Simplicity Over Trends, Even When Design Experts Disagree

Lately, I keep hearing the same message echoed across magazines social media accounts, influencers and home design conversations: In 2026, simplicity is out. We’re told to collect more, layer more, embrace maximalist cottagecore charm. Pattern on pattern. Objects on every surface. Homes filled to the brim with “personality.”

And while I understand the sentiment—homes should feel lived-in and meaningful—I also think something important is missing from this conversation.

Space affects how we feel.

For some of us, more doesn’t feel cozy. It feels overwhelming. As an introvert, clutter doesn’t read as warmth or creativity. It reads as noise. Visual noise. Mental noise. A constant low-level hum that keeps my nervous system from ever fully settling. My home isn’t a stage or a trend experiment—it’s where I come to rest.

What soothes me is restraint.

Simple lines.

Organic textures.

Stone, wood, linen.

A palette of soft neutrals, light blues, and whites that feels coastal and open, even here in the Midwest.

This is as much layering as I will do. LOL.

These choices aren’t about playing it safe or lacking imagination. They’re about intention. About creating space to breathe—physically and emotionally. About letting materials speak instead of shouting over one another.

I think we forget sometimes that a home is not just an aesthetic statement. It’s a lived experience. And no trend—no matter how beautifully photographed—can tell you what your body needs to feel at ease.

For some, collecting brings joy. For others, simplicity is the luxury.

So maybe instead of declaring what’s “in” or “out,” we could shift the conversation. Maybe we let homes reflect the people who live in them—not the cycle of design predictions.

In my home, calm will never be outdated.

And I’m more than okay letting trends pass quietly by.

If you’ve ever felt pressure to decorate against your own instincts, I’d love to hear from you. What makes your home feel calm, grounded, or truly yours?

Leave a comment or share this post with someone who believes comfort matters more than trends.