When you are renovating your vacation home it can be tempting to follow all of the latest design trends. While you may end up with a beautiful home, it might not be the most practical space to share with a lot of people. Here are some trends to avoid if you want to keep your home simple and functional.
1) Open shelving
Open shelving shows up in a lot of photos of designer kitchens lately. While it looks nice in pictures, an article from Good Housekeeping points out that it is not a very efficient use of space. Rather than looking neat and tidy, renters are likely to stack up all kinds of this and that on the shelves and soon you will have a cluttered mess. The cluttered mess will collect dust if the items aren’t used regularly. Instead of open shelving, have nice, practical cabinets that conceal all of your necessary cooking items. Light cabinets keep everything feeling open and airy without having open shelves.
2) Whites
Many interiors include white carpet or furniture. While this creates a clean and bright look, it maynot last in a vacation home. If a vacation home experiences a lot of traffic, your whites will beginto look dingy from use. Instead, choose off-white, neutral colors. Beiges, tans, and browns will look fresh without looking dated and hide the wear and tear that comes with time.
3) Tiled Backsplash
Tiled backsplashes are very popular in kitchens. The patterns and colors add visual interest to the kitchen. However, tiled backsplashes can be very challenging to clean. Grout is always difficult to keep looking fresh and new, and backsplashes are prone to catching grease and other splatters. Choose an easy to clean paint instead. You can add a pop of color.
4) Artisan Fixtures
An article from the Huffington Post suggests that artisan or vintage lighting are popular this year. Unusual or statement lighting can date your home quickly. If you intend for the lighting to be timeless, choose classic fixtures. You also want to choose fixtures that won’t show off dust or collect dirt.
5) Florals
Bright florals are expected to be big according to the Washington Post. While bright patterns canbe fun and exciting, they are not likely to add to a relaxing vacation feel. They are also likely to loose their appeal quickly. Neutral wall colors will be more relaxing to the senses and are a timeless option. Design GoalsUltimately, your design goals for your vacation home should be to make an inviting space that iseasy to care for. Think neutral colors, plenty of storage and hiding places, and easy to clean surfaces and furniture. When there are people coming in and out of your home things will show wear and tear, by choosing enduring designs that will mask dirt you will spend less time cleaning and replacing items.
