Always In Style: 7 Timeless Home Design Ideas

As a design-build firm serving Bend for the past 20 years, we’ve seen more than a few home design styles come and go. We’ve also seen the reverse: the home designs that are perpetually in style. Whether you are looking for timeless home design for a new custom home build or you're going through a home remodel, these are our top seven timeless home design ideas you can use to create a space that remains in style year after year.

Benefits Of Timeless Home Design

Often, when remodeling or designing a new custom home, it’s easy to find a trending design idea, like secondary kitchens or accent ceilings, and add these into your home plan. However, if you want to create a space with an enduring style, timeless home designs are the way to go. When you add timeless elements, you can ensure your space is always in style, no matter what the future holds. Timeless home design means a renovation project that lasts longer and can maximize your resale value when it’s time to move on. 

Top Timeless Home Design Ideas

These are seven of our top picks for timeless home design ideas that will elevate your home’s style now and into the future, no matter what other home design trends may pop up. Many of these elements are built into your home, leaving you space to play with interior furnishings, decorative elements, and other easily changeable items that you can use to refresh your home’s style whenever you’d like, while leaving its timeless nature intact.

Timeless Home Design Idea Number 1: Neutral Color Palettes

Color trends are always changing. One year, bright, bold colors might be in, and the next, it’s rich blues and greens that take center stage. This is true for both home interiors and exteriors. What’s also true is that neutral colors: white, ivory, black, grey, beige, are always in style.

To create a timeless style in your home, you can incorporate neutral colors across all elements of your home: ceilings, floors, walls, doors, showers, furniture, and cabinets. Or, when you want more flexibility with the colors in your space, consider using neutrals for home design elements that require more than just a fresh coat of paint to update. This can include bathroom tile, countertops, and flooring.

A neutral color palette in your home doesn’t mean you need to compromise on color or creativity. You can incorporate your personality and tastes with statement walls, colorful furnishings, and decorative elements to build a home that is timeless and still in your unique style.

Timeless Home Design Idea Number 2: Natural Materials

Nature is always in style, particularly in an area known for amazing outdoor access like Bend. Choosing natural materials in your home, like stone, wood, tile, and marble, is a great way to create a space with lasting appeal.

Not every visible surface needs to be a natural material, but incorporating natural materials throughout your home, like a stone shower, hardwood flooring, marble countertops, or exposed wood beams, can have a huge impact on the durability of the style of your newly designed or redesigned space.

You can also consider using natural materials that are locally sourced or native to your area for a more timeless and sustainable style that seamlessly blends with the natural landscape in your area.

Timeless Home Design Idea Number 3: Fireplaces

A fireplace is one of the most enduring home design elements. It doesn’t matter if it’s a gas fireplace or a wood-burning fireplace; a fireplace is always welcome. A fireplace signals warmth and comfort and is particularly welcoming in colder climates like we have here in Central Oregon. 

The fireplace is a great place to express your individuality.  You can use it to add texture, creativity, and natural materials into your home. Whether it’s a unique fireplace mantle design or a floor-to-ceiling wood paneled fireplace, like the one we built in this luxury custom home in Awbrey Butte, a fireplace can incorporate creativity and add interest while remaining perpetually in style.

Timeless Home Design Idea Number 4: Natural Light

Lighting is one of the most important elements to consider when building a custom home. Brightening up an existing space is a common theme when we work on remodeling projects. Luckily, natural light is one of the best ways to ensure adequate lighting, and it’s a timeless home design that we recommend everyone incorporate into their home. 

Introducing more natural light can make a small space feel bigger and a large space feel even more opulent. Another benefit of natural light in our area is that there are often great mountain views that can be incorporated when we update windows to bring in more natural light. Also beneficial is that in Central Oregon, you’ll be able to take advantage of the nearly 300 days of sunshine we have each year when you bring in more natural light.

There are many ways to introduce more natural light, such as the addition of floor-to-ceiling windows, skylights, or a smaller privacy window in a previously windowless bathroom. Window design and style also play a large role in the overall appearance and design aesthetics of your home. No matter what window style you are using, more natural light is a timeless home design style you can’t go wrong with.

Timeless Home Design Idea Number 5: Functional Floor Plans

A functional home is the most timeless home style. Homes that have awkward spaces, unused corners, or don’t fit the needs of the occupants are one of the most common reasons for a remodel. Taking the time to design a home that maximizes the home’s space and functionality is a sure way to ensure an enduring home style.

Functional items that are important to consider and incorporate are energy efficiency, storage space, and durability of the materials. Also, consider how someone uses each area of the home and the flow of your floor plan from one room to another. Consider adding a kitchen pantry or bathroom closets for additional storage space. Avoid strange wall angles and tight walkways to ensure full usability, and consider more minor everyday elements like the placement of electrical outlets.

The best thing you can do to promote the timelessness of your home design is to make sure it is a functional space before anything else.

Timeless Home Design Idea Number 6: Molding

Modern style crown molding

Traditional molding adds interest and texture in any space, making it one of the most timeless home design elements. Whether you prefer a modern aesthetic, a traditional look, or something more eclectic, you can’t go wrong with molding in your home.

This architectural detail has been in style for decades. It can be a simple crown molding or something more luxurious, like picture frame wall molding. No matter what type of molding you incorporate, your space will feel more elegant, elevated, and timeless. 

Timeless Home Design Idea Number 7: Built-Ins

When it comes to storage, a home can never have enough. Built-in cabinets and shelving are an easy way to add additional storage without compromising on usable space, and that is always in style. In addition, built-ins can make a room feel bigger and more open than traditional furniture. 

There are so many ways to incorporate built-ins throughout a home. Many choose to add shelving to bookend a fireplace or an entertainment space. A home office is another great place to add built-ins, as is a bathroom, particularly a smaller bathroom, or a mudroom. Recessed shelving, in particular, goes a long way in adding storage and space without needing to increase the square footage of your home. For more, see these recessed shelving ideas and the beautiful built-in shelves we added during this home remodel in Awbrey Butte.

No matter the room it’s in, built-in shelving is a timeless home design element anyone would appreciate.

If you’re looking for a custom home builder or a remodel contractor in Bend or Central Oregon to help you build and design a home with timeless appeal, we’d love to talk with you. Contact us today for a free consultation.