Timeless Design Trends To Elevate Your Home

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

How many times have you perused high-end design tips in a glossy lifestyle magazine or an esteemed architecture editorial, only to notice that those trends are passé in a matter of months?

Some styles have mere moments to shine before fading to obscurity; while other trends demonstrate a recursive pattern, returning cyclically across the years or decades. But there are also certain aesthetic sensibilities that, viewed holistically over time, have not only held their value but augmented it. And homeowners ought to take note, whether they plan to sell their property one day or hand it down to posterity.

So as designers identify top trends—as they did in Sotheby’s International Realty’s annual Luxury Outlook Report, where five professionals at their top of their field singled out visual styles they’re currently paying attention to—it’s prudent to remember not all of them are “trends” in the typical sense of the word. Yes, they might be in vogue, but chances are that they will remain so in the foreseeable future. 

Classic Furniture Trends for Inspired Interiors

Designers and their clients have turned towards more maximalism in their luxury interior ideas recently, but not because of a “more is better” mindset. It’s because the true trend is a growing desire among homeowners to imbue their spaces with art, furnishings, and finishes that incite invigoration, imagination, and sensory interest and stimulation.

And while the distinct personality infusing these spaces risks making their appeal subjective, it can also have universal charm when the right approach is employed. For instance, hardwoods are some of the most durable home materials, and furniture made from varieties such as mahogany, walnut, and oak can last for generations while also showcasing the unique, authentic craftsmanship that modern luxury properties have come to prize.

Marble and stone also keep well, and make gorgeous surfaces—in luxury flooring trends, timeless kitchen designs, and high-end bathroom ideas—that give texture, tone, color, and character to a space.

Along with this growing desire for distinctiveness is a demand for comfort. Interiors should invite calm even as they spark joy, and this extends from elegant lighting solutions to luxury home textiles and seating. Having plush and illuminated spaces to gather, talk, read, and relax have gained popularity among owners and creators of luxury properties.

Decor and Design That Endure for Decades

Paradoxically, sometimes the most timeless design trends are those that embody time itself; even when properties are brand new, many luxury architects and designers are embracing the old. Because by imbuing a sense of memory and antiquity into a space through reclaimed wood, stone, and textiles, there’s also a sense of longevity. Historic structures that are still standing were obviously built to aspirational standards.

We’ve seen how there are many ways to incorporate modern classic design through surfaces and materials—but is there such a thing as a timeless color scheme? While contemporary layouts may be tapping into maximalist trends, the neutral wall colors of classic minimalist design luxury—from creamy tints to sandy shades—remain as fashionable today as they were yesterday.

But more than just being neutral colors, these are natural colors. Soft greens, blues, and other organic hues make for mood-boosting palettes that align with luxury homeowner’s growing need for greater integration between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Features to Help Increase Your Home’s Value

The enthusiasm for indoor-outdoor living has given glass a special prominence in modern luxury properties. Clear views of grounds and gardens, along with strategic placement of windows and skylights for passive heating and cooling, are investment decor ideas that add value to any home. Top designers also note that as windows and skylights get more innovative in their placement, they’re also becoming more innovative in their manufacturing, with modern glass being optimized for greater durability, versatility, and sustainability.

Indeed, sustainable luxury design is sure to be top-of-mind for generations to come, with architects and decorators embedding it into homes as seamlessly as possible. Technologies such as rainwater and wastewater purification systems, photovoltaic and geothermal energy generation, and internal climate control solutions—including motorized blinds and shades—have come to define smart home luxury.

These elegant home decor features are thoughtful ways to increase value, while also improving both beauty and functionality. And the same can be said for timeless design trends in general; they differentiate properties with distinctive flourishes that enhance their originality, while being simultaneously simple and subtle enough to remain desirable in any era.

SOURCE: Sotheby’s