Home design requires finesse, a good eye, and a little bit of magic—a magic touch, that is. The Pahlisch Select design team has years of experience and has helped countless people design the Pahlisch home of their dreams on their land. Discover helpful tools, tips, and insights on balancing trendy and timeless home design, and how to spot the difference, from our design experts.
What’s the difference between trendy and timeless home design?
When it comes to fashion, most of us know the difference between trendy and timeless —the off-shoulder sweatshirt and bell-bottom jeans versus the blazer and slacks (and dozens of other equivalents.). Likewise, we can categorize home design trends as trendy or timeless.
As a general rule of thumb, trendy items typically have a faster phase-out than those considered timeless. On the other hand, timeless choices typically appeal to the masses and have longer life cycles as popular styles.
We’ll give an example: Subway (rectangular) tiles are considered a timeless design staple. In fact, they got their start in the early 1900s and were used in, you guessed it, subway stations. Although there have been periods when subway tiles weren’t the most popular trend, over 100 years later we still see variations of subway tiles used heavily in homes today, showing their longevity. What’s interesting about these tiles as an example of timeless home design is that they also have some trendy (and shorter-lived) integrations, like the mustard yellow tiles of the 1960s.
How to navigate the many design choices for your home
As a designer, navigating trendy versus timeless home design choices comes down to the individual client, their personality, and their lifestyle. Whether or not the material (or application) is trendy or timeless, what matters is that our clients are happy with their selections and will be for years to come.
That said, what we’re trying to investigate as designers are the most important materials and design choices for our clients. Are they making a selection simply because it’s all over Pinterest for the moment? Or are they choosing something that truly reflects their style? Part of the exploratory process at Select is identifying which selections clients have made that are likely trendy and understanding why they made those choices.
Making these distinctions and having that understanding is made out of an abundance of caution because remodeling due to outdated design choices is no joke. While it can be a fun process for some, it can be daunting and stressful for others. In addition, surfaces such as tiles, countertops, or cabinetry are not easy or inexpensive for most to replace. Generally speaking, the costliest rooms to remodel are kitchens and bathrooms, so having a solid foundation for timeless home design choices in these spaces is important.
The best spaces in the home for exploring trendy home design
Incorporating more timeless designs, materials, and applications throughout the home creates a unifying look that helps the home feel cohesive. But if a client wants to incorporate a trend that may not have as much longevity, we typically recommend using auxiliary spaces such as bedrooms and offices. These spaces allow for a little more play and room to explore trendy home designs.
Easiest of all is to keep trends largely in furnishings and decor. These items have a big impact on the overall look and feel of a space, but are easier to morph as trends change. After all, it’s much easier to replace pillows and light fixtures than it is to replace flooring or tiling.
Keep track of trends, but make timeless home design your goal
Having a constant pulse on the industry and keeping yourself educated is the first step in navigating design shifts—and something we take seriously as designers. It helps us identify what’s coming down the pipeline and which trendy fads could potentially become timeless, and which might be better to avoid.
At Select, we typically showcase selections to our clients that fall into the “timeless home design” category. These selections are popular and likely to stay mainstream for years to come. After using this as a foundation, some clients like to add a few trendy design selections for personality. On the whole, we do our best to help our clients navigate the many choices and feel confident, comfortable, and excited about their picks.
What’s trending in home design now?
All of that said, what are the current trends in home design? When we get this question, we like to choose trending options that have the features of timeless home design. Ones that will likely stick around for a while. These items include the following.
Warm tones
Grays reigned in the market for a long time. While they’re still a great neutral choice, the incorporation of bright, warm palettes is bringing rejuvenation to what we’ve seen in the past.
Hues inspired by nature
For those who love pops of color, olive greens, navy blues, terracotta tones, and burnt umber palettes are dominating the home design trends.
Organic features
Whether incorporated into the architecture or through design selections, soft modern tones are felt with curved lines such as arched openings or tiles with natural movement.
Playful textures
Whether tactile or visual, we use varying textures in design to add interest to homes. Some common incorporations of this trend are wallpaper options or wood accents.
Home technology
Over the last decade or so, we’ve seen smart home features continue to advance and grow. They not only help make our lives more convenient but enhance how we use our homes.
Versatile spaces
Although COVID has impacted us differently, most can relate to having to utilize areas of our homes for multiple purposes. This has heavily influenced the desire for versatile spaces.
Mixed designs
The juxtaposition of vintage and modern elements combine to incorporate a unique new look with familiar nods to the past.
Scandinavian and Japandi
These two styles continue to expand with the use of natural materials and a soft, modern, minimalistic aesthetic. You can thank Marie Kondo for some of this growing popularity.
Biophilia
This trend involves incorporating natural elements into the home, building outdoor living spaces, and installing large windows to feel more connected with nature.
Throughout all of these trending design options, the common denominator is making a subtle statement with a big impact. In this way, we predict that most of these trends will remain on our timeless home design list for many years to come.
The ultimate goal is to strike a balance between trendy and timeless home design
It can be easy to be swayed by trendy options in the design space. But it could cost you time and money in the long run. However, with the right mix of trendy integrations and timeless home design choices, you can create a space that perfectly suits your personality and style without compromising lasting quality and wow-factor.
At Select, we encourage our clients to build a strong foundation of timeless design and then explore exciting design trends that open up endless possibilities for their dream home. Most importantly, we are here to be a guide and trusted ally throughout the entire building process.
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