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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Does your house just look dated

112 replies

Wavymess · 04/05/2021 20:37

A few years after you moved in?

I’m just about to complete on a sale of a house that needs a full renovation. It’s my first time doing this and the whole house is going to be decorated all at once.

Styles come in and out, all grey is out in favour of all dark bold colours
And with regards to building and layouts an extension with an open plan kitchen/diner/lounge space and bifold doors is super popular right now, but will it be when I come to sell again

How do you stop your house being dated
Without having to just redo the entire house every 2 years?

OP posts:

AfternoonToffee · 04/05/2021 21:45

@SpringtimeSummertime

Dark green is back! As is dusky pink and sage! I shouldn’t have bothered decorating the house I bought in 2002 as every room would be on trend now. Just wait long enough and it’s right back in fashion!

Fantastic news, maybe my MIL's house is bang on the money now then. Full of hope for tomorrows valuation now.

Changingwiththetimes · 04/05/2021 21:48

The trend now I'd for separate living, combined kitchen diner and family room. Bifolds are out, crittal is in though probably has peaked.
Tile for kitchen splashback are so far out they are due to come back in.
Green is the colour du jour.
Do it up to your own taste and don't worry about resale. You can always change the paint colour and feel of the room with decorative accents. Structural changes no - so don't go knocking living and dining together, but kitchen dining - can't see that going out.

TableNiner · 04/05/2021 21:50

I think it’s about not following a scheme, so having a mismatch of stuff. That way the whole place can’t date in one go.

So you wouldn’t do a full tropical or geometric or millennial pink and dark green but you can include elements of each or whatever else you like.

Pinkcat200 · 04/05/2021 21:58

Well we've moved into a very old house with original features.
So we've decorated it to suite that.

We've reinstated a massive open fire place. Restored the floor to original wood, put down a massive fluffy gold rug and have a solid brass chandelier up in the dining room.

Its classical so the whole point is it is dated.

We have a brand new corner sofa and american fridge freezer etc.

But in terms of decor, it's timeless. A grey home is my stuff of nightmares.
The whole panelling trend will look dated in a few years time.

Another style that won't date is the bohemian style and shabby chic. Not my style but it's timeless.

Go with what you like.

MintLampShade · 04/05/2021 21:58

Most people would probably find it "old fashioned" as ours has different rooms for everything. Lounge, kitchen, diner, utility, no on suites. But DH and I are not a fan of open plan living (or on suites..) so it suits us perfectly. I'm sure there will be a few walls knocked out should we ever come to sell...For me, the actual datedness of the house lies in the quality and style of joinery & woodwork, doors, flooring...wall colours and fitting & fixtures also count a lot and easy to swap, update as and when needed and a lot less hassle than knocking & rebuilding walls. Kitchen & bathroom are larger projects but even that should last at least a good 10 years if not more...

Babygotblueyes · 04/05/2021 21:58

Keep the things you cant change a lot neutral - change up paint and accessories when you get bored.

SionnachGlic · 04/05/2021 21:59

If it is your family home, decorate it to your own style & taste, it doesn't matter if it's on trend or not. Mine is dated in that we've done almost nothing in 18 years except put in new kitchen about 10 years ago & new main bathroom (which was 1960s). We refresh wall paint every so often & like our furniture which is neutral & pretty much goes with anything so no need to change it. Curtains, rugs & cushions add the colour. We've put kids thro school & college fees during those years so not much left in the pot for unecessary renovating/revamping. I've friends who change big things to keep on trend which I think is frivilous if it is just for the sake of it...unless they actually dislike what they already have.. but it seems not from what I hear. Things that they like & cost a lot when new get sold on or given away to make space for new revamped rooms & all to keep up with the Joneses. Great for them & spend it if you have it, you can't take it with you...but our home is fine, suits us even if it is not on trend & I'd prefer to spend extra on a good holiday & have some rainy day money. We like our home...although it could do with bring cleaner & tidier!

MrDarcysMa · 04/05/2021 22:03

I would stay away from the big 'trends' and concentrate being sympathetic to the era of the house. Eg I live in a Victorian property and it has upvc windows with awful thick upvc frames around the front windows so I'm mid way through having that replaced with wooden architrave like would have been there.
Also this weird fad of shoehorning panelling into tiny new builds - you get my drift.

Original poster

Wavymess · 04/05/2021 22:30

@SpringtimeSummertime

I decorated my current house in these colours about 5 years ago, they weren’t in fashion, and every accessory was hard to find Now it’s in fashion and the decor looks very ‘on trend’ which I don’t like as it’s quite impersonal I feel. And then if I were to stay here another year or two the whole house would be completely dated.

