How to Translate Insta-Decor Trends in Real Life

Instagram is flooded with images of some seriously dreamy decor, and translating those trends into your home is a task worth tackling.

For advice on how to do that, we asked 34-year-old designer and former Bravo TV host Taylor Spellman.

'MILLENNIAL PINK'

Maybe you didn’t know it by name, but this bubble-gum-meets-powdery-pink hue has been not-so-quietly pervading popular culture. You’ve seen it everywhere in packaging, home goods, fashion, and, of course, decor. But we’d argue that moderation is the key in bringing the Instagram (and beyond!) trend toward pink into reality.

Spellman’s Take: “Everyone is looking for inspiration in the form of bright, light, and uplifting,” she says. For a client who wanted a pink nursery, Spellman felt pink would be better expressed in accents rather than throughout the whole room.

And dimensions can be added using various gradients of the color, such as a fuchsia accent wall and patterned curtains balanced with softer-pink bedding and ottomans. She says this keeps the space “fun but not overpowering.”

SOUTHWESTERN 'SCAPE

Woven dream catchers, ceramic bull heads, animal-skin rugs, patterned textiles, cacti—you’ve likely come across various iterations of a Southwestern look with one thing in common: all the aforementioned items coexisting in the same room. The effect is interesting and eclectic.

Spellman’s Take: “It promotes a laid-back and welcoming aesthetic, which you can never go wrong with,” she says. “But it can easily be hokey and tacky if not done properly.” When it comes to trends, she adds, “I always err on the side of ‘less is more.’ I like the Southwestern aesthetic as an inspiration.”

For a client’s New York City penthouse, Spellman pared down the look. She incorporated hints of a Southwestern ranch-like feel with earthy hues including camel, green and brown. Her animal-shaped rug doesn’t scream “animal,” thanks to modern black cowhide. As for wall accessories, Spellman achieved a textural look in a streamlined way by using rustic repurposed metal-framed mirrors and modern metal antlers.

“The juxtaposition of being in New York while seeming like you are in Santa Fe was a real showstopper that resulted in very happy clients,” she says.

PLANT PROFUSION

According to Instagram, everyone has a green thumb—or rather, as photo evidence might suggest, a green hand. Images fill our feeds with verdant living walls and terracotta pots aplenty.

Spellman’s Take: For an urban homeowner who didn’t have a green thumb, Spellman “brought in a large fiddle leaf tree, various succulents for the shelves, and a green couch to give the room an earthy and warm feel,” she says.