This Interior Design Trend Is Here to Stay

Natural materials are the trend that keeps outlasting trends. Stone, wood and organic textiles have been climbing since the pandemic and they have not slowed down, partly because they look good in almost any room and partly because they last long enough to justify the spend. Here is how to use them in a small room, a large one, and an open floor plan, plus what each material asks of you afterward.

Understanding Your Needs

Choosing Sustainability with Style

Wood, textiles and stone let you buy sustainably without giving anything up on looks. Picture a wooden dining table, hand-woven rugs, marble counters. The material choice is the sustainable one and the good-looking one at the same time.

Pottery Barn's Toscana Extending Dining Table is a good example: rustic in look, built from kiln-dried solid wood, and made to handle family dinners and dinner parties alike.

Opting for Durability

Replacing furniture is expensive, and durability is a large part of what you are paying for here. Teak and oak take wear gracefully. Stone counters hold up for decades.

Marble and granite are the obvious picks for kitchen counters and fireplace surrounds. The Pasar 42" Marble Coffee Table from CB2 brings the same material into a living room without needing a renovation to do it.

Tailoring to Your Space

Decorating Small and Large Spaces

Room size changes which wood you want. In smaller spaces, lighter woods like maple or ash make a room feel airier. Pair them with breathable fabrics like linen or cotton.

In larger spaces, go the other way: bold textures and darker wood tones give the room weight. A stone accent wall or large-format tile makes the statement.

The Mini Pebble Wool Rug from West Elm works in both. Its organic texture and neutral tones sit well next to wood and stone.

Harmonizing an Open Floor Plan

Open floor plans need zones without walls, and natural materials do that job well. Matching woods across flooring and cabinets keeps the space continuous. Stone elements like a tiled backsplash or a fireplace anchor the key areas. Rugs and drapes mark the edges of a zone without closing it off.

The Belgian Flax Linen Curtains By Pottery Barn work here, with soft earthy tones and a drape that holds its line.

Enhancing Your Home's Aesthetics

Personalize Your Style

Natural materials suit every design preference. Here's how to tailor them:

• Modern Minimalism: Streamlined stone and simple wooden furniture keep a room sleek without making it cold. The Parsons Reclaimed Wood Console from West Elm is the shape to look for: clean lines, sustainable construction.

• Traditional Elegance: Dark woods with intricate carvings and plush fabrics give a room its formality. Pair a mahogany dining set with velvet dining chairs.
• Rustic Vibes: Exposed wooden beams, handmade textiles, and stone accents make a space feel warm. A chunky knit throw and a reclaimed wood coffee table get you most of the way there.
• Eclectic Mix: Combine various woods, colorful textiles, and playful stone patterns. Layer the textures freely; that's where the depth comes from.

Merging Elements Smoothly

• Combining Wood and Stone: Light wood with neutral stone reads serene. Dark wood with dramatic marble reads bold. The Scarlett Marble Nightstand is an affordable way to get both materials in one piece.

• Textiles as a Link: Use fabric to tie wood and stone together. A glossy silk throw picks up polished wood's gleam; a soft wool rug echoes the texture of honed stone.

Maintaining Your Furniture and Decor

Check the upkeep before you buy, not after. Knowing what a material needs tells you whether it fits your life, and starting the routine on day one is what keeps it looking new. Here's the care each one takes:

Modern minimalism or rustic charm, the material list is the same. Buy the wood, stone and textiles you like, learn their upkeep, and the room will still look right in ten years.

Shopping for any of this? Membership at Designer Discount Club is free, and members pay 10 to 40 percent off retail on furniture, rugs, lighting and decor, an average of $3,246 a year. We partner with over 400 top brands, including the stores you already love like Pottery Barn, West Elm, and Crate and Barrel, so a room that takes its wood from one store and its stone from another still goes in one cart and arrives as one order. Our designers help you settle the material mix first, and a member success rep handles everything after checkout. We'd love to see how you style your living room. Join our Facebook group and share your questions, ideas and spaces.