Classic vs trendy – what’s the difference?

The term classic and trendy get used a lot … what do they mean in the world of design?

As a designer, I get asked a lot of questions about how to choose finishes, furnishings, and just about anything home. There are SO many options out there, how do you choose? I will give you my opinion … it’s just my opinion. Other designers may or may not agree … this is definitely a personal preference.

What is classic?

My design style is classic. What is classic? Something that will stand the test of time: Merriam-Webster says “traditional, enduring”. If you design something (anything really), will you like it in 10 years? 20 years? If you can answer yes, most likely it is classic. Some examples would be subway tile, neutral paint colors, natural materials.

My husband and I would consider ourselves frugal, in some ways. When it comes to design, I really don’t want to replace flooring, or tile work, or expensive counters, or remodel a room within years of creating them. Remodeling is expensive! Raise your hand if you have remodeled a kitchen or bathroom and spent way more than you thought it would cost! So, one way to avoid expensive remodels is to make wise design decisions that will last for many years. There are lots of ways to incorporate trendy ideas that are inexpensive to replace when you get tired of them.

what is trendy?

What is trendy? Whatever is stylish in the moment – Google says “of, in, or pertaining to the latest trend or style”. Patterned tiles, “the color of the year”, a finish that “everyone is using”. Usually trends will end and another begins, leaving you wondering why you made those choices. Trends tend to go out of style after they have their period of trendiness. Every year you can google “design trends of 20??” and they will be different each year.

how to design with this in mind

I like to design with this concept – expensive, permanent finishes should be classic design, and inexpensive, non permanent finishes can be trendy. For instance, here are examples of finishes I would choose that are classic:

classic examples:

1. Tiles – backsplash, floor tiles, tub/shower tiles – choose neutral colors in shapes that are classic (linear, round). Tiles can be expensive and hiring a tile installer is even more expensive. Retiling projects are messy and costly. Laying tiles in a brick pattern is the most classic, but using classic tiles in a more modern way can give an updated look without being trendy.
2. Flooring – keep your flooring looking neutral. Floors are a backdrop to everything else and a very important design element. Also, this is a huge investment and very difficult to change, so make the right decision. Classic wood flooring would be wood tones that you would find naturally. Carpet should be neutral and consistent throughout your house. Solid color carpets are more classic than patterned.
3. Counters – whether it’s kitchen, bathroom, laundry room or other counters, chose a material that you will love in 10 years. If you chose a material that is trendy, this is an expensive replacement. Examples would be marble, granite in neutral colors that is subtle, concrete, quartz that looks like natural stone, soapstone, or quartzite (which typically looks like marble but acts like granite).
4. Cabinets – another expensive fix if you choose trendy finishes. White is the most popular classic finish – have you ever seen a white kitchen that was out of date? If you did, it was the style of the cabinet, not the color. There are stained cabinets that can be classic (more medium toned wood with little grain), as well as painted black, gray or neutrals like navy blue. Stick with the neutrals.
5. Lighting/fixtures – brushed nickel or matte black would be the most classic finishes to lighting and plumbing.
6. Natural materials would be more classic than manmade – natural stone, woven materials, wood.
7. Large furniture pieces should be neutral, classic colors rather than statement colors.

trendy examples:

These would be considered the trendy version of the above classic examples:

1. Patterned tile of any kind. Concrete patterned tiles are hot right now, but there will come a day when they will not be. Colored tiles are trendy if they aren’t neutral colors (think pink, blue, green, and gold). The way you lay your tile could be considered trendy. Brick stack pattern is classic, but stacked tile or vertical tiles tend to be trendy.
2. Wood or laminate flooring that is gray or any color other than wood tones tends to be trendy. Carpeting with pattern or bold colors will go out of style.
3. Highly patterned granite and some quartz counters would be considered trendy. There are also many natural stones that are not neutral so be careful with those as you are stuck with a certain color pallet when you bring in color that way. Bold choices you tend to tire of, but neutrals are constant.
4. Cabinets that are painted colors other than neutrals may go out of style. If you were old enough to remember the 70’s, avocado green and harvest gold were very hot in that era. Wood tones that are specific to a certain era (think golden oak) will go out of style.
5. Gold finishes for lighting or plumbing fixtures are trendy and will go in and out of style. Remember when shiny brass was all the rage? And then everyone hated it.
6. Glass tiles, plastics, faux anything (paint treatments, plants).
7. Large furniture pieces that are trendy colors you will grow weary of. These are investment pieces that you want to last.

how do you marry the two?

Here are ways you can bring in trends without breaking the bank and you can easily switch out when the trend dies.

1. Wallpaper – it’s in, it’s out … now the peel and stick wallpaper makes it super easy to take down when you tire of it.
2. Color – bring in non neutral colors thru paint (easily changeable and inexpensive), smaller furniture pieces, throws, pillows, rugs, accessories.
3. If you like industrial (trend), you can bring in metal shelving, end tables, or coffee tables rather than having built in metal structures that tend to go out of style.
4. Use shiplap on one wall, or a fireplace chase, rather than a whole room.

So the next time you are trying to make design decisions, keep these things in mind. If you like trends and don’t mind renovating or changing things often, go for it! If you want to keep the same design for many years (while still changing out smaller, easier things), stick with classic design. The bottom line – design your home the way YOU want to feel whenever you enter a room. Do what you LOVE!