
Trendy vs Timeless – How to style your home and make smart decisions in your selection process.
Hey Peeps,
Hope this post finds you well.
Often times I get asked by clients: How do I know I am not choosing something trendy? Something that will be outdated soon…. I love these clients. I believe that as much as you love something, a color, a finish, a texture…. Think about it for a bit.
It’s important to have Fun, to surround yourself with things you love, things that make you happy. However, there is a fine line between a $50 dollar decorative pillow that after 3 to 4 months you have to replace because the “look” is done or simply because you got tired of the sequence/color changing hot pink/silver pillow…& choosing a backsplash tile in a large space that is fluorescent yellow…. Because it’s cool and fluorescent is in.
You may say why is she writing about this? We know… of course, you do and these examples are a bit extreme but you get the idea.
Always, consider the cost of what you love and moreover, the cost to replace it. If you had to replace X how much was it? How long have you had it? How much would it cost to replace it?
For example, if it’s a sofa that you purchased during a Green stage (which I still need to do) and you have to replace it, the cost essentially is the cost of the new sofa…perhaps, having the new sofa delivered.
But, if you chose that marvelous green color for your countertops…. Not only will it cost to replace the material, the fabrication, and the install but also… do you have a tile backsplash? If so you will have to replace that too. Consider that the cabinets may get dinged or scratched in the process. Maybe you selected floors that coordinate with your countertops, perhaps the paint or fabric on the chairs also is complementary to that once lovely shade of green. Now, things get a bit more difficult.
An easy rule of thumb, keep high ticket items as neutral as possible. You can always add a touch of color in another way. Sometimes, even great textures look better in a neutral so that the selection is a timeless choice as opposed to a trendy impulse.
How can you have fun if everything has to be neutral?
Well, I suggest to clients when they really love something but aren’t sure if they will tire of it soon- to try it out.
Live with it for a few days, a couple of weeks if necessary. See it during different lights, time of day and see. How do you feel? Trust your gut, your intuition and of course your designer’s opinion. Not her opinion to talk you out of it, or into it; but to point out things you have not thought of. The pros and the cons, why yes, or why not. Can you live with yourself if you Love it enough to have it NOW and if you become tired of it LATER?…. Will you feel bad because of how much it cost? If the answer is no, the do it.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TIMELESS AND TREND.
Adjective
1.without beginning or end; eternal; everlasting.
2.referring or restricted to no particular time
Synonyms
- enduring, lasting, abiding, permanent.
Without beginning or end may be a stretch, I really believe that our taste evolves with us and our time. We have a season when we love brown and another when we are done with it. But, if I had to name 1 thing in decor you could pretty much count on it being without beginning or end, I would have to name “White ceilings”. Why? Because if that was the only choice for ceilings… it would be ok.
Enduring, yes, lasting also permanent well this is not a marriage & we all know what can happen to those. So, if what you are selecting for your decor, reno project or for a long lasting classic wardrobe piece… go for the neutral and add texture, pop it with some accessories or complementing finishes that will allow you some flexibility for the future as you evolve and change.
Adjective, trendier, trendiest.
- of, in, or pertaining to the latest trend or style.
2.following the latest trends or fashions; up-to-date or chic:
the trendy young generation.
3.to faddish taste:
a trendy hotel.
noun, plural trendies.
4.a trendy person, place, object, or idea.
Granted that there are some classic styles or trends that have remained and continue to be timeless choices. But as said before, not all that shines is gold.
For example, Glass tile… yes, it had its moments and some were nicer than others. Others looked more like the belonged in a Vegas Hotel instead of a home. But let’s face it they are done unless they are penny tiles or perhaps the classic subway … I would say you renovated about 10 years ago.
Staying on the topic of bathroom tiles for the moment, notice most current images are showing little to no accent tile around a shower/tub surround. “The Design Trends” – are moving towards cleaner, more consistent finishes, and the tile is a large format and not using any accents on the walls, but perhaps really popping it with a gorgeous cement tile on the floor with a great pattern.
But you might say, how about those cement tiles and the bold patterns? It is a huge commitment and will they be out soon… then I am stuck with it… and yes it will cost a lot to replace.
Ah!, but there is the key to selecting where and how you will use the bold pattern or color or both. Follow the steps mentioned at the beginning of this post. Buy a box and lay it out and see how you feel, you may have to buy 2 or 3 boxes and test out a few patterns and or colors. But better to do that than not.
In my humble opinion, cement tiles are here to stay. Patterns will vary and change, colors may follow trends to a certain extent. But these are classics and will remain as a favorite for folks who fancy a variety of different styles; Vintage, Old World, Classic, Modern mixed with touches of Classic, Eclectic, Transitional, Boho and even Coastal and much more. These are a perfect choice for sure a curated, timeless and classic look.
TRENDY NOT SUCH A GOOD CHOICE
TRENDY A BETTER CHOICE
WHY?
OTHER THAN TEXTURE AND REFLECTIVE NATURE OF THE GLASS, IT’S WHITE
OR CLEAR… MAKING IT PRETTY NEUTRAL. PERHAPS NOT DATE NEUTRAL BUT TRENDY NEUTRAL.
A CLASSIC CHOICE AND NEUTRAL ALSO
EVEN THOUGH A BOLDER PATTERN
STILL PRETTY CLASSIC AND COULD BE USED WITH SOLID FIELD
TILE IN THE BACKGROUND COLOR OR
IF YOU WANTED TO PUNCH IT… A BLACK MATT BORDER
STILL NEUTRAL AMONG OTHER NEUTRALS AND THE PATTERN
ALTHOUGH BOLD WOULD FIT WITH MOST OTHER COLORS.
Hope this helps you make your selection a bit easier.