brings joy. Or even, like, let's say you're a really big Harry Potter fan. Okay. Maybe in your bathroom, like, you have a little hung up map from Harry Potter. Like, that's a little weird, fun detail that I don't know.

Like, it's personal to you and it's. Makes you smile when you see it, but it also kind of looks cool, too. I like shit like that. Okay, next. This is so obvious, but I really prefer, for the most part, vintage furniture for many reasons.

Number one, I think it immediately removes you from the trend cycle, because similar to fashion, furniture also has trend cycles. Right? And so if you're going to buy new things, a lot of times they're trendy, they're of the moment. And I don't know, I think that that's the. That's also why I love vintage clothing.

And a lot of times I prefer vintage clothing because when you shop for vintage stuff, you're sorting through such an eclectic mess of things. Like, there's every aesthetic, every trend, you can imagine all in one place and you're not going to be as swayed by what's trendy because there's no trends present. I mean, unless you're at like a highly curated space, like a really curated vintage store, but buying things used, whatever, it just not only are you giving something another life, but also you're making a choice about a piece of furniture from a more genuine place. Like, instead of choosing it because it's trendy and it's cool, right now, you're choosing it because you just genuinely like it compared to everything else that you're looking at. Like, I feel like vintage stuff is just cooler.

Like, I feel like the designs are just more interesting. And maybe that's like, just because it's a novelty. Like, I went to a lot of furniture stores, both new, you know, creating new stuff and places selling vintage stuff, and I felt like I was so much more inspired by the vintage furniture stores and the prices were the same. I mean, at times the vintage stuff is actually more affordable, if anything, like taking the cost of things out of it. I just think vintage pieces are more interesting.

I don't know why, I just find the design to be more intriguing. I don't know. This episode is brought to you by PnC bank. Unlike this podcast, some things in life should be boring. Like banking.

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Emma Chamberlain
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Next. I like things that are a bit imperfect. For example, vintage tiles that are maybe a bit faded or chipped. Vintage pieces that are maybe a bit worn out. Maybe they have a few stains on them or something.

I love this type of character. My mom hates it. Like, when I was decorating my house, she was like, Emma, that thing's beat up. Like, why do you want that? I'm like, no, but I like it.

It's cool. Like, she's not really down for it. She likes things to be, you know, clean and new and whatever. Not me. I like things that have texture.

I have tiles in my kitchen that are. I believe they're. Fuck. I don't remember if they're vintage. I think they might be vintage.

And so they're all, like, a different sort of color, slightly. And then on top of that, the way that they're put in the wall is sort of imperfect. Like, they're a bit wonky. And that was done on purpose because there's something very cozy and very human about things that are imperfect a little bit. There's something comforting about that in a space.

It's sort of like, you know, when you're in one of those super, super modern homes that, you know, every, like, line is perfect, and everything's perfect and everything's spotless. In a way, being in a home like that, you tend to feel uncomfortable. You're like, oh, my God. I feel like I can't be normal in here because the space is almost intimidating when there's little elements of imperfection in the home. It actually makes you feel, at least in my experience, more apt to want to just live normally in the home.

Like, it's fucking weird to be intimidated by your own home. Like, if something's super modern, perfect, whatever, it's just. It's intimidating and weird. So I like when, you know, a piece of furniture has some stains on it. It's like, okay, great, well, now I can go and stain it some more, and it doesn't matter.

Or, like, if something, you know, has, like, a little rip in it, like, you know, a couch has, like, a tiny little rip in it or something, or it has some worn out areas, it's like, there's something really comforting and inviting about that, and it feels like a space that you want to live in, which is the whole fucking point of a house. Like, it's not this, like, display. It should be a livable, warm, cozy home, in my opinion. Okay, next we have chrome. Details.

I fucking love chrome. For example, my nightstands are. They're wood with, like, a outline of chrome. And then the legs are chrome, and the little handle to open the little cabinet part is chrome. And I don't know.

I just fucking love it. I also have a lamp in my room that I'm looking at right now that it's, like, this red sort of. It kind of looks like a big light bulb almost. And it has a red base and then this massive sort of light bulb on top with this big chrome sort of. I don't know.

You know how, like, a light bulb has metal on the bottom? It sort of looks like that, but it's chrome. Love that. Whenever I see furniture on Pinterest that has some sort of chrome detail, whether it's chrome legs or, like, a chrome trim or. It doesn't even matter.

I just love chrome. I love a big chrome lamp. I love chrome. I like how it feels sort of weird and futuristic, but also kind of vintage at the same time. There's definitely a lot of chrome happening in mid century modern designs.

And that sort of makes it feel retro in a way. And it does feel retro, but it also feels cool and, like, futuristic. And I like the reflectiveness of it and how it, like, I don't know, just feels sharp and clean and nice. Like, I prefer chrome over brass or bronze. That's not to say that I don't have those things in my house, because I do actually have quite a bit of bronze and brass.

Like, I kind of have every metal in my home that you can imagine. But chrome is my favorite. I don't know. I just love it sort of going back to having, like, one small piece of art on a big wall. I really like when statement pieces are allowed to shine in a room.

It can be really tempting to want to do more, you know, want to, like, overwhelm your dresser with a bunch of little trinkets and objects and things like that. Or, you know, decorate every single wall with a bunch of stuff or take every blank surface and just, like, put a bunch of stuff on it. But it can be really nice to approach it with a less is more mindset. For example, obviously, I've already discussed sort of taking a painting and putting it on a blank wall, letting that one piece shine. Let it be a statement, whatever.

