Interior Design Tips: 3 Design Words I’m Letting Go (And What I’m Saying Instead)
Interior design tips that replace industry buzzwords with clearer, more practical ways to plan your kitchen renovation
Some interior design tips sound helpful at first, but they end up creating more confusion than clarity. The design world loves to throw around words like “expensive,” “trendy,” and “timeless,” but here’s the problem: none of those words actually help you make better decisions about your home.
Instead, they can pile on:
😔 Guilt: Should I be spending this much?
🤔 Self-doubt: Is my kitchen going to look dated in two years?
😵💫 Unrealistic expectations: What even counts as timeless?
After years of watching clients get stuck in this spiral, I’ve cut these three words from my vocabulary. And more importantly, I’ve replaced them with language that’s actually useful.
Let’s walk through what I’ve stopped saying, what I’m saying instead, and how these shifts can help you feel more confident in your design choices (whether you’re planning a “timeless kitchen” renovation or just choosing a new light fixture).
1. “Expensive” → Out of Budget (and a Conversation About Value)
Here’s the thing: “expensive” is relative. For one client, a $15,000 cabinet package feels manageable. For another, it’s way over budget. The word “expensive” doesn’t mean anything on its own… it just creates pressure.
What I say instead: “out of budget.”
Why? Because “out of budget” gives you back control. It turns the focus from this is too much money to this doesn’t fit the numbers we set aside. That’s a very different conversation.
And here’s the key: price is always about perceived value. If you don’t see the value in a material or layout change, that doesn’t mean it’s objectively “expensive.” It just means it’s not the right fit for your project.
Try this language instead:
“This option is out of budget for now, can we price a version that keeps the look but drops X and Y features?”
“Can you quote both ways, with and without full-extension glides, so I can see the cost difference?”
“What are the long-term maintenance costs here, and how might that affect the total over five years?”
📖 RELATED: If you’re also weighing materials or finishes, you might find How to Choose the Right Tile for Your Kitchen and Bathroom helpful, since it breaks down which options hold up best in real life.
2. “Trendy” → What You Love
The word “trendy” has become a loaded term in interior design trends. Scroll Instagram for five minutes and you’ll find someone declaring that marble checkerboard floors are out or that warm woods are back in. But here’s the truth: ten years ago, no one called Tuscan kitchens “trendy.” They were just what people thought looked beautiful.
So instead of asking if something is trendy, I ask: Do you love it?
Social media has made us hyper-aware of cycles and labels. And while it’s good to know what’s popular, designing your kitchen around the fear of being “too trendy” almost always backfires. You end up paralyzed, afraid to choose anything at all.
What works better:
Focus on what you love right now and how you live in your home. A backsplash you genuinely enjoy looking at every day will never feel like a mistake (even if the algorithm moves on).
PRACTICAL TIP
Save images that make you feel something, not just the ones with 10,000 likes. Then look for the common threads: color palettes, textures, or layouts. That’s your real style, not whatever hashtag is hot this month.
3. “Timeless” → Enduring
This is the big one. Every single client asks me for a “timeless kitchen.” And I get it, you don’t want to remodel now and regret it in five years. But here’s the reality: “timeless” doesn’t exist. Every design choice belongs to a particular era. Even white shaker cabinets, which feel “classic” right now, will eventually signal “2010s” to future homeowners.
What I say instead: “enduring.”
Enduring design is about creating spaces that flow with the rest of your home, feel natural, and will always work. It doesn’t mean your kitchen will never age. It means it will age gracefully.
Enduring design choices often include:
Materials that develop character over time (think marble that patinas or brass that softens).
Layouts that prioritize function and flow, not just looks.
Cohesion with the rest of the home, so the kitchen doesn’t feel like a spaceship landed in the middle of your craftsman bungalow.
Try this language instead:
Instead of asking “Will this backsplash be timeless?” ask:
Will this backsplash endure?
Does it connect with the architecture of my home?
Does it feel like me?
This shift changes everything.
📖RELATED: If you want to dive deeper into this idea, I break it down in Timeless Kitchen Design: Creating a Space That Ages Gracefully, with real examples of layouts, materials, and finishes that truly hold up.
Why Language Matters in Design
You might be thinking, “Does swapping a few words really matter?” And my answer is: yes.
Because words shape the way you approach decisions. Calling something “expensive” adds shame. Calling it “out of budget” adds clarity. Calling a backsplash “trendy” makes you second-guess. Calling it “something you love” makes you trust yourself. Calling a kitchen “timeless” sets you up for disappointment. Calling it “enduring” gives you permission to create a space that evolves gracefully with your life.
That mindset shift makes the renovation process calmer, more confident, and frankly, more fun.
Wrapping It Up: Interior Design Tips for a Calmer Renovation
If you take away one thing from this post, it’s this: pay attention to the words you use when making design decisions. Replacing “expensive,” “trendy,” and “timeless” with clearer language can save you from second-guessing and help you design a kitchen that actually feels good to live in.
Whether you’re planning a kitchen renovation on a budget or mapping out your dream remodel, these interior design tips are meant to simplify (not complicate) the process. And when you focus on value, what you love, and enduring choices, you end up with a home that reflects you, not just the latest interior design trends.
Bonus Resource: Don’t Let Cabinet Decisions Undo Your Good Work
Did you know? Cabinets are the single biggest line item in most kitchen budgets. And they’re also where I see the most regret: drawers that collide, finishes that clash, or layouts that make cooking harder instead of easier.
That’s why I created a free resource for homeowners just like you:
⭐ Grab my FREE guide→ Kitchen Renovation on a Budget: Top 7 Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing Kitchen Cabinets
It’s the quick, practical checklist I wish every homeowner had in hand before signing off on an order. Sign up now, and I’ll send the PDF straight to your inbox!