How To Incorporate Timeless Design In Your Home

Creating a custom, timeless aesthetic in your home will be something that pays of for years to come.

There are many ways to incorporate design elements in your home that have been proven to stand the test of time. Certain ideas never seem to go out of style. Crown molding, for example, is very difficult to do wrong. It will elevate the look of almost any room its placed in. Don’t believe me? Throw some crown molding in your laundry room and tell me you don’t feel slightly more regal folding your clothes.

I lean towards “timeless” style in almost every aspect of my life. I’ve never been one to hop on the latest trends in clothing, gadgets, or home decor. If it’s not broke don’t fix it, right?

Not to mention, as trends go….eventually this grand idea will be old news and then what? You have to keep up with the Jones’s and figure out the next big thing which leads to spending more time and money on the things you just changed. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not get caught up in that, thanks!

I’ve compiled a list of 10 elements to incorporate into your home if you’re trying to achieve a timeless aesthetic that feels both cozy and sophisticated.

Elements of Timeless Design and Home Décor

• Less is more – decluttered is ALWAYS the way to go. When in doubt, throw it out (or re-home it).
• Mixed textures – creates a sense of depth for your space
• Balance old and new – this will make all the difference!
• Neutral or subdued hues for larger furniture items – keep one or two statement pieces per room
• Wall trim – this will elevate a space every single time
• Gallery walls – make your space feel more custom and unique (done right)
• Painted Trim – for a “color drenched” look
• Clawfoot bathtubs – timeless, always
• Full length drapes or when appropriate, cafe curtains
• Hide your technology whenever possible!

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Declutter

Decluttering your home is first on the list for a reason. Keeping a sophisticated space is important in achieving a timeless design in your home. If you have random things (or toys!) scattered about in every single nook, cranny and corner of your home, you will never feel at ease in your space. Decluttering can make a huge impact on the feel of your space. I promise, you’ll feel so much lighter once you’ve tackled your problem areas!

Set aside 10-20 minutes each day this week to assess and sort through one area of your home. I would not start with an entire room – start with one drawer, cupboard, or linen closet.

If you need a little extra help in this area check out my post here: A Mom’s Guide to Decluttering

Add Texture

If you take a photo of the room that you’re working on, what items or areas stand out in the photo? If it feels like something is missing and you can’t quite put your finger on what that is; it’s probably what we in the design world refer to as texture.

Adding this design element will bring your room from drab and boring to cozy and “lived in”. It will keep your room from feeling too stale or dare I say it – sterile. The main items that will help add a bit of texture to your space are (of course) textiles! A good area rug can completely change the look an feel of a room. Throw pillows and curtains can also have a similar effect, if done correctly. (Keep scrolling for more on this!)

Other ways to add “texture” to your space without textiles would be to incorporate baskets, interesting furniture pieces (think carved wood), wallpaper, wall art, or plants. The list could go on. Textures add interest and detail to your space to make it truly feel like your own. Adding these elements will really level up your space and are a great way to add personality to the room.

Balance Old and New

Another amazing way to add a little character and personality to the room? Go antiquing! Or peruse Facebook Marketplace (an absolute goldmine, I assure you).

A good vintage couch or solid carved wood hutch will never go out of style. In fact, I’d recommend having an item of interest such as these in every room of the house!

When you mix old and new in a way that aligns with your design style, magical things can happen.

You’ll see examples of this in almost every room of our home and the vintage pieces are always the ones that are commented on first when we have guests over. Antiques are timeless design winners for your home (almost) every time!

Neutral Tones

Using neutral or similar tones as the backdrop of your home will help it feel like each room eases into the next. You want your home to feel cohesive and intentional. If you have an open floor plan I recommend this even more so! Using neutrals or subdued hues as a backdrop will make it easy for you to change things up over time as your style evolves, without feeling overwhelmed.

Now, that’s not to say that color doesn’t belong in your home if you want to achieve a timeless look. Quite the opposite actually! Color is what will make your home standout from every other home on the block. I like to add in colorful accessories such as throw pillows, curtains, or rugs. These things are all easily changed which makes them a somewhat safer option but still have a great affect.

