Eight Forgotten Items That Will Make Your Home Decor Look Outdated
People love to remodel and update their homes. There’s something exciting about updating rooms in your home, or even your entire home—new finishes, new designs, new features. With interest rates higher than before, even more people are choosing to renovate or remodel instead of buying a new home.
However, remodeling comes with a special challenge: design trends. After all, there was a time when sunken living rooms and avocado bathrooms were all the rage, but these days they’ll just make your home look dated, even if everything else is brand new. Timeless home decor never goes out of style, and keeping up with the latest trends can actually be quite easy , but it’s also easy to ruin the look of your home after a remodel, especially if you don’t pay attention to these easily overlooked details. . .
Paint colors
If you missed a new layer of pain during your renovation, you should take another look. If you jumped on the gray trend a few years ago and decided that the paint was still in good condition and therefore didn’t need an update, you’ve doomed all your efforts to look as old and damaged as that color . . To avoid this pitfall, you can either choose a timeless color that doesn’t chase trends, or make interior paint part of your overall remodeling plan and choose a bright color that will coordinate with the rest of the design .
Thermal covers for baseboards
If your home has baseboard heating, did you consider the coverings during your renovation or did you overlook them completely? The covers are easy to miss, but without updating they will drag the rest of your renovation down to an outdated level. Freshening them up can be as simple as painting them , but replacing them with attractive alternatives isn’t that big of a job since the bottom of the walls will match the rest of your remodel.
Handles and handles
You’ve torn down most of your home and replaced all the surfaces and fixtures, but have you replaced the doorknobs? If you’re still using the same old door handles, it’s worth considering whether they really fit with the rest of your home’s design. Replacing your door handles can make a big difference in the appearance of your home. Old, tarnished handles can make your home look dated; a new modern design could improve it.
Window coverings
Have you thought about window decoration recently? If your curtains, blinds or shades are in good working order and block the sun as well as they should, you may not have them. But window treatments can have a huge impact on how fresh and modern (or old and dated) your home looks. If you like vertical blinds, for example, and think they look good in your home, that’s fine, but at least think about window treatments.
Lamps
When we plan to remodel or renovate our home, we often make the mistake of simply not looking up. Light fixtures need to do more than just work; they should carry your design vision to the ceiling and complete the entire look, and light fixtures go out of style just like anything else. For example, if you’re still using those old flashlights that were there when you moved in, it won’t matter what else you do in the house; it will still look old and outdated.
Ceiling fans
Ceiling fans often fall into the uncanny valley of home fixtures that we consider merely functional, with no practical aesthetic value. While a ceiling fan should do its job of circulating air efficiently, an ugly old-school ceiling fan from last century will take your home’s design down several notches, no matter how thoughtfully you go about it. While a modern fandelier may not fit into your aesthetic, an old warhorse from 20 years ago won’t either, so it’s worth making sure you think carefully about your choice.
Thermostats
Thermostats are often overlooked because they are simply necessary and functional things. When looking for the best thermostat, the focus is usually on the features it offers, but if you still have the same thermostats hanging on the wall that have been there for years, it’s worth considering whether upgrading or trying to cover them will pay dividends in terms of preserving your home will look updated, modern and fresh.
If your home has a modern vibe, replacing your old thermostat with a smart one may be all you need, as the crisp appearance of a smart thermostat will give you an ultra-modern look. You can also purchase decorative covers to spruce up an ugly thermostat, or make it part of a wall design to blend in with the overall design of your home.
Socket and switch covers
Have you recently replaced covers on outlets and light switches? Did you change them during the renovation? If all you’ve done is take them off and put them back (or perhaps give them a fresh coat of paint to match the walls), you’re missing out on the small but measurable impact they can have on your overall design. You (and any guests you bring into your home) interact with these coverings constantly, so even if you don’t realize their aesthetic appeal (or lack thereof), you feel it.
For example, if your remodel features metal accents, choosing metal wall plates can tie everything together. If you’re more conservative, white wall plates will usually match your crown molding , creating a cohesive look. You can also purchase wallpaper wall panels , which can either blend in with your walls or stand out as mini works of art.