With so many design trends shaping the way we think about decorating our homes, it can be tempting to go for on-trend styles when choosing home upgrades. While some trends incorporate elements that can last, there are also lots of trends that will look dated within a few years. Finding the right balance between keeping your home fresh and contemporary while avoiding looks with a short shelf life can be a challenge, but there are some simple things to keep in mind that can help you focus on enduring style.
Decorate with what you love
The first rule of timeless style is to love what you have in your home. Decorate with your own tastes in mind, even if they don’t match what’s currently the most popular wall color or the trending fabric for a sofa. Since you’re the one who has to live with it, picking finishes and fabrics that make you feel happy in a space.
Go with vintage
While various vintage styles will go in and out of fashion, depending on the current direction the design industry is heading, a well-made vintage piece that you like will outlast the trends and become an anchor of your interior design style. Look for vintage pieces that you are drawn to but also ones made from good quality materials like solid wood, natural stone, and handcrafted metal. Choosing larger furniture pieces can also help guide your choices on smaller accent items by giving you a color and texture framework to work from.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match
Combining vintage items with newer ones that have a similar color palette, choosing fabrics for upholstery and curtains that can highlight colors you like in your furniture, and mixing textures on rugs, accent pieces, and moldings can allow your style to be easily updated by intermingling more on-trend pieces with older, more classic ones without seeming out of place.
Choose function over form
Choose furniture and fixtures that truly belong in your space. Shoehorning a gigantic sofa into a small living room because you like it not only won’t work well for everyday use, but it will look out of place, and its appeal will fade faster than a piece that looks like it was made for the space. This type of decorating can accurately be called “slow decorating” because finding the perfect piece for a room can take a little longer. But overall, you’ll be happier with the result.
Go bold with art
If you want to add some bold color without committing to a saturated wall color or vibrant upholstery, art can be your guide. Choosing art is fun, and it can be a great way to add a unique look to your space. Finding art that speaks to you and your tastes and experiences will make your home feel more your own and will keep your functional design style dynamic and entertaining.
Add some plants
Houseplants are always in style, and choosing some that fit your tastes is a great way to liven up your interior. Even if your plant pots go out of style, you can swap out the pots for more contemporary colors or shapes. Humans tend to be attracted to plants in our homes, in part because of their calming and pleasing qualities, so they’re a good addition to an interior look with some longevity.
Choose long-lasting materials
Consider the quality of materials you use for things like flooring or countertops. Choosing natural stone and wood, or even less traditional materials for indoors like brick can help create a timeless look and feel to your home. Choosing long-lasting materials will also mean you likely won’t need new floors, new countertops, or a new backsplash for many years.