What to Avoid if You Don’t Want to Look Outdated a Year Later

Top home remodeling contractors don’t have a magic crystal ball that allows us to see the future. However, extensive training in design principles and decades of experience creating and installing luxury kitchen, bathroom, and other upgrades enables us to understand the elements that retain timeless appeal. We also know how to recognize the trends that will quickly turn from fresh to frumpy.

Some design choices that have been popular for a while are on their way out now, and we’ll explain why they’re not likely to make a return. Other trends may seem exciting and new but we’ll discuss why new is not necessarily better. So, let’s take a look at some design elements you may want to avoid if you don’t want your renovation to look outdated in a few months.

Beware of Using Man-Made Materials Designed to Imitate Natural Surfaces

Nature is timeless. You never look at a mountain range or forest canopy and think of it as dated—even though it is. It is the natural variation that keeps natural materials vibrant and fresh. But that variation is not present when an artist recreates the look. No artist can match Mother Nature.

For that reason, a tile that is created to look like wood planks or veined with lines to evoke marble is eventually going to look tired. Tile is easier to care for than wood or marble, and that can make the faux finishes popular for a time. But the recreated look will never achieve the timeless appeal of the genuine material.   

Does this mean that luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring, which has been so popular in recent years, will soon be out of date? The practicality of this material means that it will probably be tolerated until a replacement comes along, but since it will never match the beauty of real wood, it will look outdated before we know it.  

Say Goodbye to Gray Floors

Gray has had a good run as a color scheme, and while it may be on the way out, it is a neutral that will always be acceptable for walls and upholstery. However, gray wood flooring is a trend that has passed and is not likely to return soon. Gray is a lifeless color, and when used on the floor, it locks the entire room into a gray, cool color scheme. Moreover, wood normally appears in warm tones, so gray wood has an artificial feeling. (The exception is some outdoor settings where weathered wood naturally takes on a gray cast.)

If you have incorporated naturally weathered barn wood into your design scheme, the natural variation and authenticity of the aged color produce a natural warmth that overcomes the problems with most gray wood flooring. But for the most part, it is a good idea to steer clear of gray wood if you don’t want your flooring to look outdated.

Avoid Open Shelving for Materials That Get Used Frequently

There is no denying the fact that when compared with a cabinet, open shelving creates an elegant sense of space. However, it is not practical to store commonly used items on open shelves, particularly in the kitchen. Items stored on an open shelf will get dusty or greasy. And if they’re not stacked and organized neatly, the shelves will look junky, defeating the whole point of going for a streamlined look.

Designers seeking an alternative to the standard kitchen cabinet look started replacing cabinets with shelves, but the choice is not practical for most homeowners. For that reason, the trend will quickly be out-of-style and look dated, even when you can keep it clean.  

Be Wary of Using Patterns in Tile

While we tend to think of color schemes going in and out of style, the fact is that patterns go out of style much faster. If you want to install a pattern in floor tiles or a backsplash, think carefully about whether you are drawn to the pattern because it speaks to you or because it seems fresh or popular. A new and trendy pattern today will be overused and stale tomorrow, so be careful with patterns. Once grouted in place, a patterned tile requires serious effort to remove. It may be better to incorporate patterns into chair upholstery, drapery, or even oven mitts rather than something hard to change, like tile.

Don’t Use Gold or Black Fixtures Unless You Really Love the Look

Chrome and stainless steel have long been popular choices for kitchen and bath fixtures because these finishes bond well with the metal, and they tend to hold up better than some other finishes, such as bronze. The practicality of the silver-toned metals gives them a timeless quality that will keep them from ever looking dated.

Gold, brass, black, and oil-rubbed bronze, on the other hand, tend to come and go with fashion trends. If you love one of these finishes, you can still use it, but be aware that the color could make your rooms look dated very quickly. If you incorporate these colors in drawer pulls and accent pieces, it is easier to change your look than if you use these metal finishes for lighting fixtures and faucets. In the grand scheme of things, however, changing even these elements is a relatively minor procedure, so if you want to follow a trend, using a trendy metal for fixtures that may be dated within a year or two is better than choosing a flooring that you’ll want to rip out a year later.

Marcela Montoya Remodeling Can Create a Home Renovation or Addition with Timeless Appeal

Although your design choices are important when you are remodeling or expanding your home, the most critical choice you will make is selecting the right general contractor to design and build your project. Marcela Montoya Remodeling has decades of experience creating custom designs tailored to our clients’ expectations. We take the time to understand your goals and to execute every detail to your specifications. We aren’t satisfied until you are. To schedule a complimentary design consultation with Marcela, contact us online today or call 954-900-9992.

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