Avoiding Design Trends in New Homes

Many of us have watched home and garden television shows and thought, “I want that!” more times than we can count. While it is certainly satisfying to add a few trending touches to a room that needs updating, overdoing it on these modern design features in new homes should be avoided. Here’s why.

1) They change quickly.

This is the primary reason to consider toning down the addition of trendy accessories and style schemes to new homes. Just like fashion, housing trends change so quickly. The difference is the investment. Imagine you were given a budget and told you must purchase all the clothes you need for the next ten years. Would you pick the stylish pieces straight off the runway or out of catalogs? Probably not. You’d likely stick with timeless classics and basic items that never go out of style. Now consider the same with your home. While adding a few new features can be smart and fun, going all out on today’s most recent trends is probably not a wise idea. Think of the pastels of the 1950s, the popcorn ceilings of the 1960s, the shag carpet of the 1970s, and the hunter green carpeting of the 1980s. They were all the rage at the time, but they’re not exactly selling points today.

2) They take away from your home’s individuality.

There was a time when communities were built by homeowners who bought plots of land and built their homes on them as they saw fit. Of those that still exist, these homes are valued highly for their character and charm. However, fewer fully-customized homes have been built in the U.S. since post-World War II housing developments pushed the growth of prefabricated homes that followed the trends of the time during which they were built. To this day, many new homes are strikingly similar, diminishing not only their fiscal value, but also their individual appeal.

3) They’re expensive to install and replace.

As a general rule, the more popular something is, the more expensive it is, and design trends are no exception. When new homes are outfitted with all of the latest and greatest features, the homeowner often ends up paying drastically more than if he or she were to choose a simpler, more minimalist design. Consider the trend of rustic and reclaimed materials. The reason for their growth in popularity was their affordability and uniqueness. Once the rustic look took hold, however, reclaimed materials rose in price, and companies started manufacturing items made to look old and weathered at a high markup. Now, a design that used to be niche is expensive and run-of-the-mill. Then, once you’re tired of it, you will pay top dollar once more to update your whole home instead of just a few features.

There is something to be said for up-to-date housing design trends and new technological features. In moderation, they contribute to value and satisfaction, but care should be taken not to go overboard, and your wallet will thank you.