Trendy VS. Classic: 9 Tips to Create a Timeless Home
If you’re the type of homeowner who lives to keep up with the latest home decor trends, you’ll understand what I mean when I say that the struggle is REAL since styles change every so often!
Unless you have the budget to switch your home decor out every three years, a homeowner must know the basics of achieving a timeless home, so you can still incorporate the latest trends in a way that won’t be too difficult on your wallet.
What if we say you could create a home that will still look stylish in 20 years? Yes, you read it right! Here are nine tips on achieving a home with a timeless backdrop while still allowing trends to come and go and styles to change.
Big pieces should be timeless classics
Big, expensive pieces of furniture in your home should always be timeless and classic. These should have an understated, sophisticated look that works with most design styles, so you won’t have to switch them out often (so as not to put a strain on your budget, of course!). Avoid furniture in unusual shapes and look for comfortable, well-constructed furniture pieces, preferably in neutral fabrics.
Always go for clean lines
Anything with clean, simple lines (like in furniture, for example) has always been popular, and for a good reason! It never looks outdated. But, it doesn’t mean that you can’t choose furniture with ornamentation. Turned legs, tufting, and nailhead trim are all classic details that will look great on all types of styles– just don’t overdo it!
Trendy pieces can be used as accents
While the main pieces of your home decor shouldn’t be centered around one particular trend, incorporating trendy items as accents wouldn’t hurt your style at all. Feel free to update your bedding or paint an accent wall to change the look of your bedroom, or buy some new pillow covers in a trendy pattern to freshen up your living room. It’s all about limiting trendy colors and patterns to accents and accessories. In that way, they can be easily swapped out when you get sick of them or when they inevitably go out of style.
Traditional patterns are perfect
Did you know that classic patterns, like stripes, damasks, and plaids, can create a timeless feel in your room? It’s because these patterns have been widely used for many years, so it’s easy to see them as part of that classic, traditional look. Go for these patterns when choosing furniture or pieces that you’ll likely be holding onto for many years instead of chevrons or animal prints, which are trendier patterns.
Make sure to add natural materials to your decor
It has long been said that home decorating is inspired by the nature we see around us, so there’s no reason to expect this to change in the future. Choosing home decor made from natural materials, like wood, stone, baskets, and plants, are key to creating a cozy and complete space, but avoid going overboard using any of these materials.
Wallpaper can be an option
If you’re not too keen on D-I-Y painting or spending money to have someone paint your walls for you every so often, then using wallpaper on your home will be a good option for you. Wallpaper designs are divided into two categories– trendy and classic. If you’re aiming for a timeless look, opt for a grasscloth wallpaper instead of a room of flowers. Neutral wallpaper will stay in style, and bold prints will not.
Less is more
It goes without saying that clutter will always be a bad look in any decade. Achieving a timeless home means having a pulled-together, clean, and clutter-free look. Keep your decor streamlined, and avoid the urge to fill up every blank space or corner. Remember that while a good design needs visual interest in a room, it also needs breaks and soft places for our eyes to land.
Try to blend the old with the new
For your home style to span multiple decades, blending old and new pieces is a no-brainer. Antiques are “timeless” when used in a modern-day setting, and mixing them with pieces of modern influence will create a lived-in, unique, and sophisticated look. So, embrace the vintage pieces you love, and don’t be afraid to pair them with contemporary accents for an ageless look.
Neutrals never go out of style
It’s not surprising that certain colors remain popular throughout the years, even as color trends have come and gone. Neutrals, for example, are classic hues that never seem to go out of style and are very safe choices for a timeless look. Go for these colors in your room or living areas, so it’s easy to mix and match when the day to re-decorate your home finally arrives.