Designers share tips to make your home timeless

When designing a home, the line between trendy and timeless can be thin — and costly.

Interior design trends come and go. TV shows and social media feeds can be flooded with the latest "must-have" couch and coolest kitchen accessories, but experts say chasing trends can lead to regret and waste.

Investing in timeless designs is best. However, this can look different from home to home and family to family.

"Trends come from culture. Economics shape them. Technology advances them. Every trend carries a timestamp because it answers a specific moment," said Veronica Sanders, principal interior designer of Design with Veronica Sanders, based in Dallas.

Trends are constantly changing. So, when it comes to creating something timeless, Sanders advises asking yourself if the design is both functional and durable.

"Timelessness asks a different question," she said. "Can this idea translate across years and across use? Can the materials age with grace? When the purpose of the design and the design itself hold, the style can evolve. That is when a trend becomes a language instead of a headline."

Something that's trendy risks going out of style and losing value.

"Many trends start in one city or from television shows and spread until everyone is doing the same thing," said Nikita Madhyani, founder and creative director of NM Design Studio, based in New York City. "But spaces that are built around what is popular rarely age well. A truly timeless home is one that reflects how you want to live, not what you saw online."

Madhyani said she wasn't a fan of the all-white style that had been trendy for the last 10 years.

"White on white everything. Without contrast or texture, it can feel flat and lifeless," she said.

A trend online might not translate the same into your home.

"I also never liked it when industrial details such as metal piping or barn doors were added into homes just because they were trending, not because they suited the architecture," Madhyani said.

Sanders said some DIY trends end up being more hassle than they are worth in the long run.

"Peel and stick panels are a common example. Adhesive loosens, edges curl, residue stains walls and the waste outlives the trend," Sanders said. "I advocate for curated pieces, artisan work and thoughtful sourcing. Invest in quality pieces."

Avoid advanced DIYs that require special tools, skill and training.

Pro tip: "I would not DIY structural or skilled work without training," Sanders said.

Like fast fashion, fast furniture has grown in the past 10 years, with companies offering cheaply made furniture at a low price. Fast furniture pieces often mimic high-end designs or current trends, but they don't hold up the same.

"It’s cheap, it breaks quickly, and it fills landfills. I have watched clients replace the same items again and again," Sanders said.

Just like real estate, furniture and interior design can be seen as an investment. Spending more on quality items might pay off in the long run.

"Real design is thoughtful. Before shopping, pause and ask what feeling you want to create," Madhyani said.

Impulse buying online is easy for people, but considering the space as a whole is important. Shopping in person can help homeowners better visualize and feel the function of the furniture.

Invest in items that you will use frequently and save on smaller purchases.

"I recommend splurging on furniture that gets the most use or provides you the most comfort, like a sofa or mattress," Sanders said. "If a showpiece is purely visual, I may approve an inexpensive accent, and only after the essentials are secured. Beauty should last and live well."

You don't have to buy luxury items to have quality and stylish pieces.

Pro tip: "I often find treasures on Facebook Marketplace, in Paris flea markets, or through online auctions," Madhyani said. "Those one-of-a-kind finds bring warmth and character to a space. The most beautiful homes are the ones that stand out because they feel personal, intentional and alive."

Sanders says she always evaluates the home's proportions, material quality, purpose and comfort of the space.

"I study how a family gathers, rests and works," she said. "I study wear and tear. I choose materials that improve with touch and time."

Homes are personal, so designing should be centered around the people who will be using the space.

"I focus on emotions first," Madhyani said. "Design should start with how you want to feel in a space. That naturally leads to choices that last. I love layering textures, playing with light and bringing in pieces that hold meaning, such as art from my travels, handmade objects, or fabrics that tell a story."

Pro tip: Madhyani said she never skips creating a mood board to design with intention.

"It is so important to know what you want your home to feel like before you start buying anything," she said. "I meet many people who walk into a furniture store without a clear idea, pick a few things they like and then realize nothing works together once they get home."

Homes can be artful, but the most important thing in design is how they serve the people who live in them.

"Home should restore the body, clarify the mind and calm the soul," Sanders said. "That is the standard I live with and the standard I bring to every client."