OP posts:

Happymum12345 · 04/05/2021 22:41

I think the scandi look is quite timeless if done well.

BackforGood · 04/05/2021 22:46

The best way is to avoid the obvious trends and go for something more classic and throw a few trendy accessories in if you want. But really you should do what you like yourself , and do the house in a way for your own comfort.

This ^

Like anything to do with 'style' or 'fashion' the closer you follow what some overpaid stylist thinks the fashionesters will be wearing (or in this case decorating their house with), the sooner it will look 'dated'.

If you are talking about your home then decorate it as you like it.
If you are conscious of not wanting to waste money, then don't spend big money on things that are in fashion at the moment. So - grey walls (or whatever colour you say is in) are easily painted over when you change your mind but the much larger cost of bifolds or removing a wall, is NOT something to do for "a look". Do it (if you have the money) if it suits the way your family live, but don't do it because some magazine or some website tells you "it will look lovely".

Original poster

Wavymess · 04/05/2021 23:04

This will be a home for around 5 years, so I want it to be homey but I am conscious it’s not my forever home and I’ll be reselling it before I know it

OP posts:

PattyPan · 04/05/2021 23:10

Don’t do trends for things that are a hassle or expensive to change - avoid crittall, faux pannelling or high gloss kitchens. I’d avoid open plan too because it’s a noise nightmare and I’d avoid extending into the garden as people are remembering the value of outdoor space. But painting in a trendy colour isn’t too hard to change when the time comes to sell.

Figmentofimagination · 05/05/2021 00:01

I'm now watching an episode of house doctor on My5 when I should be asleep

Wingedharpy · 05/05/2021 01:18

I've been dark green for 35 years!
I knew we'd be trendy eventually - or should that be, on trend?

Pyewackect · 05/05/2021 01:46

My house is early Victorian with a lot of its original features intact. It took me quite a while, and a fair bit of money, to sort-out all the damage done by the “updating” from previous owners in the 60s and 70s. It now looks absolutely fantastic. All the servants bells work and I’ve managed to find reproductions of the original wall paper. There also a huge free standing bath that must have been too heavy to move. Fire places in each room , a butlers pantry , a laundry and a cast iron framed conservatory with stained glass panels and gaps with plain glass wartime repairs. I think a property gets to a certain age where it is no longer becomes dated, unless you watch too much TV and really fuck it up.

BeechTreeView · 05/05/2021 07:31

The all grey look surely has to be gone now. But there’s a lot to be said for making it how you like. Everything will date...but in 5 years not so much.

We put in a bathroom 2 weeks ago, big rectangular tiles in a beautiful deep blue.I love it. If we sold the house tomorrow people would probably like it. If we sell in 10 years time they’ll be saying...oh how ‘pandemic’.

BeechTreeView · 05/05/2021 07:33

Oh and don’t put a dark blue or dark green kitchen with bronze or brass handles in unless the room is v light and you love the colours....or you are a designer.

nancywhitehead · 05/05/2021 07:36

Go with something light, airy and classic/ neutral if you are worried about resale value.

Don't try to follow fashions or trends which change every 5 minutes.

Starstruck2021 · 05/05/2021 07:41

When I pick up on a trend, guaranteed it’s on its way out. (I’m stuck with grey and dark blue.)

readytosell · 05/05/2021 07:45

If it's your house, neutral never goes off.

If it's your home, do whatever you enjoy.

RaininSummer · 05/05/2021 07:50

I expect mine is 'dated ' as I have lived in it for 30 years but it's home and I paint things the colours I like regardless of trends.

justanotherneighinparadise · 05/05/2021 07:50

We found a lovely neutral paint that we loved and most of the house is painted in this colour. Then we’ve added things that we can update without much cost such as soft furnishings etc to keep things current.

SushiGo · 05/05/2021 07:52

There's no such thing as true neutral. We've just moved house, the first rooms to be redecorated are the magnolia ones and the grey ones! I don't like 'neutral' and never have. I still wanted the house.

Wait until you are almost ready to sell, cast a critical eye over your house, repaint the most out of date rooms and restyle the rest, it will be fine.

BeautifulandWilfulandDead · 05/05/2021 07:55

Honestly, I wouldn't pay any attention at all to what is in fashion. Just choose things you like. Pinterest is great for sourcing inspiration.

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