Trends End – How to Make Timeless Design Choices for your Remodel
Homeowners who are planning major or minor home remodels are normally faced with one pressing question during the design process - Should we fully customize our home? Or keep it neutral in case we are looking to sell in the future? Fully customizing your home is highly sought after to get the best personal gain from your remodel, while keeping it neutral might increase the chances that you will receive a future financial gain from your home improvement efforts. Either way, when you are spending a significant amount of money to upgrade your home, it is extremely important to try to make choices that you will appreciate for years to come.
While remodeling trends are creative and fun, they can come and pass relatively quickly. Think of how far we have come as builders and decorators since the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's. Even the early 1990's glass block trend
came and went relatively quickly - but it was all the rage and highly sought after just 15 years ago. Now we are stuck dealing with showers and separating walls that look like they came straight from a papa murphy's. No shame if you have glass blocks in your home, it was a very popular trend, it just hasn't stood the test of time.
Home building and design practices are constantly evolving and the best way to assure you will be happy with your home improvement investments is to make design choices that will stand the test of time. In this post, we will highlight some tried and true design elements found in kitchens, baths and living rooms that allow for the peace of mind that comes with timeless design, as well as leaving plenty of opportunities for your to creatively express yourself in your space.
General Timeless Design Choices
Some design elements have been around for centuries and will never get old. Examples of these are:
- Exposed brick and stone
- Natural stained wood beams, floors, furniture and trim
- Wide plank flooring
- Wall Sconces
- Neutral colors
- Chandeliers
- Crown molding & complimentary wainscoting
- Vaulted Ceilings
- Natural Fibers
- Open Layouts
Keeping with design elements that have stood the test of time is an excellent way to make sure your remodel never goes out of style. Making sure both you and any future owners of your home have a simple, neutral foundation to decorate and customize as you please is a huge staple in the marketability of your home, and your feelings of freedom of choice in your space.
Timeless Bathroom Elements:
Some timeless design choices you can make for a bathroom remodel:
- Frameless Showers
- Freestanding tubs
- Classic Whites
- Natural Stone and Wood materials
- Chandeliers & Sconces
- Brass, nickel and copper fixtures
A 2017 survey conducted by the National Association of Home builders determined that bathroom remodels account for 81% of home improvement projects. You can read about the findings here. If you are planning on making changes to the bathrooms in your home, take into account that highly customized choices might go out of style in three to five years, and you'll want to hone your focus to a timeless design and material choices that future you or a future homeowner will continue to enjoy throughout the years.
Timeless Kitchen Elements:
Some Timeless design choices to make for your kitchen remodel are:
- Kitchen Islands & Butcher block Islands
- White Kitchens
- Natural Stone Backsplashes and Natural Stone Countertops
- Wet bars
- Neutral Colored Cabinetry
- The Kitchen Triangle (Fridge, Sink, Stove)
- Hanging Lighting
- Kitchen Seating
- Hanging Pots & Pans
- Walk-in pantries
- Buffet / Serving Counters with extra storage
- Glass face cabinets
Lets face it, the kitchen is the heart of a home and it always will be. That's why following timeless kitchen design choices will set the stage for the design lifespan of your home. Funky, custom kitchens are absolutely awesome in our eyes, but if you are not planning on making your creative home your forever home, it is the safest bet to use your remodeling budget to promote a long lasting and agreeable design style in the most frequented area of the home.
As a professional contractor, we have seen trends come and go time and time again. We can help guide you towards choices that will remain enjoyable for years to come so you can get the most satisfaction for your dollar. The last thing we would want is for a homeowner to spend time and money on a high quality remodel only to grow tired of it three years later. Making reliable design choices that will stand the test of time is absolutely essential to the success of your remodel.