How to Avoid Trendy Home Design Choices That Go Out of Style

If you spend enough time on sites like Pinterest and Houzz, you’ll find yourself itching to renovate your home and introduce fresh, new design elements that scream, stylish! But before you start changing the look of your house, consider whether you’re sacrificing timeless design at the expense of a fleeting trend.

Why You Should Avoid Trendy Design

 Everyone wants to have the latest and greatest. Whether it’s technology, cars, fashion, or home design, there’s something fulfilling about knowing you’re on the cutting edge. But when it comes to your house – the single most valuable asset you own – too many trendy upgrades and changes can leave you in an undesirable position in the future.

Here are three specific reasons why it’s best to avoid hot trends:

• Is it really worth having a stylish house for 12 months if it’s going to look dated and cringeworthy for the next two decades? Sure, you might have the hottest house on the block at the moment, but future homebuyers won’t be able to get past the dated look.
• When you consider that most trends come and go within a couple of years, it’s simply not worth the cost. You’ll spend money renovating to achieve the trendy look and then have to turn around and remodel again just to get rid of the look when it inevitably becomes dated. It’s an expensive cycle that’s easy-to-get stuck in.
• From a sustainability perspective, you want to be as resourceful as you can be. If you’re chasing trends, you’re going to be more wasteful than anything else.

Ultimately you have to interpret what’s trendy, what’s timeless, and how you balance the two for a home design that’s cohesive, appealing, and cost-effective.

Current Trends That Are Prone to Going Out of Style

It’s not always easy to know what’s a trend and what’s merely a byproduct of the evolution of design. But we’re pretty confident that we’ll look back in 5-10 years and shake our heads at the following:

• Shiplap. Thanks to Chip and Joanna Gaines and a dozen other HGTV clones, shiplap has become an extremely popular and far-reaching home design trend. It’s definitely a unique look, but it won’t be long before people tire of it. In conjunction with the shiplap look, there’s been an entire movement towards rustic, shabby-chic home design. In moderation, it’s fine. However, too much is a little tiresome and far too gimmicky.
• Barn doors. Every few years, new door designs seem to grab hold of the designer marketplace and sweep the nation. Sliding barn doors are the latest trend. They’re attractive and functional but will stick out like a sore thumb in five years.
• Cheap mid-century modern. Whether it’s a byproduct of the show Mad Men, or simply a nostalgic reflection of history, mid-century modern furniture and design is really hot at the moment. Unfortunately, this has led to a lot of cheap knockoffs and faux mid-century modern looks. When the trend subsides, these latter items will look useless.
• Open shelving. The open shelf concept in the kitchen has become a fairly popular look. It’s largely driven by the minimalist movement but is also found in a number of other designs. The problem is that they simply aren’t functional. People have stuff and need a way to store it without having to keep it pristine at all times. Cabinets will always be more appealing to the masses.

Now, this isn’t to say that all of these designs are bad or unstylish. Some of them are actually pretty compelling and aesthetically pleasing – hence why they’re popular at the moment. But these are trends, and they aren’t going to last the test of time. So, if you do decide to use some of these designs, you need to know that going in.

4 Tips for Creating a Timeless Look

If you want to create a timeless look that’s also stylish and compelling, here are some simple suggestions:

1. Stick With Neutral Colors 

When in doubt, go with neutral colors for paint, cabinets, countertops, trimwork, etc. White, gray, beige, brown, and black will never completely go out of style or look totally out of place. However, don’t go overboard with one single color. The all-white look, for example, was popular in the early-1990s, went out of style for a decade and a half, and is now back in style. Presumably this cycle will repeat. Differentiation is key.

2. Ask Yourself This Question

 If you’re unsure of whether something is trendy or not, ask yourself one simple question: Did I like this the first time I saw it? In other words, do you genuinely look the look or have you been conditioned to like it because of its popularity? If the latter is true, it’s just a trend. You’ll stop liking it as soon as it’s no longer trendy.

3. Keep it Simple

Anything that’s loud and intense is going to go out of style pretty quickly. For a timeless, classic look that’s always in style, keep things simple. Use clean lines, don’t over-decorate, and aim for mass appeal. When your house is simple, there’s less room for error. Furthermore, it becomes easier to update and refresh your home’s look when styles do evolve.

4. Be Eclectic

Your entire house shouldn’t fall under one design category. For example, if everything is shabby chic, rustic, modern, or French, you’re putting all of your eggs in one basket. Eventually, your entire house will become dated and obsolete.

By adopting an eclectic style, you’re essentially diversifying your home’s design. In doing so, you can slowly evolve with larger design shifts and avoid getting caught up in the trendy side of things.

Work With Green Residential

At Green Residential, we live to serve our clients. While property management has become our bread and butter, we also find a tremendous amount of joy and fulfillment in helping people buy and sell Houston real estate. If you’re preparing to do either, we would love to help. Contact us today to find out more about our services!

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Jorge Lopez

Realtor at Green Residential

Jorge is one of Green Residential’s Realtors. He is responsible for overseeing various leasing and sales activities. He has worked in the customer service and sales industry for 15 years.

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