But I'm more talking about with objects, like, maybe finding one really cool vase and putting that on the top of your dresser instead of having, like, a bunch of different knickknacks and candles and all this different stuff, getting one really cool statement piece and letting that light up the space, you know, or maybe keeping the design in your bedroom very simple, but having a really interesting statement bed frame, you know what I'm saying? Letting certain pieces shine by not going all the way maximalist, you know, and just jam packing your space with a bunch of eclectic, weird things. There is something really fun about that, too. And so I don't necessarily want to. I'm not shitting on that by saying that I like this other thing, but I do think that there's something really special about the balance of having things be simple, but then having these statement pieces that really get to shine, you get to sort of enjoy the serenity of a simple space while enjoying some statement pieces.

Next, we have unique glass. Okay, this is so random, but I am so attracted to weird glass. Like a shower that has those big glass blocks that you can't quite see through, but it lets the light through. I love stained glass, actually. Yeah.

Any sort of, like, textured glass that makes it so that the glass is not fully transparent. Like, you can't see all the way through, but it adds texture, and it still lets light in, but you can't see all the way through. I love textured, fun glass. That's definitely, like, kind of more of a retro thing. Like, that's not really happening as much anymore.

But I fucking love it. And every time I see it, I'm warm and fuzzy inside. And I don't have any glass like that in my house. But my entry table by my front door is made of a bunch of glass bricks. But that's not really what I'm talking about.

I'm talking more about fun windows and stuff. I mean, I think it can also work in a cabinet because that's something with a window. I like weird windows and weird glass, but especially in the window form. So nice because it lets the light in, but you can't see through, and it adds so much character. It's just so.

Oh, it's so cool. I'm thinking about, like, if I could add that to my house, like, where would I do it? Maybe in a cabinet. Definitely not in any of my windows. Like, it doesn't really work with the design of my house, but in some it does, and it looks fucking awesome.

Okay. And last but not least, we have no throw pillows. Okay? This is not only for convenience. This is also for aesthetic and for look.

Like, for so many years, I always had throw pillows on my bed. Like, growing up, I always had throw pillows on my bed. At least one. Like, it started with the pillow pet. I had a little pillow pet on my bed growing up.

When I got a little bit older and started to really get into getting creative with my space, I, like, begged my mom to take me to TJ Maxx so I could get some throw pillows for my bedroom. And I got so many, and it clogged up my bed, and I would throw them all into the ground, and it was so fucking annoying. And now I've graduated to having a bed that has no throw pillows on it. I have, like, one little tiny stuffed bear on my bed, and that's it. It's just the pillows that I sleep on.

And not only do I love the simplicity, like, how it looks, it looks really. I don't know, there's something, like, really charming about the way that it looks. It's just fully just functional. But also, I think it is less trendy in a way that will make it timeless. I really, I really love it.

Even on couches, though, and stuff. I think unless a throw pillow is functional, I think on a couch, it is nice to have, like, one or two, like, comfortable throw pillows so you can lay down and stuff on the couch. I actually think that that's nice. When I say no throw pillows at all, I'm more referring to the bed. But now I'm thinking about where other throw pillows are present, and it's like, it's not quite reigning.

True. Like, I do think a couch could benefit from Max two or three little throw pillows that add to the comfort of the couch. I think excessive throw pillows are just so. I can't handle it anymore. They're inconvenient, they're frustrating, and they are usually trendy to a point where you're like, I just want to donate these.

Like, I don't even like these anymore. The less throw pillows, the better. I fucking cannot stand when there's too many throw pillows. And I'm like, what do I even do with all these? Like, I have to.

And then, yeah, you know, you just end up throwing them on the ground anyway. I'm all about function meets fashion in all areas of life. Like, if something's not functional, I don't know, I can't get behind it. When something's not functional, I know it's just a trend for the most part. I remember one example being like, those super mini little thin scarves that were sort of like early two thousands vibes that, you know, you'd sort of wear in the summer.

It was almost like a summer scarf because it's not keeping you warm really, it's just sort of like an accessory. Those are cute. Like, play around with it all you want, but it is trendy. Like, that's not, like, that's already on its way out, you know what I'm saying? Or like, the double belt trend where people were wearing, like, two belts again, like, that's not functional.

That's not going to stand the test of time. It's going to look goofy at some point. And listen, I'm not saying there's anything inherently wrong with enjoying these trends. Like, if you really, really, really love it, fuck yeah, just do it, you know? But also, I think it's good to think critically about the trends that we choose to participate in because we don't want to buy shit and then have it just collect dust, you know?

I guess that's my psa of the day. And I'm not trying to be, like. I'm not trying to tell you what to do. You can do whatever the fuck you want, but I'm more speaking to myself, like, I'm trying to be better about not over consuming. You can do whatever you want.

Unknown
Fuck. It's none of my business what you do. Okay, so those are my favorite home decor trends. I hope that you enjoyed this and let me know what your favorite home decor trends are over on social media at anything goes. You can let me know.

Emma Chamberlain
Message me. I'm very curious about what you're into. Let me know if you want me to do a version of this where I talk about my least favorite home decor trends. Because if I'm this judgmental, I'm. I'm not judgmental in a mean way, though.

I'm judgmental in a fun way. Okay? There's a fucking difference. All right. Let me know if you want to hear that, and I'll do that.

You can follow me on social media at Emma Chamberlain, my coffee company at Chamberlain coffee. Also go to chamberlaincoffee.com to order online or find us in store using the store locator. New episodes of anything goes every Thursday and Sunday. You can stream anywhere you get podcasts. Video is exclusive on Spotify.

And that's all I have. That's all I got. I hope that you all enjoyed hanging out, as always. I absolutely did. Thank you for hanging out.

Thank you for listening. Thank you for being awesome, and I will talk to you very, very soon. Bye.

the best home decor trends, in my opinion

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1: Introduction to Home Decor

2: Favorite Trends

3: Practical Design Choices

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