Trends tend to get a bad rap because of their inherent ability to change quicker than the seasons on the prairies (think October weather in Saskatchewan), and it’s no different for home decor. One minute you’re pages deep on Pinterest sifting through photos of unattainably clean homes with all white everything while solemnly swearing to yourself you’ll finally get into indoor plants (and less into clothes strewn on the sofa). You manage to repaint, trade in your dark oak furniture for faux marble, and creep inches closer to that minimalistic look–a little bit Scandinavian, a little bargain Homes Sense. You’re proud. But the next, you’re at a co-worker’s place sitting around their orange coffee table trying to feign excitement over all their bold new colours and patterned wallpaper–they’re “so in”, they say.

We hear you. Trends are overwhelming, expensive and time consuming to stay on top of. But dodging them altogether? That may not be the best way to go about it either, and certainly not the most fun.

We at North Prairie take pride in our beautiful layouts and quality finishings and are always inspired how our new customers use their stunning new space as a blank canvas. While we try to keep our show homes staged in a modern and stylish way, we also want prospective buyers to picture themselves in a home, and overly trendy or creatively decorated spaces can sometimes get in the way of that. Home décor is a personal extension of yourself, and an expression of who you are. But who are you, anyway? Sure, Instagram and Pinterest do a wonderful job of showing you dream homes that more closely resemble a movie set than an actual home where people live, but how does that help?

Take it from us, it never needs to be overwhelming and you don’t need to throw out 15 years of accumulated furniture and décor that’s been with you through 8 holidays, 2 relationships, and 3 moves. It can be a slow process you can start this weekend. Start dog earing some home magazines, book marking pages on décor blogs, or pinning a bunch of photos that inspire you in some way. Don’t think too much about it.

Then, take a glance back at what you’ve set aside and notice any commonalities. Do all your photos resemble a Victorian dollhouse, or are you clearly a dark wood lover who thrives on earthy tones? Are you noticing a shabby-chic trend happening or are there a lot of clean, contemporary looks in your pile? The problem most people tend to have is that they don’t know what exactly their taste is, so they never really commit to any look or feel. Well, it’s time to decide what you like.

Remember those photos you saved all over your desktop? Well keep the ones with the style you like the most, and commit to achieving that look. Maybe you begin by painting your bathroom a crisp white and slowly adding pieces from there. Or maybe it’s a slow colour transition that happens over the course of a few trips to Ikea or Urban Barn. It takes time!

Remember: don’t do everything all at once, and build toward the style you like.

Here are a couple tips:

1. Choose 1 or 2 colours per room and stick to them. Go with a theme. Rose Quartz (also coined ‘Millennial Pink’ or ‘Tumblr Pink’) was colour of the Year in 2016 and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere fast. Try incorporating the soft hue as an accent colour with couch cushions, candles, or even books if you’re into coffee table styling. Keep the rest neutral. Less is still more.
2. You don’t need a feature wall. Minimalistic styling is a thing, and timeless for a reason. Seriously, don’t ever let anybody tell you that you need more colour. If you are inclined to spruce up the room, try a textured wallpaper instead. It’s modern, yet also timeless.
3. Try for interesting textures or metals. Opt for brass décor, or make a statement with a luxurious velvet couch in a punchy colour.

Next time you visit one of our North Prairie show homes, try picturing it decorated in a way that suits you. In our opinion, that’s the best part of show home shopping–imaging it as your own home.