I Stalk Home Décor Accounts—6 Design Trends That Are Dying

interior-design-trends-2021-292958-1619664922861-main

(Image credit: @monikh, @mariejedig)

Interior design has always been a passion of mine, but it wasn't until this year—with a lot of time on my hands and a cross-country move in the works—that I became a full-fledged member of the Instagram home décor community. And let me tell you. It's a wonderful place to be. The social media platform is literally full to the brim of A1 interior inspiration, whether it's brilliant young artisans sharing snaps of one-of-a-kind pieces they recently produced or interior designers posting scans from decades-old issues of Architectural Digest. It's truly an endless supply of décor ideas. With that said, when an idea or concept heavily circulates the app, that's usually an indication that it's something we'll see a lot of in the future.

With months of stalking home décor accounts under my belt, I definitely have noticed a shift in the types of pieces and styles the design community has gravitated toward. The mid-century modern craze has held steady for a minute, and I honestly don't think it will fade away anytime soon, and naturally, chrome and futuristic lamps have become two of the popular trends of the moment. Also reemerging as a big one to watch? Seventies-inspired burl furniture—from side tables to picture frames and more, the unique finish has supplanted walnut as the wood of choice. There are plenty more to cover, so get settled and read on for the top interior trends that are declining, according to Instagram, along with the trends we predict will blow up soon enough.

Dying: Matchy-Matchy Acessories

Thriving: Eclectic Dining Sets

Remember when you'd buy a whole dining set with a matching table and chairs? Well, that's pretty much on the back burner. Right now, the winning concept is to embrace the funky flavor of contrasting furniture. The idea is to find loosely corresponding pieces you really love and throw them all together. Think chairs in a different color than the dining table or a group of dining chairs of varying styles. The result is a space that feels eclectically rustic and personal.

interior-design-trends-2021-292958-1619665466120-main

(Image credit: @mariejedig)

interior-design-trends-2021-292958-1619666549924-main

(Image credit: @fannyekstrand)

Shop the trend:

Dying: Tropical Plants

Thriving: Indoor Trees

If you have a tropical plant, this isn't a call to immediately give it away. Fresh plants will never not be in style, but I've noticed a few varieties that are particularly in favor right now. A few years ago, the monstera craze wiped out nearly the entire supply of the variety in all of my local garden stores, and now, dwarf trees are becoming sparse. From large ficuses to mini olive varieties, these trees are used to ground a room in a way that brings nature indoors. After being inside for over a year, a little dose of the outdoors feels like a welcome proposition.

interior-design-trends-2021-292958-1619665405225-main

(Image credit: @monikh)

interior-design-trends-2021-292958-1619666312792-main

(Image credit: @aurorajames)

Shop the trend:

Dying: Gold Accents

Thriving: Chrome Accents

Yes, mid-century modern design is still alive and well. Even more than 50 years later, millennials especially can't stop buying futuristic 1960s Italian lamps and Herman Miller furniture. But one hallmark of the retro design wave has particularly struck a chord: chrome. You'll notice that items featuring the metal finish, like mirrors and dining chairs, are all very quick to sell out at places like Etsy and CB2. While decorating my new apartment, I too went on a chrome blitz, buying a Sonneman-inspired table lamp for my sideboard. You can easily inject this trend into space with a vintage light fixture or a mini side table, but to avoid a clash, keep the metals within your room to one shade. 

interior-design-trends-2021-292958-1619665701879-main

(Image credit: @aigdhome)

interior-design-trends-2021-292958-1619666650003-main

(Image credit: @alyssainthecity)

Shop the trend:

Dying: Dark Wood

Thriving: Burl Wood

As you continue down this list, you'll notice that eccentricity and individuality are two overarching themes within Wholesale Replica Bag design trends. This also extends to wood furniture and accents: Burl has slowly picked up steam, appearing heavily in Wholesale Replica Bag collections from CB2 and more. Each piece of burl is completely unique, as it's the result of abnormal and deformed growth within a large tree. 

interior-design-trends-2021-292958-1619665885673-main

(Image credit: @madelynnfurlong)

interior-design-trends-2021-292958-1619803037893-main

(Image credit: @curated_spaces)

Shop the trend:

Dying: Traditional Ceramic Lamps

Thriving: Whimsical Lamps

Here's where it's perfectly acceptable to embrace the quirky side of things. Playful lamps in a variety of sizes, shapes, shades are trending heavy, and it doesn't look like it's slowing down anytime soon. If you have the budget, Etsy is a great resource to find rare vintage lamps, or you can order one direct from a design studio like Entler or Eny Lee Parker.

interior-design-trends-2021-292958-1619666286211-main

(Image credit: @trinekjaer_)

interior-design-trends-2021-292958-1619666275144-main

(Image credit: @annejohannsen)

Shop the trend:

Dying: Floral Print

Thriving: Checkered Print

We've seen this one coming for a while now, but it wasn't until this year that the checkered trend really took off like wildfire. One of the easier ways to embrace the style is small objects to decorate a tabletop or mantle. On the opposite spectrum, checkered shag rugs are practically a fashion-girl staple—they'll cost a bit more, but you'll have yours forever.

interior-design-trends-2021-292958-1619666328266-main

(Image credit: @alyssainthecity)

interior-design-trends-2021-292958-1619804900082-main

(Image credit: @camillecharriere)

interior-design-trends-2021-292958-1619804884015-main

(Image credit: @alywaysjudging)

Shop the trend:

Next up: This Accessory Combo Is a Fashion-Girl Favorite for Summer

Explore More:
Fashion Market Editor

Indya Brown is a fashion editor, stylist, and writer living in Los Angeles. While going to school at Columbia University in New York City, she got her feet wet in the fashion industry interning at Elle magazine, Harper's Bazaar, and New York magazine's The Cut. After graduating in 2016, she joined The Cut as a fashion assistant, eventually working her way up to fashion editor. There, she worked on a multitude of projects, including styling inbook feature stories for New York magazine's print issue, writing and pitching market stories for The Cut, and serving as fashion lead for The Cut's branded content. While New York has been her home for over 10 years, she moved to Los Angeles in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 for a new chapter. Now she is a fashion market editor forBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , focusing on emerging designers, rising trends on and off the internet, interior design, and BIPOC creatives and brands. Aside from her duties as a fashion market editor, Brown is also a freelance stylist and writer, working on national print and video commercial campaigns for Sephora, The Independent, and Cadillac. Her bylines also include Harper's Bazaar, Vox, and The New York Times. But once the computer goes down and the emails turn off, she's likely eating her way through Koreatown, hunting down vintage furniture, scoping out new outrageous nail designs to try, or taking a hot cycling class.