Timeless Vs Trendy: Interior Finishes for Your Home
The best part about designing your new home is the chance to infuse it with your unique personality. From the kitchen to the bathroom and every room in between, you get to unleash your creativity and make it truly yours.
When it comes to interior design, styles often fall into two camps: timeless and trendy. The question is, which path will you take when personalizing your Ernest home?
What Is a Trendy Design?
A trendy design is one that’s fashionable and contemporary. What’s currently stylish. Trends are often cyclical, coming in and out of style over time. A good way to spot a trend is if a style or color palette has become incredibly popular within the last year or two.
For instance, a few years ago, we saw wicker and rattan egg chairs everywhere, from magazines to stores, turning them into a major trend.
One of the most variable trends is color. Every year, color palettes are chosen to inspire designers and homeowners, and they can have a huge impact on a home's look and feel.
While it's a big commitment to repaint an entire room, you can easily embrace a trend by incorporating smaller, more temporary items like blankets, pillows, and towels.
Some examples of trendy design include:
- Grey/Greige Color Palette: While shades of grey come and go, the warmer "greige" has remained popular, acting as a versatile neutral that complements many styles.
- Whitewashed Oak: This rustic, beachy look is often seen in flooring and cabinetry. The natural wood grain remains visible, giving rooms a brighter, more spacious feel.
- Bold Colors and Patterns: Recent years have brought back deep, rich colors like blues, greens, and yellows. Geometric shapes, especially hexagons in tile, have also become a popular choice.
- Barn Doors: A love-it-or-hate-it trend, barn doors are a practical feature that works well in small spaces. Once a rustic design, there are now styles to fit almost any décor.
- Floating Shelves: These simple, clean-looking shelves are a great way to open up a space and display your favorite dishes or collectibles. Just be prepared to keep them tidy.
- Mix & Match Island/Cabinet Colors: Instead of mandatory matching cabinets, a mix of light and dark colors can create a beautiful focal point for your kitchen, adding depth and contrast.
What Is a Timeless Design?
The key to a timeless design is simplicity, sophistication, and adaptability. These are the elements that can outlast any fleeting trend and still look beautiful for years to come.
Our design team lives by this rule of thumb: If you'd still love it a decade from now, it's a timeless choice. Anything that is high-quality or custom-built is meant to last and should be considered timeless.
Some examples of timeless design include:
- Neutrals: A neutral color palette, like shades of black, white, brown, or gray, is purposefully lacking in intensity. This allows them to be combined with a variety of patterns and textures to create a cohesive and easily adaptable look.
- White Cabinets/Dark Countertops: This classic black-and-white kitchen works with styles from traditional to contemporary. The clean look is sophisticated yet cozy and can be easily updated with accent colors and decor.
- Subway Tile: A true classic, white subway tile is practical and ageless. It’s easy to clean, stain-resistant, and brings a clean, bright look to kitchens and baths.
- Wood or Wood-Look Flooring: Wood floors are beloved for their smooth, warm, and durable feel. Whether you choose solid wood or a wood-look option like LVP, this flooring provides a classic, luxurious foundation for any design style.
- Mid-Century Modern: Ironically, a style once seen as ahead of its time has become timeless. With sleek lines and a blend of natural and man-made materials, Mid-Century Modern designs blend seamlessly with many other styles and evolve gracefully over time.
We're Here to Help You Find Your Style
Ultimately, the most important part of design is following your heart. Whether you lean toward a timeless foundation or want to sprinkle in some trendy accents, the right choice is what feels right to you.
No matter your design style, Ernest Homes is here to help you bring your vision to life. Take a look at our floor plans and photo galleries for inspiration, or contact us today to start your personal design consultation. It would be our honor to build a home as special as you are.
