12 looks interior designers avoid – and how to decorate your rooms like a pro

‘We’re always asked by clients if they shouldn’t use something in their design because it’s a trend and may go out of fashion soon,’ says Athina Bluff, Founder and Senior Designer at Topology Interiors.

Our answer is “If you love it, do that.” Just as you wouldn’t tell everyone to wear the same clothes, you should ignore what’s in and what’s not – just design for you and your family, or who’s going to use the space, as that’s when design truly reflects your own personality and style.

‘That being said, one of the trends that really pains the purist side of me is the ‘upcycling’ of beautiful old furniture. I’m not talking about IKEA hacks here, and not when it’s just a lick of paint, more when a vintage piece of furniture is being covered in things like oversized lollypop sticks or a beautiful old vase is getting plastered with paint testers and bicarb.  

‘Don’t get me wrong, if this piece was destined for landfill then it’s a great way of giving it a new lease of life – however, I can’t help feel that as these are irreversible changes and you will tire of them super-fast, plus it doesn’t give the piece any future longevity beyond this ‘trend’.  

“If you’re looking for ways to recycle an old piece furniture, think about how the embellishments can be easily removed and how it can be reused in another project.