Home styles and renovations are a bit like fashion; there are trends, popular choices, and fads that eventually become something looked back on and laughed at. Anyone who can remember the Mamie Pink bathrooms of the 50s or the Avocado Green kitchens of the 60s will understand just how badly a trend can date a home. Yet at the same time, a lot of homeowners search for things like hot kitchen trends, or hottest wood flooring trends before they start a home renovation. This can get a little confusing for some homeowners who are unsure of whether or not to follow a current trend when they take on their home improvements.
Time of Resale
The first thing you need to consider is the age of your home improvement. A good renovation, remodel, or home improvement of any kind should last between 10 to 20 years. Fads can, therefore, date your home more quickly, or make you want to update it again before that time range is out. If you plan on selling your home in the next couple of years, however, following a trend is a good way of making your home look current and up to date, which can encourage buyers. Longer than that, however, and you run the risk of a trend making your home appear dated.
Trend versus Architectural Style
Nearly all homes have a built-in color palette and a list of materials that come with the architectural style. These homes nearly always look their best when those colors, materials, and designs are used over the majority of the space, and trends and personal details are kept to a minimum.
There are times when you may not like the details that come with your home – many people who own Ranches, for example, may not enjoy the layout or color palette, while some people who own Capes will want to enlarge the kitchen. It’s fine to change some things as long as you try to make the changes stay in line with the rest of the home. Fully embracing modern trends in older homes can lead to a mish-mash of styles that can make your home look a little strange, or even lower its resale value.
If you want to follow a trend, try confining it to small sections of the home, while you preserve the rest of the home’s original style. A good example of this would be to get a classic style for your kitchen cabinets, then paint them in a new shade of gray or blue; they can always be repainted later without changing the style of the kitchen. Another example would be to use something trendy that can be easily removed or changed later, and that can be confined to a single area, like a stone and glass mosaic backsplash in the kitchen. Paired with some trendy gray cabinets, this would make your kitchen seem on point, yet wouldn’t detract from your house’s style, or date your kitchen too much.
What Do You Love?
Your home should bring you joy, and so should your new home improvements or remodel. If you find a trendy style or design that you love, go for it. Just try to keep it in line with the rest of your home as much as possible, and speak to your Pro about ways that you can tie it in with the rest of your home’s style. You want to be happy with the final results, and if a color-washed turquoise wood floor will do that for you, then, by all means, do it. Even if it clashes with your New England Gambrel.
If you’re ready to get started on making your home improvement dreams come true, sign up today to get matched with a Pro who can help you get things off to a great start.