Home design trends
Dallas home design experts predict trends that are in — and out — for 2020
Dallas' talented architects and interior designers have their fingers on the pulse of all the trends. We asked a few local experts what design trends can we look forward to seeing in 2020, and what we will be kicking to the curb. The one thing they all seem to agree on? The days of white on white on white are over.
Cliff Welch
Welch/Hall Architects
“There are really no bad materials or even styles. But too often, we see materials, construction techniques, and building methods misused, misunderstood, and overused," he says. "For example, there is nothing inherently wrong with painted white brick. It’s been used in some timeless buildings by some incredible architects for over a century. Aalto was the master at blending painted white masonry and natural materials appropriate to the setting. Locally, Max Levy uses it as throughout his work as a background texture for nature, light, shade, and shadow.”
With this in mind, his list below contains materials, techniques, and construction methods that can all be appropriate in the right context when handled skillfully, thoughtfully, and with forethought and restraint. Unfortunately, he says, each has become a trend, both overused and misused with little to no regard for context or setting.
OUT (So last decade!)
- Paint it white (It’s become the go-to for house flips and strip centers.)
- Mr. Potato Head Architecture (This includes the random application of bad wood siding, stone accents — both real and sticky stone — burned wood, Ipe, token board-formed concrete walls, random window types and sizes, bright colors, and token flat roofs.)
- Bad Modern
- Taking the trimmings of modernism and applying them as decoration.
- Building cheaply and with no regard for craft and calling it modern.
- New midcentury modern. (There is no such thing. Unfortunately, this has taken a meaningful historical philosophy out of its historical context and turned it into a buzzword.)
- Shipping containers.
- Gabion walls.
- Corrugated siding.
- Cactus and Buffalo grass yards.
IN
- More thoughtful, well-crafted homes at a smaller scale focused on a simplifying lifestyle in complex and rapidly evolving times.
- Quality over quantity.
- Simplicity.
- Craft.
- Timeless design.
Kim Armstrong
Kim Armstrong Interior Design
OUT
- Gray and white.
- Farmhouse style.
- Barn doors.
IN
- Darker, moodier jewel tones.
- English European flavor.
- Floral wallpapers or prints are popping up and a touch of a bohemian vibe, as well.
- Lighter wood-tone floors will continue to stay popular, but white cabinets, while they will never go out of style, will begin to look boring, and you will notice more of a trend with colorful cabinets — not just on the islands but all over.
- Stained wood — in particular, oak — are being used more in cabinets. ‘
- All metallics are in, and mixing them is totally on-trend.
- Animal print is all the rage. Has this ever been out, though?
- Porcelain countertops.
- Smart home technology.
- We will see red, a color that hasn’t been used in quite a long time.
- Shiplap in moderation. I think you will see a trend on how to take the architectural interest that shiplap provides, and see a new spin on architectural millwork.
Traci Connell
Traci Connell Interiors
OUT
- The white and gray kitchen.
- Light blue on cabinets.
- Farmhouse style.
IN
- Livable and durable materials.
- Multifunctional and smart home capabilities integrated within new construction, especially with voice activation.
- Natural materials like rattan.
- Greenery.
- Eco-friendly options.
- Timeless, classic style, on the traditional side.
- Modern style with natural materials is also big.
- We have been incorporating a lot of homeowners' collectibles or cherished pieces for a more meaningful look — a home that tells their story.
OUT
- White.
- Cream.
- Light blue.
- Geometric Prints.
IN
- More individuality.
- Organic prints.
- Colorful marble countertops.
- Stained wood.
- Sexy light fixtures.
- Creative uses of LED tape light.
Lloyd Lumpkins
L. Lumpkins Architects
OUT
- I can only hope stripped-down painted brick with comp roofs vanish off the face of the earth.
IN
- Big Closets REIGN!
- No more formal dining rooms.
- Modern home designs with a sense of context — historical and regional.
Eddie Maestri
Maestri Studio
OUT
- White painted brick.
- The modern farmhouse is done.
- Matchy-matchy pastel and white interiors.
IN
- Architecture and interiors that tell a story. Self-expression and a reflection of the occupants’ personality.
- Warm woods.
- Soft colors with high-contrast accents.
- Bespoke/ Artisan materials both inside and out.
- Art Deco glamour.
- More unique design solutions that do not have to follow the rules of being a style.
- More individualism.
- Architecture that respects neighborhood context and adds to the fabric of the neighborhood story.
- Collected and eclectic interiors that tell a story.
Allen M. Keith
Chambers Interiors & Associates, Inc.
OUT
- All-white interiors.
IN
- A return to maximalism.
- Traditional furnishings.
- A lot more color!
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A version of this story originally was published on CandysDirt.com.
Wood tones are all the rage in 2026.Photo by Robert Peterson (Rustic White Photography) for Mister + Mrs. Sharp
Butler's pantries with pantry cabinets are a luxurious upgrade for some kitchens.Photo by Joe Purvis for Pike Properties