However, as with any design decisions you make, you need to be very intentional with the colors you choose and how you will incorporate them. If your house is mostly white/beige then maybe add a pop of color in the kitchen with a soft green or classic blue cabinetry. Regan at The Blooming Nest painted her brand kitchen cabinets Pigeon by Farrow and Ball and it turned out so gorgeous!

Chris Loves Julia is another blogger duo who comes to mind when I think of mindful yet timeless ways others have incorporated color into their home designs. They’ve achieved many bold updates by keeping a similar subdued tone in each of the colors they choose and by creating a good balance of bold and neutrals. So much can be learned from Julia and her team!

Wall Trim

I’d add this design element to every room in the house if I could. Be it beadboard in the kitchen, window pane molding in the dining room or board and batten in the master suite, wall trim adds an element of sophistication that’s hard to achieve without it.

Bonus: This is a relatively inexpensive upgrade especially if you or someone you know is handy and can DIY. I’ve seen so many folks add wall trim to their homes themselves and DIY tutorials are a dime a dozen on Pinterest!

Gallery Walls

Such a classic addition to just about any room you want to add an extra layer of interest to. These are so fun to play with and there are so many ways to make this idea your own. You could cover an entire powder room with all of your antique and thrift store art finds for example. Or hide that bulky TV by adding beautiful art all around it to make it more cohesive (see below). Or perhaps your hallway could host a gallery of your family over the years for a more personal touch. Pinterest is chock full of ideas for this one as well!

Painted Trim

Many homes of yesteryear had rooms traditionally painted in all one color, including trim and ceilings! While painted trim has been making a bit of a comeback this decade and may be considered “trendy” by some; I still consider this to be a very traditional and classic design style. So long as you’re careful with choosing your color and tones, painted trim can give a very sophisticated look.

Clawfoot Bathtubs

These will simply never go out of style. Want to add a bit of charm to your bathroom? This is it. Throw in an antique dresser or dark wood vanity and you have yourself a perfectly classic bathroom that you likely wont have to touch for many many years. The clawfoot tub is the perfect example of a timeless design piece.

Full Length Curtains

There is hardly ever a reason to have your curtains stop at the bottom of the windowsill vs going all the way to the floor. On a typical window, anything other than floor length is simply unacceptable in the realm of curtains and draperies.

If full length isn’t in the budget at the moment then make due with what you have and save up for the appropriate length. Or choose a more budget friendly option from Amazon or Homegoods rather than designer window coverings. I fully believe that curtains are worth investing in as they make a huge impact on the space in which they are hung. However, I am also fully aware that window coverings can be incredibly pricey. Keep your budget and needs realistic and proceed accordingly.

As always, there is an exception to every rule and the exception here would be in the form of the lovely and classic cafe curtain. These are typically seen in bathrooms and kitchens where water is more likely to be a hazard to anything touching the floor and therefore – floor length curtains would not be the most practical option. Cafe curtains give a lovely casual elegance to a space and I highly recommend them in the appropriate setting.

Hidden Technology “Clutter”

Last but certainly not least on our list of timeless design changes for your home: y’all hide those cords!!

It’s a little difficult to have a timeless and sophisticated aesthetic in our homes these days, I’ll admit. While I won’t be telling you to get rid of your 65″ TV in the living room, those cords in a tangled mess on the floor or falling all over the place along the walls, need to be dealt with! It’s visually distracting and makes the room feel cluttered and unkempt, no matter how tidy or sparse the room actually is. Hide those cords asap!

Another piece of necessary technology to consider hiding is that old thermostat from 1998 that is a lovely discolored shade of yellowish beige. Update it if you can to something that looks a little more sleek and works better with the design of your home. I know it sounds a bit silly but it really will make a difference! This is the one we have in our home. I love both the convenience and the look of it in our house.

So, there you have it! My 10 tips to help you create a timeless sanctuary in your home. I hope you’ve found a few of these useful and easy to implement in your own home, where applicable. Is there anything you’d add to my list? Let me know, I’d love to hear from you!

Olivia