30 Timeless Interior Design Ideas for Decor That Never Goes Out of Style
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!
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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
- House Architecture
- Decor That Never Goes Out of Style
What Are Timeless Materials for Interior Design?
The main consideration for most home owners who are building or renovating is what type of materials to include to create a timeless home.
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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 material can be used on floors, countertops, backsplashes, furniture, as architectural elements, or in decor.
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What Architectural Style is Timeless?
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.
- Wall moldings to fit your personal style. Examples and tutorials:
- 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
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What Type of Decor 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. Here is a list of items that you should strategically select for timeless decor.
- 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
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What is the Difference Between Timeless and Trendy Design?
Next, let’s talk about some overarching themes that will help you choose timeless interior design with the below three areas in mind:
- Timeless Materials
- House Architecture
- Decor That Never Goes Out of Style
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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
- White (or light and neutral) walls
- Mixing design styles for added interest
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
Thanks for stopping by the blog today! Make sure to subscribe to get my Grace Notes directly to your inbox and to access all my insider perks. You can also follow along daily on Instagram and weekly on YouTube!
~Sarah
More Home Decor Ideas
Nails it pretty well. I think you should specify what you mean by “neutral”, however. Dark colors can be as neutral as light colors. Neutral actually simply means a shade or tone that one doesn’t read as a specific primary color, i.e. red, yellow or blue or a combination thereof. Think grey, greige, taupe, etc.–which typically have undertones of another color (green, lavender, blue, yellow, red) but are more muted and less distinctly those colors. My walls and cabinets and trim share various shades of grey or greige but in fact some of them appear to be sage and light green while others cast brown or, in northern light, blue. Color is complex and when you say “neutral” it can cover a lot of choices.
Wow, what a fantastic blog post! I absolutely loved your blog. It’s filled with so many great ideas and easy-to-follow tips. You really have a talent for making interior design feel approachable and fun. Keep up the great work! Can’t wait to read more from you.
The decoration is lovely and amazing.