The Silent Trap in Home Design (and How to Break Free)

Resist the urge to blend in 

Last month, I listened to a podcast featuring Dr. Todd Rose, where he spoke on Collective Illusions and I was intrigued as a human being, an Interior Designer, and as a mom raising Gen Z and Alpha kids who are seemingly increasingly afraid to voice their real opinions out of fear of potentially not fitting in.  

Have you ever caught yourself saving a photo on Pinterest that you didn’t even love — just because it looked like what everyone else was doing? 

We’ve all gone along with an idea (and likely still do) because we incorrectly believe that most people in a group believe in or agree with it. This happens across the board, including politics, business, health, fashion, and yes…design. 

The Illusion of Timelessness 

Doing what I do, I feel I get a front-row ticket to collective illusions in action. When I talk to homeowners about their dreams for their new home or renovation, I often hear phrases like, “I just want it to be timeless.” 

Sometimes, that’s code for “I want it to appeal to the masses for resale,” even if my clients plan on living in their home for 10 years or more. 

There’s a subtle fear wrapped up in that idea — a fear of giving our homes any real personality, just in case Aunt Sue, Uncle Bob, or the neighbour down the street has something to say about that bold natural stone or patterned tile. 

But what if “timeless” doesn’t mean neutral? What if it means creating a space that will still bring you joy 10 years from now — because it feels like you?  

Rethinking The Trends 

Recently, social media has seen a quiet but meaningful design challenge emerging: one that focuses on building trust rather than following trends — especially around open-concept living. 

jellyfish walls anyone?

House Beautiful even posted their hot take when they recently shared, “Our Homes Aren’t Weird Enough." Now, one could argue that these media houses (all of them) helped create this illusion – feeding us endless white-and-grey kitchens and open-concept floor plans and uber-polished spaces that look beautiful in photos but don’t feel great to live in. In failing to embrace individuality over the years, they are largely to blame for why we’re in this situation, but I digress – at least recognizing it is a start.  

We’ve opened walls because that’s what everyone was doing. We’ve hidden our clutter, over-curated our collections and muted our preferences. Now, designers and homeowners alike are asking: do we really need to knock down that wall?  

For me, this movement isn’t a backlash, it's a reflection. 

Open-concept living has had its place – and perhaps still does – but we’re starting to rediscover the beauty in rooms that serve a purpose, contain moments (and mess), memories and meaning. 

The Case for Cozy: Why Closed Spaces Are Making a Comeback 

When my husband and I moved into our current family home, we had three children under the age of 4 and plans for another. As a young mom it made me nervous to not have a line of sight from the kitchen to the family room, and we opted to create an opening between the two. For us, making this change not only gave us that line of sight and increased natural light across the back of the house, but it was an inexpensive adjustment to make – there was no plumbing, HVAC or electrical in that wall, allowing us to make adjustments without breaking the bank.

On the other side of the family room wall sat a large, undefined space (you know what I’m talking about – that wide open space on your builder’s plans labeled “living / dining”). Instead of keeping it open, I went against the grain at the time and opted to add walls in, creating a dedicated dining space (since we like to entertain and have a large extended family), butler’s pantry with storage for kids games and craft supplies, a relocated powder room, and a semi-private home office. 

Sometimes, it’s not about opening up your home — it’s about opening up the way you live in it. 

Adding walls brought back something that open layouts often take away: character and coziness. 

Fun tiles in the butler’s pantry, bold pocket door colours for the office, jellyfish wallpaper in the powder room — all little touches that reflect who we are and bring us joy. 

Home, Connection, and the Walls That Hold Us 

The first holiday we hosted that year was Thanksgiving (followed by Christmas Day), and I remember loving that we could all be together, but still able to do our own things. Some of us chatting late into the evening at the dining table while others lounged in the family room. Others tidied up in the kitchen (namely my husband) while the kids bounced between spaces, laughter echoing through the walls.  

There was no shushing or asking for the TV to be turned down – just ease, warmth and connection. 

Those walls didn’t separate us, they held us. 

Perhaps “open-concept” can be reframed from tearing down walls, to being about creating openness in how we live, connect, and design with intention.  

As it relates to getting personal in your space, just because you see certain design choices being made (and repeated over and over and over again) doesn’t mean you have to follow suit. It’s ok if your version of beauty looks different from the glossy pages of a magazine. You won’t be stoned in the street for liking something bold, rich or unexpected – I promise. 

If You’re Building New, or Considering a Renovation Next Year… 

Start by asking: How do I want my home to make me feel? 

If your answer sounds anything like calm, joyful, or connected, that’s exactly where we begin. 

✨ Book a Discovery Call or explore how we design homes that look and feel good. 

And I’d love to know: Have you ever held back on a design choice because you were afraid it was “too different”? Tell me in the comments or send me a message — I’d genuinely love to hear your story. 

XO,

Cynthia

💌 If this stirred something in you — or reminded you of a friend who’s quietly craving a home that feels more them — share it, and come join the Just Fizz community. It’s our cozy corner of the internet where we celebrate living boldly, designing with intention, and choosing joy over “shoulds.”

Because the most beautiful homes aren’t built to impress — they’re built to belong to you. And we’re learning (and unlearning) it all together.

*c/o Catherine Dipersico @housebeautiful