According to a survey carried out by home renovation and design platform Houzz, homeowners in the UK spent, on average, £38,800 on renovation projects in 2016.
With many of us considering a revamp of our entire home every 10 to 15 years, and certainly when we buy a new property, renovating our home doesn’t come cheap. Which is why it pays to think to the future when you’re installing your new kitchen, or choosing the tiles for your bathroom.
Here, we’ve outlined 10 classic interior design trends that will stand the test of time.
1. White walls
Feature walls, floral wallpaper and bright tones will come and go, but white walls will always remain a safe option when it comes to decorating your home. Simple and classic, it’s also easy to style any white room, allowing you to project your personal style more easily with furniture and smaller design features.
2. Wood flooring
It was good enough for households in centuries past and it’s still good enough today. Be sure to invest in a quality wood and avoid cheaper wood alternatives like laminate, as it’s unlikely to last as long as a solid wood floor.
3. Neutral kitchen cabinets
When it comes to renovating our homes, we often spend the most remodeling the kitchen. In fact, the average Briton spent £9,900 renovating their kitchen in 2017, according to Houzz. Which is why it’s wise to choose a neutral colour scheme for your kitchen cabinets, as it will stand the test of time. White is preferable, as with most colour schemes in your home.
4. Granite worktops
While the colour of your granite worktops might go in and out of fashion, investing in this long-lasting material might be one of the best things you do. Not only is it long lasting, it looks stylish and remains practical over cheaper alternatives like wood or laminate worktops that will wear more quickly.
5. Plain tiles
At the moment, there’s a revival of mosaic tiles in homes, which are a modern take on traditional Victorian designs. While they look fashionable now, be warned that patterned tiles will date quickly, particularly in bathrooms, so sometimes it’s better to stick to plain colours and finishes.
6. Fireplaces
As with many interior design trends, fireplace designs have come full circle, from grand, to minimalist, to unfashionable, and now the more magnificent the better. Victorian designs have stood the test of time, and they’re definitely here to stay, while modern fireplaces will also remain a strong focal point for any room whatever the era.
7. Period bathroom fittings
Nothing ages a bathroom more than the fittings, especially taps and showerheads. One way to combat any style faux pas is sticking to classic, traditional designs and rejecting ultra-modern fittings that will become outdated quickly. While a sleek aesthetic is very in at the moment, it won’t be in forever, and you’ll probably find yourself replacing them in the years to come.
8. Quality items
"Buy cheap, buy twice" is a phrase that is often used. And while throwaway interior fashions are immediately affordable, it perhaps makes us forget the longevity aspect of an item. Spending lots of money on redesigning your property is not always possible, but it’s important to prioritise your spending on larger ticket items like sofas and beds – nothing says outdated more than a ‘90s IKEA sofa.
9. Sash windows
Once just a feature of period properties, sash windows have been making their way into modern homes too. Not only more aesthetically pleasing than plastic windows, they’ve also come a long way in terms of practicality, and you can now buy composite versions rather than traditional wood ones. More classic in design, they’re likely to stand the test of time compared to contemporary styles.
10. Avocado bathrooms
If it was never really in fashion, will it ever go out of fashion?
Take a look at our home inspiration section for more ideas on how to style your property.
