The Sunday Mail
WHEN it comes to redesigning your home, you will likely find yourself asking an age-old question: should l go with a modern and trendy design or opt for a more timeless look?
While these two options are not necessarily mutually exclusive, it does take some know-how to combine them cohesively.
Trendy can be too bold, and traditional can be too boring. However, finding a balance of both trendy and traditional means you will love the space now, and continue to enjoy it years down the road.
We have outlined a few considerations for each option, as well as the best way to incorporate both styles if you cannot decide. Take a look at these tips before starting your next design project. We are sure they will help you create a space that you will love for years to come.
Know that trendy pieces come with an expiration date One of the most exciting things about interior design is that it is always evolving and innovating. If you are an avid reader of Freshome, you already know that there is constantly a hot new home design trend making its way through Pinterest boards and design blogs.
As exciting as that is, it also means that if you choose to incorporate fashionable items into your home’s design, it is a good bet that at some point they will grow antiquated.
Turn on the television and any home improvement show will tell you that the many of the styles that were incredibly popular just a few decades ago are now considered to be tacky and dated.
If you want to focus on following trends, you need to be prepared for the possible necessity of redesigning your rooms once tastes change, especially if you are thinking of putting your home on the market.
As always, there are exceptions to every rule. In this case, it is how much you love a particular design element. If you find a particular item that speaks to your personal sense of style and you cannot stop thinking about, go for it.
Taking pride in a home that will never go out of fashion. Let current style live in accent pieces One of the biggest misconceptions about designing a space is the assumption that it must be either timeless or trendy, with no middle ground. In reality, your rooms can contain both elements in a way that is both modern and budget-friendly.
The key lies in how you incorporate trends into your space. Limit en vogue items to the cheaper and more replaceable aspects of the space, think throw pillows or lighting. That way, if styles change a few years down the road, you will be able to easily swap those elements out for more current styles without a huge cost.
Not exactly the case if you splurge on a green velvet sofa that you cannot bear the sight of in a few years. It is also important to remember that when it comes to trends, less is more.
An entire room that it filled with today’s stylish items will undoubtedly be tiring to the eye. Choose one or two trendy items that you can use as statement pieces. Then, balance the rest of the room out with neutral pieces.
Want to go all-in on a trend? Stick to a room that is easy to switch up. Powder rooms are a great choice for because they are small and impressionable. Kid’s rooms can be fun to go wild in as well, you will likely end up changing the rooms as they grow regardless.
Use quality materials for things you want to last Seems like a no-brainer, right?
No matter what style you go for, your space should be able to stand the test of time. Since design projects can often be pricey, you want to ensure your handiwork remains usable for the foreseeable future. One of the easiest ways to do that is to invest in quality design elements.
Where quality is concerned, big ticket items are the most important. These are things like your flooring and furniture. Focus on natural materials like wood and stone or marble for those pieces. Trust us, it is unlikely that they will ever go out of style.
Timeless rooms take design cues from the past When designing a room, it is important to realise that very few styles are truly revolutionary.
Most of the time, what we see as current style actually takes cues from design movements of years, and sometimes even centuries, past. Truly timeless spaces incorporate inspiration from looks that have stood the test of time and still remain popular.
In this, simplicity is key. Draw inspiration from classic styles that focus on clean lines and understated hues.
If you are drawn towards patterns, go with something that is considered polished, like houndstooth or simple stripes. We also love a good small polka dot.
Color is also an important consideration. If you want an aspect of your design to stay timeless, choose a neutral color for it. That way, if you have to change up the surrounding elements in the future, you will have a greater chance of your design continuing to mesh with the space as a whole.
But borrowing from tradition does not mean that you have to be stuck in the past entirely. Brainstorm ways to take a standard idea and give it a modern twist.
If you get stuck, do not hesitate to bring a designer on board or to browse your favorite home design sites for inspiration on how to keep the classics looking current. Making the choice between a trendy space and a timeless style is never easy. Luckily, interior design does not need to be that black and white, it is all a matter of balance.
Use this article for tips on how to create an interior that is both modern and long lasting. Your sense of style (and wallet!) will thank you for it.—freshome.com
