Timeless vs. Trendy: How to Design a New Build That Won't Feel Dated in 5 Years

When designing your new build, choosing a design style that will outlast trends is an investment that futureproofs your style and offers a comfortable, classic aesthetic that can be dressed up or down over time.  

Why opt for timeless over trendy? While it’s fun to get creative with the latest trends, it’s not an affordable approach. A lot of interior design trends are short-lived, which means you’ll spend more money to renovate when the hot trend cools. Timeless design deters trendy impulse buys, which can help with affordability too. 

Stay off the renovation treadmill by learning to spot trends that are fleeting vs. ones that will endure. Here is what you need to know about the lifecycle of trends, and how to stay ahead of the curve with timeless design for your new build. 

How Long Do Trends Last? 

Interior design and decor trends follow lifecycles of varying length, depending on the material, look, and functionality, plus what sparked the trend initially. 

• Microtrends typically last a few months or less. Often introduced by viral social media moments, these trends appear, surge in popularity, then disappear quickly, such as Barbiecore, Eclectic Chic, and Grannycore. 

• Macro (large scale) interior design trends last about 10 years. Macro trends have a significant impact on design, and you can expect them to stay popular for about a decade. Think modern farmhouse, which is on its way out after years topping trends. Meanwhile biophilia is a big deal currently, and likely to drive trends for a while. 

• Paint color trends last from two to seven years, depending on the industry, and location, says color psychologist Michelle Lewis of the Color Institute.     “Trend-setting cities like New York, Los Angeles, Paris, and Milan tend to move trends much faster than other rural communities.” Trends move slower at the consumer level too. For an average homeowner, paint colors will be on trend for about five to seven years, says Lewis. 

How to Spot Trends That Last (and Those That Won’t)  

Signs that a trend will last:  

• You’ve seen the trend before. Most of the fundamentally timeless trends keep re-appearing with modern touches over and over again: transitional, traditional, Art Deco, and mid-century modern.  

• It evolved from other trends. Trends that can adapt and change over time have staying power, rather than disappearing completely.  

• It offers functional solutions. For example, home office trends emerged to accommodate work from home. Flexible spaces in floor plans emerged to help with affordability and changing family dynamics. If it makes life easier for homeowners, the trend sticks. 

 Signs of a short-lived trend: 

• Intense exposure on social media. Pro tip: most trends with “core” attached fade quickly. 

• No clear sign where the trend came from. Trends that last have traceable roots. 

• The trend doesn’t mesh with other styles. Trends need flexibility to have staying power. 

 How to Achieve Timeless Design   

To incorporate these elements into your new build design, a good place to start is in the kitchen, especially if your goal is to make your new home more affordable. The kitchen is where you tend to spend a lot of your design upgrade budget. It’s also expensive and inconvenient to make changes in your kitchen as trends change, as cabinetry, flooring, and countertops are all expensive renovations and take up the bulk of the kitchen space. Your kitchen sets the style tone for your whole home, and communicates value to future buyers, so choices matter here.  

Add to that, kitchen trends are cycling out quicker than they used to, so if you’re getting trendy in the kitchen, you may need to budget for renovations sooner than you might expect.  “Kitchens used to last 10 years before the style trend changed,” says designer Sharon Sherman, founder and owner of Thyme and Place Design. Thanks to the pandemic and its major influence on how homeowners use their homes, the lifespan is much shorter.  

“Just before the pandemic it was all about white-and gray kitchens. Post pandemic, clients are asking for warm natural woods, brighter colors, and welcoming surroundings. That is a lifecycle of less than five years,” she says.  

Timeless choices in the kitchen are: 

•  Neutral color palettes. 

• For counters, natural stone with neutrally colored veining in a bespoke pattern. 

• Classic subway tile for backsplash. 

• Neutral, large-format flooring tile or hardwood floors. 

• Stainless-steel appliances. 

• Shaker-style cabinets. 

 Ways to be timeless throughout the whole home:  

• Classic silhouettes, like gentle curves, wingback or tub chairs, and scalloped or tufted sofas. 

• For color choices, “Focus on design style/era, color family ,and color psychology. By taking this intentional approach with your space, it makes the overall design cohesive, the color palette timeless, and the space to be enjoyed for years and years to come,” says Lewis. 

• Invest in high-quality, neutral pieces, which you can add to or mix and match over time.  

• Warm minimalism features clean lines and natural materials. 

• Neutrally colored hardwood flooring. Use throw rugs to follow a particular color or add bright colors and patterns. 

• Black-and-white color schemes never go out of style and are versatile to integrate with other colors. 

• If you are picking a specific trend to follow, stay with transitional style. It’s a mash-up of contemporary and modern styles, with lots of flexibility to adapt to various other trends. 

 Bottom line: Remember, classic design focuses on principles that allow longevity, which in turn supports affordability: durability, flexibility, and a neutral base that is versatile. 

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