The way Trump decorates the Oval Office could influence design trends across the entire US
- Some White House administrations, such as Kennedy's, have had a lasting cultural impact on interior design.
- Architectural Digest recently examined how President Donald Trump is affecting interior design.
- AD notes that upcoming trends might "be conciliatory rather than reactionary."
The interior design choices made in the White House can have lasting effects on American culture.
That's according to writer Kim Velsey, who examines the effects of the Trump White House on interior design trends in an Architectural Digest article.
There's reason to believe the Trumps' choices could have an outsized effect. For instance, former First Lady Jackie Kennedy - who worked with designer Sister Parish to redecorate the White House - helped define the quintessential "American country style," sometimes referred to as "shabby chic."
On the other hand, administrations such as George W. Bush's had little to no impact on design.
Velsey looks at how the Trumps have decorated their past homes, the current White House, and comments on how, psychologically, the administration might be affecting the American public's design decisions. She, along with interior designers, notes that changes are coming, and that these trends will "be conciliatory rather than reactionary."
Trump's interior design style has been known for its incorporation of marble floors, chandeliers, and 24-karat gold trimmings. Peter York, the author of "Dictator Style," which examines the interior design choices of 16 dictators from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 21st, declared Trump's penthouse in Trump Tower as "dictator style."
Velsey notes that larger trends will go against that gaudy aesthetic: "The predominant trends of the coming year will favor authenticity and softer, elegant lines, as well as antiques and eclecticism," she writes.
This eclecticism, or mixture of styles - creating rooms that incorporate various patterns, colors, and an overall not-matching look - focuses more on each individual piece's story. "People want things that have meaning," designer Maxime Vandal told Architectural Digest.
Gold, brass, and black paint are also having a moment - along with Pantone's color of the year: Ultra Violet - a deep purple hue. Although Pantone Vice President Laurie Pressman told the Associated Press that the 2018 color choice speaks to rebellion rather than royalty, there's no denying purple's long association with royals.
The Trumps' own redesign of the White House has gone on trend - incorporating various elements from past presidencies. Inside the current Oval Office, pictured below, is a blend of styles and antiques - Trump has adopted the Resolute desk (used by seven past presidents), the younger Bush's couches, Ronald Reagan's rug, Bill Clinton's gold drapes, and Lyndon B. Johnson's Bronco Buster.
But just because he's using other presidents' pieces doesn't mean his style isn't his own.
