A timeless looking home isn’t hard to achieve when you understand these 5 core things that are true for every design style no matter what. You can apply this advice to small or big rooms. When you cross check your decorating decisions with each of these 5 criteria, you’ll save money, time and avoid unnecessary and discouraging disappointments.

1. Appreciate – But Don’t Go ALL IN on Trends

I’m going to walk the fine line right off the bat.

This is about understanding the difference between a trend that has “legs”, meaning staying power, and fads that are hot right now, but won’t last through the long haul.

It’s probably easiest to think about this in terms of seeing the micro shifts happening within macro trends.

Let’s take Farmhouse style as an example:

Remember a couple years ago when you walked into every furniture or big box store, and you saw all the new furniture pieces that were beat up to look like old stuff?

Things like decorative cabinets that had the chipped paint jobs and the dining tables and chairs that were banged up and gauged so that they resembled very old and worn pieces?

It was hot, right?

Fast forward a few years and the overall, macro trend of Farmhouse is still very current but that micro focus on the painted and distressed accents is not “in” anymore.

The overall style is now going toward less distressed, more ‘artisan’ pieces that blend hand crafted and simple.

The new farmhouse aesthetic, that is very much on trend, looks more refined rather than fabricated to resemble something old.

One of my favorite words is “unfussy” and that’s exactly what this new farmhouse style is all about.

Now, it’s about natural wood tones mixed with sleek contemporary metals and furniture with straight lines.

You might ask, how do I know what’s part of the macro trend and what’s part of the micro trend?

I think the answer is to keep it simple.

If it looks fussy, it’s probably going to fall out of favor.

If you really think about it, you can easily spot the micro trends happening in any decorating style.

They’re the gestures that make a statement…

The repeated color that EVERYBODY is obsessed with.

The shape or pattern that seems to literally define that “it” decorating style.

The texture or finish that shows up on everything in that “it” decorating style.

These are the things that burn bright and have the big push behind them.

You’ll know what they are because all the catalogs, store displays, and internet ads will push them.

It’s a story old as time…

If you’re part of the (farmhouse, modern, traditional, contemporary, fill in the blank, style) this is how you express that NOW. This is how you let others know what your style is.

The second question is, should I avoid these things if I really like them?

No.

Instead, choose carefully.

Maybe don’t go all in on the micro-trending, big and expensive sofa, dining set, or bedroom collection in your style of choice.

Steer clear of the giant, distressed dining table and chairs.

Instead, focus on the micro-trend aesthetics with things like pottery, accent pillows, bedding, art, area rugs.

They’ll give you that look for the time being, and you won’t feel that sunk cost feeling when you tire of them and want to switch them out for something else.

Switching out pillows and pottery is a lot less expensive then switching out staple pieces of furniture.

2. Avoid Decorating Fads

A fad is not the same thing as a trend.

Merriam Webster defines Fad as “a practice or interest followed for a time with exaggerated zeal.”

They define Trend as, “movement in a particular direction.”

In interior design terms, trends are decorating styles with distinguishable characteristics that usually last 10 to 20 years.

American Modernism, from approximately 1919 to 1939, was a trend.

Mid Century Modern, from approximately 1945 to 1969, was also a trend.

Fads, on the other hand, are interesting moments that catch attention, usually for much shorter times.

They’re the “hot look of the moment” things that usually occur within the lifespan of a trend.

They’re things like the 1970’s bean bag chairs and avocado green kitchen appliances.

In more recent years, fads are things like accent walls, sliding barn doors, and overstuffed sofas.

Fads often oversaturate a market.

For example, a sliding barn door is a fad in the grand scheme of the Farmhouse trend.

Now, I’m all for a sliding door in awkward spaces where there is no way to accommodate the swing of a traditional door. If that’s the case, a sliding door is a solution.

A sliding barn door is a fad because it was an interesting choice that got overused in applications that didn’t have anything to do with function.

They were being installed in places with plenty of room for a traditional door. So, the look was hot for a short time but, in the absence of function, folks remembered that barn doors really do look better on barns.

In this case, barn doors were overused and burned out as a fad of farmhouse décor.

So, fads are the slightly anachronistic, flashy, or bold decorating choices that occur within a longer style trend.

They’re usually easy to spot because they’re either quirky or feel a little out of place with the rest of what’s going on with the trend.

Remember, you don’t have to say no to faddish choices if you really love the look. But maybe channel your enthusiasm for it into accents instead of expensive main pieces.

3. Stick to Neutrals (Yes Black is a Neutral)

I know, I heard the news… Color is back.

But, before you commit to painting all your walls pink, it’s important to understand that a neutral room doesn’t have to be a boring room.

Small rooms, big rooms, awkward ones too, all need variation.

Neutral, when done right, mixes in different materials. (more on that in a moment...)

For right now, I’ll just say that an interesting, neutral room takes the observer of it on a journey.

