Intentionality Over Trends

The Pull of the Trend Cycle

It’s easy to get swept up in what’s trending! You see a color palette go viral, a certain style of mirror floods your feed, and suddenly it feels like your space is outdated if it doesn’t match what’s current.

We’ve all felt that pull. The urgency to update, to buy the thing, to recreate someone else’s moment because it looked so good on their grid. And don’t get me wrong, trends can be fun and they can even have long lasted experiences. They can introduce you to new aesthetics, textures, and ways of thinking about your space.

But when your home becomes a collection of trends rather than a reflection of you, something starts to feel… off. You look around and it’s cute, but it doesn’t necessarily feel like yours.

What Is Intentional Design?

Intentional design isn’t about perfection, it’s about purpose. It’s the difference between decorating a room because it looks good on Pinterest and styling a space because it makes you feel good when you walk into it.

When you design with intention, every item in the room has a reason to be there. Not necessarily because it’s trendy or expensive, but because it serves a function, tells a story, or simply brings you joy. It could be a framed photo, a hand-me-down table, or a lamp you saved up for. The point is: it’s yours.

And listen, if your style is Pinterest-worthy, that’s okay too! Some people genuinely love clean, crisp, curated spaces. Maybe you’re drawn to symmetry, modern edges, or minimalist palettes. If it feels good to you, then that can be intentional too. The key is making sure you're choosing it because it speaks to you, not because you feel like it should.

Personally, I’m drawn to a French romantic feel. My spaces look very curated…. and yes, the word "aesthetic" gets tossed around a lot. But that’s because I genuinely love this style. It aligns with how I see the world, how I relax, and how I want to feel in my space. I’m not designing it just to photograph well. I’m designing it to live well.

Why Trends Alone Don’t Ground a Space

Trends can spark creativity. They introduce fresh ideas, color stories, and playful risks. But when you rely on trends alone to design a room, the result can feel empty. It might look beautiful in a photo, but lack warmth, depth, or personal resonance in real life. You may feel like you’re in a showroom rather than a home. Even the best spaces should still have en element of personal warmth to them.

Why? Because trends are designed to change. That’s their job. It is supposed to evolve, rotate, and spark new cycles. But your home doesn’t have to evolve on someone else’s timeline.

If you’re constantly chasing what’s “in,” it’s easy to lose sight of what actually feels right. You might find yourself never truly feeling settled. Or buying items that look great in someone else’s space, but don’t quite fit yours…. physically or emotionally.

The most grounded spaces aren’t always the most current,  they’re the ones that feel lived in, loved, and layered. They reflect the person who lives there, not the algorithm that led them to it. It is intended to feel purposeful and not a recreation of our timelines.

How to Design Intentionally (Even When You Love Trends)

Here’s the truth: you don’t have to choose between intentionality and loving what’s popular. The two can absolutely coexist. It’s all about how you bring trends into your space.

Here’s how to stay grounded while still having fun with what’s popular:

Start with your anchor pieces.

Invest in the items that define the room: your sofa, rug, dining table, or bed. These should feel like you the most! Go for longevity over likes. And remember just because it’s intentional doesn’t mean it has to be expensive.

Let trends live in your accents.

Love a pop of color that’s having a moment? Try it in a throw pillow, art print, or vase. This gives you the freedom to explore without overcommitting. Trends should become seasonal updates, not identity shifts.

Check in with your why.

Ask yourself:

“Do I love this because it feels like me… or because I’ve seen it 100 times today?”

Blend the old and the new.

A home that feels real often mixes timeless pieces with modern touches. Maybe it’s a vintage mirror above a minimalist console. Or a family photo next to a trending candle holder. Let your space show layers of you.

My Personal Approach: What Keeps Me Grounded

For me, intentional design starts with how I want to feel. I want softness. Romance. A little bit of old-world charm with modern ease. That’s why you’ll find touches of French influence, layered textures, soft lighting, and curated corners throughout my home. It’s how I ground myself.

When I’m designing, whether it’s for myself or a client, I always start with an adjective.Words like warm, calm, inspired, structured, soft, elevated. I ask:

“What do you want to feel when you walk into this space?”“What words do you want to associate with this room?”

That one question becomes the filter. It helps me decide what stays, what goes, what belongs. It turns design from solely a visual task into an emotional one.

Yes, my space looks “aesthetic,” but that’s not the goal. The look is a reflection of how I’ve always moved through the world. My space is meant to feel observant, detail-oriented, sentimental. I style with feeling first, and then I layer in design elements that bring those feelings to life.

I still save Pinterest inspiration. I still enjoy trends. But I don’t build my rooms around them. I build them around the mood I want to create. Then I let the trends play a supporting role.

Final Thoughts: Build What Feels Like You

Design doesn’t have to be fast. It doesn’t have to be flashy. And it definitely doesn’t have to follow every trend to be beautiful.

The most powerful spaces are the ones that feel like you, the version that exists in quiet moments, off camera. The one who loves a specific scent, who saves old books, who lights candles not for content, but for comfort.

So the next time you feel overwhelmed by what’s trending, pause and ask yourself:

What do I actually want this space to feel like?What story am I trying to tell here?

Start there. Trust that. And build from that place.

Because when your space is rooted in feeling, it will always feel like home.