I was recently asked to share my thoughts on upcoming interior design and decor trends for another website. I always take time to review and look forward this time of year, I don’t want to get stale in my work.

I’d been looking at Pinterest’s top 100 trends to see what people are pinning over there. I found several topics that seem to be happening culturally, floating out in the zeitgeist these days, and think these may impact style, buying trends and how people are living in their homes.

Have you heard of “grandmillennial style”?

This style is being discussed by the major design publications a lot now. It basically features a younger furniture buyer who loves some of the older styles that their mothers and grandmothers might have had in their homes.

Chinoiserie, antiques, printed floral fabrics, bamboo, formal china and dishes, basically the stuff of a more traditional home make up this style.

Much of which can be gotten for a song these days on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Goodwill, if not just inherited from your grandparents!

I know when we downsized both of our mothers’ households in the last two years, we had a hard time even giving a lot of that away. We’ve all heard the antique business has not been doing well in recent years.

Do you know who expressed an interest in some of the china, the old glassware, the brass candlesticks, etc., of our mothers’ homes?

My twenty-something daughter and recently my niece who was here at Thanksgiving! They now have some items set aside for them when they land in more permanent homes and have space.

Here’s a post I wrote last year about taper candlesticks trending.

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I just happened upon a home design trends article that I was excited to find.

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What I do know is that neither of them are what I would call an all-in grandmillennial, they both like a modern edge and even a mid-century vibe, but I’m encouraged to see this nod to the trappings of past homes and a reverence for a lovingly crafted collection.

The idea of keeping a few older treasures that have value and style, mixed in with well-made, more modern pieces, is really something that has long-lasting and very personal appeal.

“Conscious Consumption” Trend Is Here To Stay

So, IF we are all looking for ways to reduce, reuse and recycle, IF we are all eschewing single-use items in an effort to help our environment, then why wouldn’t that same mentality apply to our furnishings?

I think that the age of buying everything new, fast and cheap is going. That whole Instagram mentality of impulse buying right off the platform via influencers is going to becoming overdone and tiresome.

Here are some of the gifts I received this year from my daughter that really tie into this idea.

I sent her the link for those produce bags….the thought of burning through single use plastic bags for all the produce purchased at the grocery store just weighed on me.

This article from Forbes impressed me. It outlines some great tips to consume consciously any time of the year.

How Conscious Consumption impacts the home

I think people will be more thoughtful, curate more over time, and think about reusing existing furnishings, antiques and vintage, in their homes.

So, in light of everything I mentioned above, here’s where I’m thinking the big interior design trend is headed….

brown furniture

Take a look at these photos from the Aspire Showhouse tour I did this past fall. These rooms used wood toned case goods so effectively.

Chad James designed a gorgeous, masculine bedroom upstairs and used these brown wood casegood pieces.

Brown furniture used in Chad James’ bedroom in the Aspire Showhouse this past fall.

Scot Meacham Wood used this gorgeous traditional china cabinet hutch against a fresh plaid wallcovering, to great effect.

The sideboard on the opposite wall added richness to the space too, on top of the new rug.

Brown furniture used in Scot Meacham Wood’s dining room in the Aspire Showhouse this past fall.

Brown wood tone furniture in my projects

I actually try to reuse my homeowner’s existing furniture when we can, if they are wanting to minimize expense or if they just like something they have so much they want to keep it.

In this master bedroom project, below, the homeowner reused their existing bed, bench (purchased when living overseas), and one nightstand that they loved and still found perfectly useful. The rich brown furniture added some personality to this room.

Creamy white bedding and blue grasscloth walls kept it fresh and updated the look.

AFTER - Brown furniture reused in revamped master bedroom Carla Aston, Designer | Tori Aston, Photographer

BEFORE - Homeowner’s previous bedroom with existing brown furniture

Brown Wood Tone Furniture In Cottage Kitchen

Another one of my projects, shown below, shows a cottage or country style kitchen remodel. The homeowner kept her breakfast table and chairs and we were able to find some special Windsor style swivel counterstools that worked with this look.

The brown furniture here makes for some nice traditionally styled detailing in front of the painted wood kitchen island.

Cottage style kitchen reusing client’s existing table and chairs with new brown wood tone Windsor style counterstools for the kitchen island. Carla Aston, Designer | Miro Dvorscak, Photographer

Brown Toned Furniture Reused In Master Bedroom

Here’s a before and after, below, of a bedroom redo where we reused the brown furniture. New paint, drapery, upholstery, lamp and carpet brought this space totally up to date.

AFTER - Brown furniture reused in revamped master bedroom | Carla Aston, Designer | Miro Dvorscak, Photographer

All creamy white envelope with brown tone furniture.

This client’s existing dark brown, antique furniture added character to this home. It spoke to their travels and time they lived overseas.

When we remodeled, we used warm brown wood floors and a creamy white envelope to lighten, brighten and update the spaces. Light slipcovers and upholstery brought a freshness to the decor.

Brown antique furniture in home office adds character | Carla Aston, Designer | Miro Dvorscak, Photographer

Brown antique furniture in this home adds warmth and a comfortable vibe. | Carla Aston, Designer | Miro Dvorscak, Photographer

Read more about this project and see the before and afters here. >>> HOME TOUR - This Remodel Brought a Fresh, Timeless Vibe to this Homeowner’s Treasures

Not everyone wants or has the luxury to throw everything out and start over. Nor does everyone like the look of a bunch of new furnishings without incorporating a few older or more traditional finds into the mix.

I think this new decade will bring about a more intentional mixing of styles and furnishings.

The simpler, more clean-lined look that a lot of people have been moving toward might include some brown furniture, antiques, and vintage finds in the upcoming year.

I think it will be a popular way to decorate in the years to come. :-)

Here’s that other website I mentioned at the top of this post, where I talked about trends with a bunch of other designers like Studio McGee, Lori Dennis, and many more.

Will you be tackling some new projects this coming year?

You should check out my Outlet Shop for my affordable, targeted guides that can help you along your design journey!