8 Decorating Balmy Takes Designers Still Stand By (Even If You Hate Them)

Designing and decorating your home is all about finding your sense of style and creating a space you truly love. While there are some rules and tips to keep in mind, standout interiors are often the ones that go against the grain a little.

As interior trends come and go, there are plenty of decor choices experts agree on as “in” or “out”— but there are some warm takes that divide the community.

These five designers each have a mighty signature interior style they stick with— even when trends say not to—and are sharing their unfiltered opinions on the controversial looks they love.

Mixing Materials

Some might shy away from the idea of combining wood and stone in their design and decor in favor of sticking to a more cohesive set of materials.

But, nature-inspired home designer Nina Lichtenstein adores the state-of-the-art organic look, and is a firm believer in mixing the two to build texture and dimension in a room.

“I’m not just mixing materials, I’m layering stories,” she explains. “Each piece of wood and stone brings its history, its unique grain or veining, and together they create a space that feels grounded and original.”

Subway Tile

As home design trends move away from the all-white, ultra-minimalist look and start to embrace colors, many are starting to view the rectangular subway tiles seen in countless kitchens and bathrooms as overused and monotonous.

Lichtenstein, however, loves to create calming, pristine spaces with gentle, earth-toned variations of the versatile shape.

“To me, a subway tile’s simplicity is its greatest strength,” she says. “When paired with natural wood, lush greenery, or a pop of color, they provide a pristine, crisp background that never feels cluttered or overwhelming.”

Decorating with Books

TikTok home decor trends always come with a little bit of controversy, but thanks to its highly personal nature and ability to build character, the bookshelf wealth trend’s popularity, in particular, is something Dan Mazzarani, principal and original director of  BHDM Design and ARCHIVE, can get behind.

“For some of us, it is not always about the books so much as it is what they do for the other prized possessions on your shelf,” Mazzarani says. “For example, in my home, they serve as a backdrop for my Andy Bissonnette pottery collection.”

Wall Paneling

While some designers look at accent walls as a trend worth skipping, others—like Dana Lee Calabrese of Dana Lee Creative—stand by a specific way of creating interest and drawing the eye: wall paneling, bead board, and wainscotting.

She recommends opting for beadboard as a charming touch in bathrooms and kitchens and wainscotting in formal dining rooms, hallways, and bedrooms.

“Beadboard and wainscoting both give a room a timeless, refined look that’s always in style,” Calabrese says. “Plus, it’s a great way to achieve a high-end look on a budget.”

Separated Living Spaces

One very warm take Daniel House Club’s co-founder and chief original officer Peter Spalding always advocates for is the importance of separating each room in your home, rather than opting for one enormous, open-floor plan kitchen, living, and dining area.

“I find open space less useful for the actual needs of life, and much harder to position furniture in,” Spalding explains. “In the words of one of my favorite professors: ‘Architecture is all about frames, framing frames, framing frames’. Doorways are the best way of framing vistas within a house, and we should not get rid of them.”

Painting Over Brick

Both indoors and out, the variation and rustic charm of brick can bring character to a time-honored home. But some designers, like Guidi Filippi, prefer to treat brick or paint over it for a more state-of-the-art and refreshed look.

She also loves to utilize various brick treatments, like German schmear and lime washing.

“I am all for painting over brick for interior features, like a fireplace that needs updating,” Guidi Filippi shares. “Of course, brick can be incredibly handsome, and there are many cases where it’s a shame to paint over it— but for me, that’s an exception and not a rule.”

Timeless White Kitchens

Another controversial paint choice Guidi Filippi loves to lean into is a white kitchen. While others may view the color as tedious, this designer sees white as a timeless, neutral tone, appreciating its abilities to reflect and amplify natural delicate, and instantly make a room feel brighter and bigger.

“I’m firmly team ‘White Kitchens Never Go Out of Style’,” she says. “There are infinite ways of making it state-of-the-art and fascinating, from countertop choices to hood materials, hardware, and more.”

Open Shelving

Open shelving may not always be seen as practical due to the level of curation and pristine cleanliness it demands, but it’s a style choice both Spalding and Lichtenstein love to see used in kitchens to display tools and dinnerware, or decoratively in living rooms for their clients’ most meaningful belongings.

“When done right, open shelves breathe life into a space,” Lichtenstein says. “These are not just items, but pieces of our daily lives that deserve to be displayed.”