10 Home Trend Design You May Want to Avoid
There are home remodeling or upgrade projects that, no matter how much they appeal to your own tastes, never pay off at the time of resale. There are also outdated designs that scream “update me.” Here are some of the most popular “don’ts!”
Inconsistent Architecture
Having your home contain a hodgepodge of architectural styles can be off-putting to a potential home buyer. For a ranch-style home, columns on the front porch can be as jarring as a log-cabin-styled home with art deco accents. Each architectural style has its own inherent beauty, so be sure to emphasize these features. Mixing clashing styles is like eating pickles on ice cream!
Gaudy Gold Fixtures and Hardware
Metallic finishes can give your home warmth and sophistication when used tastefully, but if you have brassy gold fixtures and hardware, consider removing them. Gold carries a needlessly flashy and gaudy look that may appeal to nouveau riche buyers, but most home buyers find it as outdated as the ‘80s. Instead, opt to replace these fixtures with warmer metals, such as polished brass or brushed nickel.
Carpeted Bathrooms
Having your home contain a carpeted bathroom is a NO-NO. Yes, you will find this being a “trend” at the end of the last millenium, but no more. Do yourself a great favor and take out the carpet from the bathrooms and also be careful of what else you may find that also has to go. This job is best to be taken care of by a professional. You will be more than happy with that decision.
Faux “Old World” Design
By decorating or emphasizing a European style (for example, the region of Tuscany has a distinctive and popular style), homeowners may hope to capture the elegance of the area. But bear in mind that unless you’re sourcing the materials (and a vineyard to boot), there will always be something inauthentic about channeling Europe in another region of the world.
White Appliances
If your appliances are white, it’s time to upgrade. White may have been at one time a color of choice to emphasize a spotless home (everything shows up on white!), but that is precisely the problem. Home buyers will subconsciously feel the toil associated with wiping every surface down, or see lingering stains that will never come out. In addition, plastic materials fade over time, turning into a non-uniform yellow. Instead, choose black appliances or stainless steel.
Converted Spaces
It is a modern notion to have our spaces fit our personalities, lifestyles, quirks, and interests. That works just fine when you’re living in a home, but you may want to consider the usage of each space you’ve repurposed when it comes time to sell. Converting a garage for a purpose other than storage and parking may be fine for your needs, but home buyers may just want a garage for what it is: a garage. If you’ve converted your garage into a place to run your small business, an exercise room, or a music practice room, be sure to bring it back to its original garage-only state to appeal to the largest number of home buyers. This is especially true for homes in cities that have limited parking. Similarly, a bedroom converted into a small office or storage space can be off-putting. This puts your intended purpose of the room into the mind of a home buyer, and that’s not your goal when you sell your home.
Too Much Landscaping
There has been a trend in recent years of introducing the “outdoor living room” to holistically connect nature with the home. Trimmed bushes in ornate shapes, carpet-like moss walkways, elaborate gardens, and ponds are all visually appealing, but there’s a catch. A property requiring constant maintenance may intimidate potential home buyers. This also includes the recent trend of urban farming. While you may enjoy fresh eggs, honey, and cheese daily, others may be put off by the daily upkeep animals require and the implications about your home’s cleanliness, so it’s best to leave no signs that your home was once a farm.
Taxidermy
Animal heads on display will not appeal to every home buyer, so it’s best to remove that moose head when you’re thinking of selling. That said, it may not be a hindrance to a sale in certain regions of the U.S., where hunting is popular. On the same note, similar items, like a bull’s skull strategically placed over a mantelpiece or in a garden, will only be appealing to certain types of homebuyers. Remember that your goal is to make your home a blank slate so a prospective home buyer can envision living in the house.
Cheap Wood Paneling
Wood-paneled homes are beautiful. If you have stunning wooden wainscoting throughout your home, leave it alone. However, if the walls of your house contain cheap wood paneling meant for a church basement bingo game, remove it immediately. Lower-quality wood paneling instantly dates your home and screams “cheap.”. Worse, it may imply that the paneling was put up to cover up larger problems, like a lack of insulation or unfinished walls.
Linoleum Flooring
No one likes walking across sticky linoleum in bare feet. Simply put, get rid of linoleum flooring. At one time, it was a popular option, especially in the case of patterned linoleum that could mimic wood or tile flooring. Nowadays, linoleum is almost synonymous with inexpensive apartments and a careless sense of decoration. Instead, opt for flooring materials like hardwood that are not only comfortable, but also visually appealing.