Interior design trends to skip if you plan on moving
I will lead with this: do whatever you want in your home. If you love something that isn’t trendy, then that’s all that matters. You’re the one living in the space day to day and unless you’re a celeb or influencer, your home isn’t on display for a wide audience.
With that out of the way, there are times when doing whatever you want may not make the most sense from a return on investment perspective. I get a lot of inquiries from clients who want help making design choices because they know what they like but plan on selling their home in a few years. Knowing this isn’t your forever home makes design decisions a little trickier. You can check out my past musing about low cost, big impact decor choices to get a sense for what you should do in your home, but here I’m going to share with you what I think you should steer away from doing. The 3 trends for 2022 that I think you should skip if you plan on selling your home soon are:
Brown as a neutral: I think the trend of bringing nature into the home is great. I love the natural woods, rustic decor pieces, and plants throughout the house. But, a lot of people are going a step further by using brown as a neutral rather than white or gray. I understand some people don’t like an all white house and I’m not saying it’s the only way to go, but an all brown palette can feel very 1980s very quickly. And, my gut says it’ll be out of style within the next 2 years. Instead, go with a warm white paint to anchor the room and then use accent pieces in the brown family such as almond, caramel, mocha, or chocolate (sounds delicious!).
Dark kitchens: Similar to brown neutrals, I know a ton of people who can’t stomach the idea of an all white kitchen. Not only can it look sterile but it can seem impractical with little kids around. For those who want more of a wow factor, the design trend is to create dark kitchens with rich blues and greens - even black - on the cabinets and walls. You shouldn’t be afraid of having dark rooms in your house, but I’d avoid it in a kitchen if you’re thinking about resale value. That’s because buyers care most about kitchens and bathrooms so if you have a very specific or trendy style, it may not resonate with folks. The majority of buyers want their kitchens to feel light, airy, and welcoming which dark kitchens don’t tend to invoke. Plus, they’ll see it as a major undertaking to repaint or refinish the kitchen which again, will turn away a lot of buyers. If you want your kitchen to have some personality, go bold with the valances, curtains, light fixtures, and hardware instead.
Tile transitioning: Most people think the only place to go bold is on the walls, so there’s been a recent trend towards flooring as the next place to go bold. I’ve seen a ton of examples of tile transitioning lately and while I applaud the choice, I am confident this trend won’t appeal to most buyers in 2-3 years. It purposely looks unfinished and if not done really well, can look cheaply done. When a buyer sees tile transitioning, they will only see dollar signs to replace the flooring and therefore pass on making an offer. A really easy solution here is to get a bold rug instead. Easy to roll-up and put away for an open house!
A lot of folks want to freshen up their space after spending so much more time at home. And life’s too short to have a boring house! So be bold, use colors you love, and do what resonates with you. But if you’re looking to move soon, then you have to think like a future buyer. What would they see as a large project to update or change? Are the bold design elements easy and inexpensive to change? Are there enough classic design elements to help neutralize bold design choices? If you’re having a hard time answering those questions, then work with a decorator who can help you make worthwhile changes that have a solid return on investment. I’d be happy to help make your home feel like you - and hopefully the next homeowners, too.
