Decorating your apartment is nothing if not a lesson in coping with FOMO. How many times have you styled that one corner of your space — you know the one, the corner with the good light — to the point where you think it's Instagram-ready. Then you see a friend of a friend’s apartment snap pop up in your feed, and instead of copying the same old design blog go-to's, he did something new and inspired. And it makes you wonder, Why didn’t I think of that?
Ahead, we’ve rounded up 10 of the top trends from the past year, and we’re here to say: no more! No more compulsive liking, competitive posting, or comprehensive social media makeovers to try to Get The Look! everyone else has already got. In the New Year, we'll be avoiding these design choices, because doing what everyone else has already done to death is no way to live. Here’s to a more personal and original 2017 — influence be damned!
White walls
Like, we get it: you just discovered minimalism, or the Pinterest version of it. That’s “dope AF,” but it’s time to take a page out of the maximalist playbook and embrace colors. Pale shades of peach, bright pops of yellow, maybe even an accent wall in Pantone’s hopeful 2017 color of the year, Greenery?
Illustrated by Louisa Cannell.
Records
Or, really, any type of media that isn’t stored on your hard drive — DVDs, we’re looking at you. Because everyone knows that the most valuable thing in home tech is your mom’s Amazon Prime password.
Illustrated by Louisa Cannell.
Copies of Kinfolk (and other lifestyle pubs you don't read)
We’re all really happy for you that you now have archival evidence of where Stockholm’s best $9 latte could be found in the year 2016. But also, who are you kidding?
Illustrated by Louisa Cannell.
Having a cactus or succulent proudly on display — in front of a drawing/ photograph of a cactus or succulent
We have seen this multiple times. Can someone explain it to us? Is it some sort of commentary on nature and impermanence? No? Then why is it happening? It's all just too meta for us.
Illustrated by Louisa Cannell.
Shoes on display
It’s just SO done, and also, it feels like someone is just trying to avoid finding a solution for storing shoes in an attractive, functional way. Designers, can you hear our cry? At the very least, if you must store them in the open, do it in your closet instead of your living room.
Illustrated by Louisa Cannell.
Abstract art that you don't understand
That might just be because it has no meaning, but still — how many vague, overlapping swaths of paint does a person really need to look at in his or her lifetime?
Illustrated by Louisa Cannell.
Pink and brass
Let’s make 2017 the year of mint and copper. Deal?
Illustrated by Louisa Cannell.
Literally any words, anywhere (especially in script)
Real talk: No one needs a daily reminder to “Love like no one’s watching!” on the wall next to their refrigerator.
Illustrated by Louisa Cannell.
"Vintage" furniture that you're actually just too lazy to fix
We know that antique throw is supposed to make the whole thing look kind of “Anthro” from a distance...but we’re not buying it.
Illustrated by Louisa Cannell.
Bare light bulbs
Just uncovered, hanging from a string next to a pile of dog-eared magazines. Undoubtedly next to a white wall. When did we start hating lamps, people? No, thanks.
Illustrated by Louisa Cannell.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
This Site Makes Donating Your Old Stuff Painfully Simple
This Couple Pulled The Most Creative Holiday Prank On Their Neighbors