““Styles come and go. Good design is a language, not a style.” ”

— Massimo Vignelli, Italian designer

We all know that when it comes to home decorating some things never go out of style while others leave almost as quickly as they come. Remember wallpaper borders of the 80s and 90s? Sponge walls – were they ever on trend? Popcorn ceilings – while they were an improvement over stippled, they have quickly lost popularity since the mid 2000s. And you can probably add a few of more that you are happy to see gone.

I’ve put together my list of design trends that are here to stay. Here are my top 12:

White Kitchens
Hardwood Floors
Open Concept
Neutral Walls
Area Rugs
Good Lighting
Vintage Touches
Oversized Mirrors
Black and White
Built-in Shelving
Minimalism
Front Door Appeal

In this edition of my blog, we’ll discuss the first six.

WHITE KITCHENS

White kitchens top my list of my favorite design trends that are here to stay. White kitchens are classic. They are clean and bright and they are timeless. Add a white subway tile backsplash and white countertops and you have a modern farmhouse look. For a more contemporary look, add a glass tile backsplash and gray or black countertops. Mix white cabinets with dark wood flooring and that brings me to my second design trend that will never go out of style.

HARDWOOD FLOORS

Hardwood floors date back to the 1600s. Hardwood floors are timeless, comfortable, warm, natural and can be refinished over and over again. Today we have many choices from prefinished engineered floors to solid hardwood flooring. You can also chose from laminate, bamboo, and cork. There are choices for everyone’s budget. (Builddirect.com)

OPEN SPACES

Open concept floor plans can be challenging. The trick is to make sure that the space looks cohesive. One way is to make all the design elements complement each other. The best way to do that is to use the same colors throughout. Ask any parent about the advantages of open concept spaces and they will tell you it’s easier to watch the kids. Other advantages include layout flexibility and better entertainment spaces. No cook wants to be shut off in the kitchen while her guests are in the living room. Open floor plans allow for everyone to be together. For more open concept ideas, check out this article on Freshhome.

NEUTRAL WALLS

Painting your walls a neutral color is the perfect base for your space. Think of your walls as a blank canvas to your decorating ideas. Gray or beige? Well the choice is really up to you. When you decorate with neutral walls, you can change your decorating as you wish. It’s easy to switch out accessories, textures, and patterns as often as you like, seasonally if you wish. For more information on using neutral colors in decorating, see this article on the Spruce.

AREA RUGS

One of the best ways to define the space in an open concept room is through area rugs. This is especially true on hardwood floors. Area rugs can add warmth to a room, visually and actually. Area rugs can absorb sound and reduce noise. They can add color to an otherwise neutral space. There are some rules or recommendations when using area rugs. I found a great guide on sizing and placing area rugs on Overstock.com.

GOOD LIGHTING

Lighting is one of the most important aspects of successful interior design. Lighting can establish a mood, focus attention, and create illusion. Light affects all other elements and how we feel about them. The quality, quantity, and color of light affects the way we see our surroundings. Lighting affects how we see color. Depending on the type of lighting used, color can significantly change. Remember to view colors in both the natural and artificial light of a room.

Take advantage of natural lighting whenever you can. Natural lighting provides energy savings and reveals true colors.

Incorporate the following three types of lighting in your space. One lighting source is not sufficient in a space. All three types of lighting work together in a home.

1. Ambient or general lighting

2. Task lighting

3. Accent lighting

By layering all three types of lighting, you will have a successful design. For more great advice on lighting, check out this article on HOUZZ.

I hope you enjoyed my top 12 decorating trends part one. Be sure to come back for part two. Sign up below to receive my latest news and updates. You will also receive a 10% coupon code that you can use both here and on my Etsy store.

Thanks for stopping by…

Until next time,

Twelve classic design trends that will never go out of style (Part I)