SOURCE: Neptune
A question that I’m often asked by clients is how much to focus on trends when renovating. There’s such a delicate balance between wrapping your home in trends and creating something with staying power. We don’t want our spaces to be built strictly with timeless elements. I believe it’s important to add at least a little bit of what’s hot in today’s world. We need the balance of old and new to create visual interest. Having said that, we should be mindful to shop for timeless, classic elements when considering the more permanent elements of our designs.
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Balancing Timeless Finishes With Trends
SOURCE: Pinterest
One of the most challenging aspects of designing a home is being able to determine where to include classic finishes. We might consider these elements dull or boring because they’re not trending. When we see and hear the excitement around a new finish we want to be part of the zeitgeist but is that a mistake?
The answer is usually yes. It is a mistake to design a house around trends because that will leave your home looking and feeling outdated sooner than you’d like. A typical trend lasts up to 10 years. What if you install the gorgeous pale oak flooring that you’re seeing everywhere and then discover it’s already 5 years into the trend. That means sometime in the next 5 years you’re going to see blogs and videos telling you to rip up your pale oak in favour of the next trend. After spending many thousands of dollars in flooring I know I would cry at the idea of it feeling outdated so quickly.
How to Know Where to Choose Timeless Finishes
SOURCE: Insider Lyfe
The first thing to consider before any renovation is how long will you live in this home. Are you creating this space for your family to grow over the next couple of decades? Is this a home you’ll be in for just a couple of years and then sell?
If you’re planning to spend many years in your home you should consider leaning more heavily towards classic finishes that won’t date or bring down the value of your home. If you’re renovating to sell you may have better luck with the addition of more trends as it’ll appeal to buyers who want a modern feel to their home. If you take away just one single thing from this blog let it be that permanent fixtures and finishes should be classic and timeless. This includes:
1/ Flooring
SOURCE: Room Crush
If you’ve never had your floors replaced while living in your home you can consider yourself very fortunate. While I do love the current trend towards pale oak flooring I would never install any trendy flooring into my own home. I know that as soon as the trend fades I’ll be wanting to rip out the old, outdated floor and that’s a hassle I can do without.
Replacing flooring requires that you pack up your home so that the floor is free of furniture. It’s essentially the same work as packing to move so I always suggest that you think long and hard before considering flooring that’s trending at the moment.
Classic Flooring Options
- Mid-toned wood flooring. Black walnut and oak are popular options. Read this post to learn more about timeless walnut wood.
- Natural stone like marble and travertine.
- Porcelain and ceramic in simple neutral colours.
- Wool Carpeting in neutral colours.
2/ Hard Surfaces
SOURCE: Studio McGee
Countertops and tiles are another area that I’d prefer not to address for a very long time in my own home. Once they’re installed I want them to be loved for years to come and the only way I can ensure that will happen is by installing timeless pieces.
Classic Hard Surface Options
- Black Granite either honed or matte finish is an absolute classic.
- White marble but don’t overlook quartz variations.
- Neutral Quartz in soft sand, beige and other warm neutrals.
- Subway tile, penny tile and hex tile are classics and always in style.
3/ Metal Finishes
SOURCE: Etsy
When it comes to installing metal finishes in faucets, door hardware and light fixtures it’s best to stick with the timeless finishes. These are items that shouldn’t be replaced until it’s necessary. Read this post to learn more about timeless metal finishes for your home.
Classic Metal Finish Options
- Polished Nickel is a cult favourite because it’s a warm metal that’s timeless.
- Unlaquered Brass is such a classic and will never, ever go out of style.
- Antique Brass is offers warmth and makes it an enduring finish choice.
- Oil Rubbed Bronze is classic but be sure not to select this finish with the copper coloured highlights
4/ Classic Patterns
SOURCE: MG Maison
Did you instantly imagine patterns on pillows? You’re not wrong to go there but there are a few other places where we also need to be mindful of pattern in our homes:
Classic Pattern Options
- Textiles include plaid, stripes and both large and small florals are all classics.
- Flooring patterns that stand the test of time are herringbone, checkerboard, chevron and parquet.
- Wallpaper in damask, toile, florals, stripes and grasscloth are all classics.
5/ Large Furniture Pieces
SOURCE: Casolia
There is a way to easily balance timeless pieces and trendy pieces when it comes to furniture. My rule is to always go timeless for large furniture pieces and allow the trendy fun to happen with smaller pieces.
When shopping for sofas, sectionals, dining tables and chairs, bedroom furniture and office desk and chair I always opt for classic, timeless pieces. These pieces are the anchor to each of their respective rooms.
When it comes to including some trending pieces, look at small accent chairs, small tables like coffee and side tables. These pieces are less cost prohibitive to purchase and repurchase when the time comes.
As a general rule I like to buy furniture using the 80/20 rule. I select 80% of the home’s furniture in classic silhouettes and let the last 20% be for trends. This type of split will ensure you have the longevity and the visual interest to create a well balanced and beautiful home.
Classic Furniture Options
- Classic silhouettes cover a wide range of styles so whether you prefer a rolled arm sofa or a tapered leg mid-century classic, there’s something for you. Just be sure to avoid over-stuffed upholstered pieces with exaggerated curves or pieces that feel wobbly in the showroom.
- Upholstery should be classic cotton, linen, velvet and leather.
- Look for legs that are tapered, turned and fluted for a classic style.
Where to Include Trends in Your Home
SOURCE: Homenish
So now that you know where to focus when it comes to installing classic materials it’s time to have fun and throw in some trends. I like to include something trendy into every space because this will keep it looking current and balance out the classic elements of your home.
1/ Textiles
Included under the umbrella of textiles is fabric for pillows, throws and blankets and rugs. Have fun with pillows, throws and blankets and go heavy on the trends. These are the items we can switch from season to season. It’s also a great way to incorporate some of today’s trends into your home without it being too expensive.
2/ Artwork
This is the easiest way to add trending pieces into your home. They have a huge impact on the overall aesthetic feel of the space. I always recommend shopping for original art so before you hit the big box store look at local art shows, consignment stores and online shops like Etsy.
3/ Accessories
I love timeless accessories made from crystal and silver but if you want to add some modern flare to your home, start with accessories. These are easily accessible and affordable. Use your accessories to strengthen your colour palette for a cohesive look. Learn more about creating a warm colour palette for your home here.
I hope this overview helps you understand how to create a timeless home that will have lasting beauty. If you are renovating or decorating your home and need help, reach out to me. I’d love to hear about your upcoming project.
