If you’re renovating your space, you may want to follow the latest design trends. But if you ask Queer Eye’s Bobby Berk for his take, he’d advise against it.
“I am anti-trend,” he told Forbes. “If you’re just chasing trends you’ll always be changing up your home up, which isn’t realistic for a lot of people. I think you should decorate your home with what makes you happy,”
The designer—who has to offer two free 30-minute virtual consolations to app users, bookable from April 16 at 9am PST on a first-come basis—believes that you should lean toward the designs that will make the most sense for you and your home rather than following the crowd.
are having a big moment right now, which are a wonderful option if you’re looking to add a pop of color to your space that also gives a richness and depth to the room. However, leading with bolder hues means you’re locked into a certain palette and don’t have as much room to play as you would with a lighter base. For Berk, neutral tones are what make him the happiest, and he always finds himself going back to a muted color palette in his designs.
“I love neutrals because they’re a great base and allow you to change things out for different seasons,” the Right at Home: How Good Design is Good for The Mind author explained. “When you really want to change things, if you have a neutral base and neutral furniture, you can change small things instead of having to do a big project,”
Desert tones are at the top of mind for Berk this season, and are something he says he has been “pushing for years.” Case in point: the he recently designed for one of his clients.
Whether you’re using soft desert tones or are looking to add a bright pop of color, to refresh a room on a pretty minimal budget, Berk recommends switching up your paint color.
“A can of paint is often the least expensive way to make the biggest impact in a room. Don’t be afraid to look at paint as something you can do seasonally—it only takes an afternoon or less to paint a wall,” he said. “It’s a great way to change up your space without spending a lot of money,”
While painting a wall can be a great weekend project for both beginners and seasoned DIYers, Berk suggests that the larger tasks, such as adding a backsplash, be left to the professionals. He’s particularly fond of the new Thumbtack app feature that tells you which projects are DIY-friendly and shows how long it will take, how much it will cost and the materials you’ll need. “It’s a great way to decide whether you have the bandwidth to tackle something yourself,” he added.
If you still find yourself wanting to follow the latest design movements, do it in a way that won’t have a massive impact on your style or your wallet. Play around with popular patterns on your bedding or choose some throw pillows that incorporate trending hues. Berk said that he often likes changing up the accessories in his home—particularly the textile accessories.
“I’ll swap out pillows, curtains, rugs and even paint the entryway a festive color,” he commented. “I’m often inspired by the changing colors of the seasons and that reflects the way I decorate.”