When done right, neutral rooms are masterpieces of contrast, scale, and depth more.

It can be much more challenging to hit those design notes in a color saturated room.

This is because color consciously disrupts.

You’ll look at a pink room and think either, I like this, or I think I like it, or I hate this…

It forces you to think about it.

A neutral room that uses all the design fundamentals effectively, doesn’t disrupt.

You can have 10% of saturated color, but you still have a predominately neutral room that can exist independently without the color.

So, here’s the overarching argument: if you like to decorate with color, and especially if you like to switch colors often, then a neutral base is the best way to design your room.

Perhaps you’re thinking, how can I make this all work?

The answer is contrast.

Think about it, beige without contrast is just more, beige.

So instead, your white walls and beige furniture need contrast for definition, otherwise it becomes a sea of sameness.

Pepper in black accents to give your room contrast.

Black accents like picture frames, pottery, art, accessories.

It doesn’t have to be a lot; a few well-chosen pieces will define spaces and enhance areas that you want to draw attention to.

After I’ve figured out the best layout and flow for the rooms I design, I spend A LOT of time building in the details.

And because so many of the spaces I create are neutral, I know that it’s incredibly important to define areas with touches of black.

I often say that black in a room is like the punctuation in a sentence.

For instance, a white vase, on a white mantle, on a white wall is nothing special. There’s no definition, no contrast to provide context.

It’s a run-on sentence of never ending white.

A black vase on a white mantle, on a white wall, forces you to pause.

The strong contrast the vase provides is a visual cue to stop, absorb the context of what’s going on in this space, and then move on.

When done effectively, it all happens without the observer having to consciously think about it.

They can see the difference in color value and this pause allows them to notice the other details at play around the vase; the context of what’s happening above, below and around the vase.

In this way it’s a lot like reading a sentence.

You don’t consciously think (period) when you see (.) at the end of a sentence.

It’s a visual cue letting you know that the sentence is finished.

In this example the vase is the pause.

You take a beat before moving on.

If the sentence is really enthralling, you may just linger there and think about it for a few moments, right?

Let’s widen the focus on touches of black.

Black is truly a neutral because it looks great with all other colors.

It goes with dark woods, light woods, red woods, grey woods.

It looks amazing with any color stone from red bricks to white marble.

So, you could also argue that an all-purple room could certainly benefit from the incorporation of black accents to help define and contextualize this space as well.

What about using black to broadly define the entire room?

In other words, is an all-black room neutral?

You bet it is!

A room bathed in black can envelop.

It conjures feelings of coziness and sophistication.

It’s dramatic and academic.

The secret sauce to making an all-black room work is incorporating light.

Strategic lighting creates the same depth that black accents create in lighter and neutral rooms.

It’s the same concept, but this time it’s the light that creates the contrast.

Finish choices can help too.

Perhaps your wall color is matte black, and you place a high gloss, black lacquered console in front of it. The finish between the pieces is the contrast.

The gloss finish picks up the light and there’s your contrast.

Aside from that, you can still bring in pattern, texture, and scale to round out the design elements in an all-black room.

And, just as before, the addition of a different color - in the proportion of around 10% - can serve the same accent color function in a black room as in a neutral room.

4. Nature Never Goes Out of Style

What I mean by this is using ‘natural’ elements in you room design will always be timeless.

Plants

The obvious first thing that comes to mind is plants.

You can incorporate plants in any design style.

You can change the look of any plant scape by changing the container they’re in.

For rustic and farmhouse, try putting your green friends in a clay pot or a lined basket.

For a more contemporary design, choose something like a simple cement planter or a sleek ceramic pot.

For eclectic, mix and match containers to your hearts content!

It’s easy to highlight popular textures and materials of any design style by adjusting the composition of the containers you choose to put your plants in.

Solid Wood Furniture is Always Timeless

You can’t get more natural than solid wood, right?

You’ll see solid wood occasional pieces, dining sets, beds, dressers, credenzas, cabinets, and media consoles in every style, ranging from rustic to refined.

These pieces are truly timeless because they can be passed down through generations.

They can be sanded down and refinished which makes them versatile to the core.

Natural Stone is Always Timeless.

Think of a stacked stone fireplace.

This look can straddle many different design styles.

Slate floors can be organic or cut into shapes.

It’s a versatile choice that can be applied to many different design styles.

Stone countertops in kitchens.

There’s many different colors and compositions. There are many finishes available to achieve a variety of different looks.

When you embrace natural materials in your décor, you invite timelessness in for the long haul.

5. Vary Your Materials

I alluded to this early on.

To achieve a timeless look, you want to use different materials throughout your home.

That means, mix your metals.

Pair silver and brass

Brass and brushed nickel

Matte black and gold or silver

Don’t be afraid of mixing a chrome with a brushed finish, or a matte with a satin finish.

