Are you tired of chasing the trends of interior design? Not only is "keeping up with the Joneses" exhausting, it's also expensive and completely unnecessary! Learn how to use these 30 timeless interior design ideas to create a home that's always on trend and decorate your home with decor that never goes out of style!
What Is Timeless Interior Design?
Timeless interior design is the intentional choice to incorporate classic, functional, and aesthetically pleasing design elements into your home over trendy, fleeting, or socially loud ideas. Timeless design generally appeals to the majority of people and outlasts the ever-revolving cycle of design trends.
When you think of timeless interior design, what do you immediately visualize? A cozy home? A stately manor? Specific architectural elements? Perhaps a cohesive color palette? While everyone may have a varying opinion of what constitutes "timeless," the general rule is that it is design and decor that never goes out of style. Design elements that we saw 200 years ago being repeated in modern-day homes are a great example of this. Materials such as natural stone, wood, quality textiles, and soothing colors have been used for centuries to anchor a home.
So, let's break down what exactly should be included in a modern-day home that will stand the test of time. We will look at three main areas:
Timeless Materials
The main consideration for most homeowners who are building or renovating is what type of materials to include to create a timeless home. The general rule of thumb is that if it is a natural material, then it will easily stand the test of time. Here are some examples of natural materials used in interior design:
- Slate
- Brick
- Stone
- Wood
- Granite
- Marble
- Clay
- Jute
- Wool
- Wicker
- Leather
- Metals
- Glass
These natural materials can be used on floors, countertops, backsplashes, furniture, as architectural elements, or in decor.
House Architecture
Next, let's talk about architecture. Craftsman style homes are often considered timeless in the United States. However, your geography plays a huge role in what equates to timeless design. If you live in the UK, cottage style can feel timeless. In parts of Europe, Mediterranean style architecture stands the test of time. In highly industrialized and young parts of the world, more modern styles can feel timeless.
So rather than choose a specific architectural design style, I like to focus on specific architectural elements that never go out of style. These elements can be incorporated into most styles of design to fit your personal preference. For example, wall moldings to fit your personal style, medium-tone hardwood floors, neutral tile, statement windows, double doors, wood beams, neutral stone countertops, clean lines in trim and cabinetry, and stone or brick fireplaces.
Decor That Never Goes Out of Style
Once your home's foundation is laid with natural materials and classic architectural elements, it's time to decorate. Decor that never goes out of style is easier to accomplish than it seems. The key to choosing timeless decor is to ensure that each piece will blend easily with multiple decor styles. If you look at a light fixture and you immediately peg it as a very contemporary style, then it will feel trendy in just a few years. On the other hand, if you find a fixture with classic globes and timeless metal tones, then it will work for years to come.
The same goes for just about any piece of decor. Some timeless decor items include a classic console table, traditional lighting, vintage artwork, timeless furniture accents, classic gallery walls, well-displayed textiles, heavy linen curtains, layered window coverings, floral artwork, a bouquet of flowers or greenery, high textured baskets, quality bedding, neutral rugs, books, indoor plants, and leather sofas.
What is the Difference Between Timeless and Trendy Design?
There are several specific design choices that will help elevate a timeless design rather than fall into trends. These ideas work well to ground a room so that you can choose playful additions and accents to avoid your home falling flat. As a general rule, timeless design includes medium wood tones, black accents, clean lines, functional decor, beautiful storage solutions, and white (or light and neutral) walls. Mixing design styles for added interest is also a great way to achieve a timeless look.
On the other hand, trendy design styles are typically socially loud. If you have a pulse on interior design and notice that everyone is clamoring to update their homes with a new and unusual element at the same time, then it's likely trendy. Think: Chevron. Chevron had a moment in the 20s during the Art Deco movement, and again in the 2010s. However, it's considered a pop-up trend. It pops up and explodes in popularity. Then it fairly quickly falls back down as the trend passes. Conversely, herringbone has been habitually used in interior design since the 1600s and is still a popular choice today. You know that you can safely use herringbone in your flooring, tile, or even wall treatments because it has already stood the test of time.
Top 30 Timeless Interior Design Elements
Let's recap. Timeless interior design involves three main areas of consideration:
- Choosing Timeless Natural Materials
- Incorporating Classic Architectural Elements
- Using Decor That Never Goes Out of Style
These are the top 30 elements to achieve that timeless look you desire:
- Wall moldings to fit your personal style.
- Medium-tone hardwood floors
- Neutral tile
- Statement windows
- Double doors
- Wood beams
- Neutral stone countertops
- Clean lines in trim and cabinetry
- Stone or brick fireplace
- Classic console table
- Traditional lighting
- Vintage artwork
- Timeless furniture accents
- Classic gallery walls
- Well displayed textiles
- Heavy linen curtains
- Layered window coverings
- Floral artwork
- Bouquet of flowers or greenery, real or faux
- High-textured baskets
- Quality bedding
- Neutral rugs
- Books
- Indoor plants
- Leather sofas
- Black accents
- Clean lines
- Functional decor and beautiful storage solutions
- White (or light and neutral) walls
- Mixing design styles for added interest
More Interior Design Style Details
Looking out for these 30 elements of timeless interior design will go a long way in creating a timeless home! If you're looking for more interior design help, make sure to check out these articles on specific design styles. And, watch my two-part series on how to find your interior design style and implement it in your own home on YouTube!
- 25 Best Interior Design Coffee Table Books
- Organic Modern Design
- Modern Farmhouse Design
- Transitional Design
- Mid Century Modern Design
- Vintage Design
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~Sarah