Interior design trends are important. As interior designers, of course, we think that. They help you to freshen up your home, think outside the box and create a calm and relaxing space to enjoy. But design trends can also be time-consuming, expensive and wasteful. Why should you throw out a piece of furniture just because someone in a magazine tells you it’s not in style anymore?
But did you know there are a couple of ways that you can design and decorate your home to make it stylish for way longer? With years of experience in the industry, these are our top 10 timeless home decor ideas so you can save money and effort.
How Long Do Design Trends Last?
We’re all glad that avocado bathrooms and carpeted walls have gone out of fashion but how do we know which styles will change in the future? Is something we love now going to be out of fashion in a couple of years?
Microtrends, such as specific decorations or colour palettes, may only last a few months or, at most, a year. Macro trends, like the ongoing use of chrome plating and brushed steel, can last a few years. Megatrends, however, such as the minimalist trend we saw cropping up in 2010, can last a decade or longer.
And, I don’t know about you, but I can’t imagine anyone willing to paint their entire house every year or so, which is why timeless trends are so important.
10 Timeless Home Decor Ideas
1. Stick to a Neutral Colour Palette
Neutral doesn’t have to mean boring. We’re just trying to avoid avocado-coloured furniture which will easily look very dated.
High-contrast neutral colours can look amazing and will definitely stand the test of time. For example, black and white tiles in the bathroom or black finishing features can look really classic – so they won’t age in a matter of months.
Likewise, different shades of neutral colours can help to add subtle depth and texture. For example, built-in carpentry can be painted a couple of shades darker than the walls. Or you could try a sofa that’s within a limited colour palette. It will help to keep the overall look stylish and give you a beautiful background to accessorise with smaller, trendier objects.
2. Stay with Traditional Moulding
Moulding seems to be one of those timeless things that everyone wants in their home. In fact, it’s one of the best things you can do to add value to your home before moving. If your overall home decor is quite minimalist and chic, you can use plain moulding, there’s no need for it to be ornate – although this can look great and it’s surprisingly timeless.
Picture frame moulding is another great way of adding texture and intrigue to your design, without it looking dated quickly.
3. Make Thoughtful Choices
We can all get swept up in impulse buying, especially when the current trend is one we love. But, one of the best ways to reduce waste and mindfully spend your money is to really think about what you’re buying. Good quality pieces of furniture that don’t follow any micro trend will last a lot longer, and you can always accessorise them with different coloured cushions or throws to match a current style. Neutral tones in natural materials almost always stand the test of time.
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Mix Old and New
One of the biggest reasons why a space suddenly looks out of date is because there’s too much of one trend in one room. Mixing pieces from different eras can help to create a more cohesive feel that is not obviously from one era. It will therefore last much longer.
For instance, you could place a subtle antique sofa under a modern piece of art on a neutral-coloured wall. As with most things in interior design, this is all about balance and ensuring that the pieces feel cohesive.
5. Use Colour in Accent Pieces
Colour is one of the quickest parts of interior design to change and, therefore, get out of date. Rather than buying large and expensive pieces of furniture in colour, or painting entire rooms, why not buy smaller accent pieces? Cushions, rugs, candles and decorative items can help to make a space feel modern without being too in your face.
6. Consider Functionality
Functionality isn’t necessarily something we love thinking about when it comes to interior design, especially when we can get lost in decorating coffee tables and other fun things. But it is one of the most important elements. When you buy a piece of furniture that’s truly functional, it will almost always look timeless.
Scale is something that ties in with functionality. Objects in a room need to look like they belong. So, for example, if you have a small dining room, an oversized dining table will look clunky and those sitting around it will also feel more squashed, meaning it’s not very practical. Thinking about durable finishes, hardwearing materials and how the objects work in a room will give them a purpose which creates cohesion.
7. If You Do Want Colour, Choose Calming Tones
Calming tones almost always last longer than more attention-grabbing ones. Greens, blues, pale yellow, and earth tones reflect the colours we see outside, which creates a balanced and relaxed feel indoors. Because these outdoor colours don’t change, your indoor colours won’t go out of fashion either!
One colour that is almost always in style is navy blue. This rich, textured colour looks amazing as a focal wall without looking like you’re following this year’s ‘it’ colour.
8. Avoid Overcrowding
Overcrowding is a surefire way to make your space feel outdated. When there’s room to move and breathe, rooms automatically feel brighter and modern. Overcrowding can sometimes make spaces feel darker and a bit dingy which can feel a little like you’re living in the past. Clean and simple design, with top-quality pieces and finishings, will stand the test of time over design that uses lots of poorer quality decorative items.
9. Work with Texture
There are so many ways you can incorporate texture into your interior design – without it, it will look flat and a little boring. Natural elements such as stone, exposed brick and mild wooden floors can help to add comfort and intrigue whilst being sure to be stylish in the future. Mirrors are another excellent way of bringing texture to your decor. Not only can the frame act as artwork but they also help to reflect light into the room which makes it feel brighter and timeless.
10. Plants, Plants Plants
Plants have always had a place in our homes – and we don’t see that changing anytime soon. They’re fabulous for adding a pop of natural and calming colour and also help to produce oxygen, which keeps things feeling fresh. There are so many great ways to style plants, whether that be a large, eye-catching monstera in the corner or a dainty trailing plant from a bookshelf. They keep things interesting, draw the eye and add colour and texture
Time to Make Your Home Timeless?
When decorating your home, there are lots of little things you can do to make the space timeless and effortlessly chic. Neutral and earthy colours are best, especially when combined with accents of texture such as tiles or natural materials. When the basis of the design is set, you can use decorative items to bring current trends into your home (if you want to!) which works out cheaper and way less hassle for you!