I often talk about how mixing different design styles is more interesting than sticking to going all-in on one design style.

When you introduce a few contemporary pieces in a traditional room, there’s a fresh and interesting look that happens.

It makes the space feel alive because it looks like it evolved and changed over time.

That’s far more interesting than everything being the same.

A matte black finish incorporated in a bathroom with chrome fixtures doesn’t look out of place. It looks evolved.

If that contrast is too much for you, consider a brushed nickel finish mixed with chrome. The difference is slight but still interesting.

Incorporate wood pieces of different species, in different finishes.

Wood grains are vastly different from species to species.

A piece with a pronounced wood grain mixed with other pieces with subtle wood grains is beautiful.

You must keep in mind that there are no mistakes in nature. So, mix up those wood pieces!

Don’t be afraid to take a chance on an eclectic mix of furniture.

As I mentioned a moment ago, put a contemporary piece in a traditional room and you are sure to have a dynamic pairing.

To that point, NEVER buy a complete matching set.

Nothing dates a design like a matching sofa, loveseat, chair with all matching occasional tables.

This is unimaginative.

It’s not ‘easier’ to buy the complete set.

It’s lazy.

Be brave when choosing your furniture and decorations and have faith that can make the right decisions for the look you’re going for.

Varying your materials also means bringing in decorative items of different heights, sizes, and shapes.

Layer decorative items on shelves.

Mix glass, pottery, wood, and metal décor in with books on a shelf.

Don’t forget to leave empty space.

One of the most underutilized things in many homes is empty space.

Empty space highlights and enhances things.

If you want to draw attention to a piece of art, a favorite item, or a special collection, make sure you provide plenty of empty space around it.

Space acts the same as touches of black.

It draws attention to the object it surrounds and forces the observer to notice it.

Empty space creates subtle tension around items and that tells the observer this is important or significant.

3 Questions to Stay on Track for a Timeless Home

When in doubt about whether a choice you’re making for your house is timeless, ask yourself these 3 gut-check questions.

Is this choice versatile?

Will this thing I’m interested in adding to my home evolve with my current style?

If it’s an investment piece, will it translate to other styles down the road?

A good way to know for sure is: can it change?

Can it be refinished, repainted?

Does it have a broad appeal that will compliment other design styles?

Pay attention to how you really feel when you’re considering.

If you’re on the fence, that’s usually a no.

Is it uncomplicated?

If the piece is hyper specific and has all the “fussy” details of the trend de jour, maybe it’s a no.

A classic wood tone or a classic black finish, straight lines, unfussy details, these are more likely to be timeless.

Do I love it?

If you see it and you just know – holy crap! That would look amazing in my house! Then that’s a pretty strong yes.

Flip it around and ask yourself, would I regret NOT getting it?

If the gravitational pull is strong, then that’s usually an indication of something you’ll have for a long time.

And keep in mind that there’s usually a way to work in a piece that you absolutely love into future iterations and evolutions of your style.

You can paint, refinish, reupholster and re-imagine the use of things as time goes by.

There you have it, 5 ways to know for sure if your home is timeless.

• Don’t go all-in on trends.

Appreciate what you love about tending décor in the design style you gravitate to, but don’t get caught up micro-trends.

Remember, they’re the gestures that make a statement.

You’ll recognize them by things like:

A repeated color

Repeated shapes or patterns.

Or, repeated textures or finishes on everything in your favorite design style.

These things burn bright and get pushed in advertising, displays and catalogs.

• Avoid Fads:

They’re the “hot look of the moment” things that usually occur within the lifespan of a trend.

Fads are the slightly anachronistic, flashy, or bold.

They’re easy to spot because they’re either quirky or feel a little out of place with the rest of what’s going on with the design style you like.

• Stick to Neutrals (Yes Black is a Neutral)

You will get tired of color much faster than neutrals.

So, use color in accents that are easy and inexpensive to switch out.

Use black in neutral rooms to define, enhance, and add contrast to the context of your design.

• Nature Never Goes Out of Style

Use plants to add a touch a nature to ANY room.

Invest in solid wood furniture because it is ‘changeable’. You can sand it down and refinish it.

Use natural stone in many applications to create a timeless look.

• Vary Your Materials

Mix metals.

Mix finishes

Mix wood tones and grains

Vary the height, shape and size of your décor.

And, don’t be afraid to leave some empty space.

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Michael is Principal designer and blogger at Michael Helwig Interiors in beautiful Buffalo, New York. Since 2011, he’s a space planning expert, offering online interior e-design services for folks living in small homes, or for those with awkward and tricky layouts. He’s a frequent expert contributor to many National media publications and news outlets on topics related to decorating, interior design, diy projects, and more. Michael happily shares his experience to help folks avoid expensive mistakes and decorating disappointments. You can follow him on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook @interiorsmh.