Mia Yarushin always wanted to follow in her aunt’s footsteps in interior design, but the transition proved to be a more challenging push-pull between what inspires her and what is expected of her professionally.
The inspiration for Yarushin began early. As an “artsy kid” who would “literally draw on anything,” she found herself more drawn to creative expression than traditional subjects like math or science.
Watching her aunt’s designs and dedication, and bringing them to life, provided a blueprint for how that creativity could manifest in the real world.
“I really look up to her and her enthusiasm towards the design, experiencing, and experimenting with new design styles,” said Yarushin. This sparked a desire to transform empty spaces into something “out of this world.”
However, entering the professional field introduced a new level of complexity — the influence of others. Yarushin notes that while she has a personal vision, professional work often requires navigating clients’ demands and the constantly changing nature of social media.
Social media’s sway toward minimalism
“Influencers go off of what is popular right now in this moment to follow up with this trend,” she said. “They might not necessarily agree with the design or what is popular right now, but they have to do their job: influence.”
The current professional landscape is heavily dominated by a modern, minimalist look.
Yarushin acknowledged that many people prefer neutral colours and clean, neat spaces because they offer a sense of calm.
This “obsessive” lean toward sleek, clean aesthetics is often a reflection of our everyday advancing technology, though it frequently relies on neutral, solid colours to remain classic and soft on the eye, according to Rebbekah Sprague, a former colleague of Yarushin’s.
“We have become obsessed with making everything as sleek and new and clean looking as possible — from our iPhones to our living rooms — reflecting the ever-advancing technologies of our day,” said Sprague.
While Yarushin understands this trend, she feels that the pressure to meet expectations often competes with the desire to create spaces that feel “homey and cozy.”
“We have a bunch of pillows, we have a bunch of blankets, we have a bunch of picture frames, books, toys and everything. It just adds to your home, to your personality, and sometimes it doesn’t fit the minimalistic aesthetic,” she said.
This highlights what Yarushin’s former professor from the Algonquin College in Ottawa, Ally Darling-Beaudoin, described as “a lot of manufactured, picture-perfect style.”
With that, Sprague noted that the waste of mass-produced materials will be what today’s era will be remembered for.
“I think we will be known for our large use of synthetic materials, waste and damage to our planet through irresponsible design and mass-production of useless products,” said Sprague.
Taking up timelessness
Yarushin looks toward designs that add a touch of nature to a room, and while minimalism is popular, people ultimately move toward spaces that make them feel peaceful and calm. For Yarushin, choosing timeless elements such as leather is a way to add a sustainable creative approach to her work.
Yarushin views design as a cycle, finding that historical styles eventually return in modern ways. Sprague mentioned that this often stems from a sense of nostalgia for “the good old days,” in which designers reincorporate past trends using modern technologies to make them feel fresh again.
She points to the enduring use of leather as an example of a timeless material, even if old couches have a different vibe.
“Most design pieces and the style of design is really just the evolution of an already recurring design,” said Yarushin.
This perspective helps her ground her professional expectations in a broader creative context.
Despite the professional pressures to conform to what is ‘in,’ Yarushin believes the ultimate goal of a designer is to help a client find their own voice. She suggested that while it is important to see trends everywhere, personal inspiration should remain the priority.
“At the end of the day, really consider what you think would make your home a home for you,” she said.
“There is so much to interior design. It’s more than just making a space look pretty — it’s about the feeling and emotion it expresses in different spaces,” she said.
For Yarushin, the push-pull is a constant part of the job.
By balancing the industry’s expectations with the spark of inspiration she first saw in her aunt’s work, she is carving out a path that is both professionally sound and personally fulfilling.