Décor trends change as often as the seasons, literally – with each season, comes new trends and homeowners sometimes find themselves being sucked into a black hole of interior design where they are chopping and changing the aesthetic of their home whenever a new décor trend hits the market.
Not only is this costly, but it also doesn’t give you enough time to enjoy the look and feel of your home, says Mike Greeff, CEO of Greeff Christie’s International Real Estate. What if there was a way to ensure that your home is always en-vogue without making constant changes? Good news, there is! And, there is a way to safeguard yourself against home décor faux pas – bonus!
If you’re curious about what trends might/might not stand the test of time, keep reading.
Home Decor Trends You Won’t Regret in Five Years
As mentioned, some design trends come and go, but some turn into classics that shape the way we think about style and decor for years to come. When you’re decorating your home, bear in mind that it is best to go a little more traditional with major furniture items and rather incorporate modern trends with smaller items and/or textiles which you can easily change down the line. By doing it this way, you will always feel like your home is ‘’evolving’’, but, at the same time, you’re saving money by keeping the more expensive pieces in place.
Below are just a few of the décor trends that won’t go out of fashion:
1. Open-styled shelving
Having open shelves allows you to showcase all your favourite pieces from artwork to heirlooms to snapshots of your special moments. Items such as the ones mentioned are always going to be relevant to your home because they are meaningful to you, and that can never go out of style and in turn, the open shelves that are being used as a display, can never go out of style either.
Open shelves are not only about displaying special treasures, but it also allows you a lot of styling flexibility. Because it’s only the shelves that are fixed to the walls, you can easily change the décor around it, without too much heavy lifting.
Tip: For the most longevity, look for wooden or metal shelves with a simple, streamlined silhouette. They’ll work with any kind of decor.
2. Wood Wall Panelling
Wooden wall panelling is one-of-a-kind. It has the ability to instantly make a room feel special, cosy and complete. It requires very little décor and it, in a way, speaks for itself. Wood has never really gone out of style and you can always give it a coat of polish or paint if you want to refresh the look of it.
Tip: If you are considering wood wall panelling, opt for Knotty pine tongue and groove, beadboard, board and batten, shiplap and reclaimed wood.
3. Neutral Tones
You know the saying ‘’less is more’’? That couldn’t ring truer when considering the colour scheme for your home. There is something to be said for sticking to neutral tones and not getting wrapped up in the latest ‘’it’’ colour. Neutral tones are timeless, and they work in almost every space, but if you go with bold and loud tones, it is not always sustainable in the long run.
It’s suggested that when investing in large pieces of furniture like your couch and chairs for example, it’s best to have those in neutral tones. Try not to spend a lot of money on big pieces in non-neutral colours if your taste usually changes over time. Instead, opt for different colours and textures in interchangeable items such as couch throws, artwork, and ornaments.
4. Plants
Plants should be a staple in every home – you can never go wrong with a bit of greenery.
Plants add life and character to a room and that will never change because as the plant grows, so does the ‘’personality’’ of the room. Plants do not only serve as a décor item, but it also improves the air you breathe, and it creates a connection to nature which in turn, provides your home with a sense of peace and harmony.
5. Tuxedo-styled couches
Clean and elegant lines are always in style, especially when it comes to larger pieces of furniture like your couch. Curvy, rounded couches may be the ‘’in’’ thing now, but ‘’boxy’’ shapes have always worked at any given time because they are just graphically simple. Cue the tuxedo styled couch. Made famous by Billy Baldwin, these couches are a design staple because they are both classic and modern – giving you the best of both worlds.
Tip: if you want a more contemporary look, choose to upholster the couch in a solid, neutral cover. But, if you are leaning towards a busier aesthetic, choose something with a small pattern.
The wonderful thing is that you can always reupholster a couch and if your couch is tuxedo-shaped, even better because it is simple enough to take on the style of whatever fabric you choose to cover it in.
Home Decor Trends You May Regret in Five Years
It’s always fun to keep up with design trends, but it can end up being costly as many of them don’t have the staying power that you would ideally want them to have. It’s important to note that even though these trends can’t withstand the test of time, it can be incorporated into your home in a ‘’low-risk’’ way, and it is your home after all so if you like something, go for it!
Below are just a handful of décor trends that might not make it into the next decade:
1. Trendy Bathroom Tiles
Geometric-patterned tiles are all the rage at the moment, but it’s possible that this trend might not last as long as you would like. Once you start introducing ‘’trendy’’, coloured tiles and patterns, it will only take a few years before they begin to look dated.
You might want to consider sticking to a shape with a more timeless feel, but if you want to go bold, choose an edgier finish like a light shimmer. However, if your heart is set on a patterned tile, you can make it work by painting the walls and ceilings in a soft, neutral shade to subdue the look of the space.
2. Bubble-Shaped Sofas
When choosing a couch, try to avoid the latest bubble-shaped styles and rather, as mentioned, stick to couches that have clean and classic lines. The latter of these couches age more gracefully than couches with over-scaled arms.
3. Backless Barstools
As space-savvy as what backless barstools are, they are not very practical in the kitchen or any other space. Backless barstools were not designed for you to sit on them for lengthy periods of time, so if you want to be in the middle of the action in the kitchen, it’s better to find something with a supportive back and swivel so you can get in and out with ease.
4. Rose Gold Metal
Rose gold has certainly been the ‘’in’’ colour for the past few years and there is no denying that it is an eye-catching element to add to your home. However, like most things in life, too much of a good thing is never good so it’s best to keep those shiny rose gold pieces to a minimum if you’re decorating for the long haul.
Tip: Rose gold items should be treated as jewellery for your home. Use it as a decorative accent rather than a main feature.
If you’re a lover of rose gold, the good news is that there are items you could get that are timeless, yet interchangeable, should the colour start to disinterest you, for example, a classic floor lamp or s simple streamlined coffee table.
Tip: Traditional copper is also worth considering as it has all the warmth of rose gold, without the pink undertones. This makes it easier to mix with other pieces of furniture.
5. Uniform Design Styles
Remember, variety is the spice of life. Your home should house an assortment of aesthetic styles – it gives your home personality and character and it tells a story. Don’t be afraid of mixing and matching – a classic piece of art paired with an eclectic piece of pottery you discovered on holiday will work well together if they are meaningful to you.
Uniform designs will not stand the test of time because nothing stays the same. Sticking to rigid décor might work for the short term but, it ends up being boring after a while and a result, it will become dated and will need to be swopped out for something, fresh and fun – so why not go with fresh and fun from the get-go?
Decorating your home can be fun. It’s a time to be experimental with colours and textures – you might even discover something new. In order to safeguard yourself against spending unnecessary money, and time, invest in some classic pieces that can still be of use in the long run. Remember, décor fads come and go, but elegance is timeless.