Timeless vs. Trendy: Finding the Right Style for Your Home

Key Takeaways

• Remodeling a home is costly and time-consuming, not something you should have to redo because of a short-lived trend.
• Some design choices, like hardwood floors and crown molding, are timeless, while others, like shag carpeting and barn doors, are not.
• The big question is how to balance timelessness and trendiness with interior design.

If you’ve just moved into a new space or are gearing up to redesign your current one, it’s important to consider whether or not an interior design trend you may be hung up on is worth pursuing. After all, it’s easy to get sucked into trends, thinking that we’re going to like them forever, and a few years later, we’re regretting all of our life decisions while scrolling through endless Pinterest boards trying to find new inspiration.

So, to keep you from having to experience that pit of regret for yourself, let’s take a look at how to achieve the perfect balance between timeless and trendy.

What Makes Design Timeless?

Timeless design is the little black dress of interiors. It’s always going to work. It transcends specific decades and trends and endures, even as styles around it evolve. So, does that mean it's boring? Not at all!

Checkerboard floors are a great example! They’ll always have a place in the correct setting. The ​​Musée Rodin in Paris is known for its elegant, black and white checkerboard floors, and no one in their right mind could call it dated.

At baseline, there are three things that make a home feel timeless:

• Proper Architecture for the Setting: Respond to the landscape around you rather than try to mimic a far-out architectural style from elsewhere. It would be jarring to see cozy, chalet-style mountain decor in an Arizona suburb.
• Natural Materials: Natural materials are generally timeless, in that they resonate well with the environment. That’s why it’s always worth considering elements like wood, stone, clay, marble, slate, jute, leather, wicker, wool, or granite. Authenticity is key.
• Complementary Decor: Choose decor that works with your home’s style. For example, mid-century furnishings will always look synergistic in a mid-century home.

Why We’re Drawn to Trendy Design

And yet, even with that said, we all get sucked in by trends. Walking into a place with bold colors and funky tiles is fun, exciting, and begs us to pull out our phones for an Instagram picture. Distressed farmhouse furniture, subway tiles, and open-concept everything all had a moment. In a few years, however, they will likely be a thing of the past.

The obvious appeal is that trendy design feels deeply personal and invigorating. Unfortunately, it comes with a catch. What’s hot now can look dated very quickly. Remember that the popcorn ceiling in your parents’ house was once a marvel of modern interior design.

Designers call this a “trend trap.” As Laura Burton Interiors points out, leaning on fads can hurt resale value and make your place feel out of touch in as little as a few years.

Pros and Cons: Timeless vs. Trendy

So, now the question becomes, “Should you play it safe with timeless design or be the risk-taker you’ve always thought yourself to be with something bold and trendy?”

For a safe approach, you might consider the pros and cons:

Timeless Pros

• Broad Appeal – Buyers love timeless interior choices, as they can see themselves living in the space.
• Resale Value – Going with the above, homes with classic elements tend to hold better value, as they aren’t dated when it’s time to sell.
• Cohesion – Timeless design helps homes flow better and feel more intentional rather than thrown together.

Timeless Cons

• Can Feel “Safe” – When approached poorly, “timeless” design can feel generic or cookie-cutter.

Trendy Pros

• Showcase Your Personality – It’s your space, so why not show it off with the things you love the most, no matter how off-the-wall?
• Wow Factor – The right trendy choices can make your home feel exciting and of-the-moment.

Trendy Cons

• Resale Risk – Not every buyer wants terrazzo countertops or green cabinets.

Finding a Middle Ground

The sweet spot is locking down your big-ticket items in timeless style, then sprinkling in some trendy accents that you can swap out as time goes by.

Details like white trim, natural wood flooring, and classic lighting won’t ever go out of style. Think of them as your canvas. Your “fun stuff,” such as statement rugs or funky fixtures, can be your paint, offering a level of contrast.

Don’t Be Afraid of Color

For example, you might use timeless interior design earth tones for the majority of your bathroom, then add trendy matte black fixtures for a healthy pop of modern style. For the kitchen, consider going neutral with cabinetry and upgrading your countertops with quartz for a classic look, then adding a colorful backsplash that can be easily changed five years down the road if it’s starting to feel dated.

Color is a great way to straddle both worlds. It’s the reason why you can’t go wrong pairing a neutral sofa with patterned rugs and throw pillows.

How to Figure Out What Works for You

If you’re still not sure where you land, here are some things to try:

• See what sparks joy for you. Look at what you already own and love, and determine whether or not you can make it work as you renovate your home.
• Build a Pinterest board for inspiration.
• Audit your home and see what the existing architecture already gives you.
• Think ahead. If you’re gearing up to sell your home or planning on selling in the future, timeless is the way to go. If you’re nesting for the long haul, don’t be afraid to get trendy.
• Take a gut check. Will you still love it years from now? If so, go for it!

Remember, if it makes you happy every day, it’s worth it.

Wrapping It Up in Style

Timeless design is safe, classic, and resale-friendly, though that doesn’t mean it needs to feel boring. Similarly, trendy design is bold and personal, though that doesn’t mean it needs to feel risky. Both work with the right balance.

If we were to leave you with one piece of advice, it would be to make your home a mirror of who you are now, while still setting yourself up for tomorrow. At the end of the day, even rules regarding style are also constantly changing. What really matters is creating a space that actually feels like home.