With a butcher-block countertop and subway-tiled walls, the office space we moved into in February staked claim to certain interior design trends that really spoke to us. (Lots of natural light, white waxed wooden floors, and rustic open shelving were some others.) Throughout the year, we picked up a few more good ideas by way of product reviews (when we vet the new home goods that are launching in our Shop, tips from great design minds, and simply by keeping our eyes peeled all the time.
Just as with food, not every trend has a place in our lives. But certain popular opinions are too ingenious to ignore (namely, when a tradition breaks out of its mold and into a new light)—these are our favorite design trends of the year.
Open Shelves
True, they require a lot more dusting than traditional cabinets, but we can't get enough of the minimalist idea that your dishes can actually be the main decorating force in your kitchen—and that the same goes for all your other rooms.
Colorful Kitchens
From coppery cabinets to inky, sun-dappled rooms, some of our favorite kitchen designs this year branched out from all white and captured our hearts on the way.
All the White Marble
Not every countertop is destined for a Carrara topper, which is why we sell a slab of the good stuff for setting out on your granite, or your bar cart, or right on the table as a cheese plate.
- A Kitchen and Home Tour with MZ Wallace's Monica Zwirner
- 7 Reasons We Love Marble Surfaces (& How to Care for Them)
Gallery-Style Clusters
Whether you're arranging a cluster of framed artworks or just objects you love, the amorphous cloud of things on the wall is our favorite way to embrace irregularity in the home.
- 10 Ways to Decorate That Big Blank Wall You're Trying to Avoid
- Why the Best Wall Art Isn't Art at All
The Layered Look
From rugs on rugs to pattern on pattern, we're all for the theory that more is just that when decorating—and that so long as you keep an eye on it, clashing is a problem of the past.
Pink
We might have mentioned this, but 2015 was the year that pale, blushing pinks became our new go-to neutrals. (If you're not convinced yet, start by sneaking in a few rosy throw pillows.)
- Shop Pantone's 2016 Color(s!) of the Year
- A Tip for Getting More Color and Complexity in a Small Living Space
- Food52's 5 Favorite Colors of the Year
DIY Furniture
From knitting together a pouf or topping a basket with a piece of glass to make it a side table, some of our favorite pieces of furniture were made from scratch.
- How I Built and Stained My Own Table: A True Story
- Help Me with an Eames Chair Restoration Project
- Real Solutions: How to Use Baskets as Side Tables
Retro as Modern
From mid-century accents to jadeite and crocheted pillows, distinguishing your home with a nostalgic touch is one of our favorite ways to celebrate the times design was spot-on the first time.
Tile Everywhere
No longer relegated to the sliver of wall space between counter and cabinets, tile is finding its way into parts of the home we never expected—and in colors and shapes that are hard to believe.
It's here: Our game-changing guide to everyone's favorite room in the house. Your Do-Anything Kitchen gathers the smartest ideas and savviest tricks—from our community, test kitchen, and cooks we love—to help transform your space into its best self.
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