Remodeling your home is an opportunity to infuse every design choice with a reflection of your personal style and vision. The appeal of creating a space that resonates with your tastes is undeniable. However, it’s equally important to consider how these choices fit into your long-term plans for the home.
Consider Your Longevity in the Home
For those who see their current address as a long-term or “forever” home, the invitation to experiment with bold, personal touches in design opens up a world of possibilities. Removing the immediate pressure of resale value allows homeowners to venture into distinct colors, unconventional layouts and unique materials. Whether it’s a cobalt blue kitchen island or an intricately patterned tile backsplash, turning your home into a reflection of your most imaginative dreams can be both liberating and rewarding.
Planning for an Earlier Resale
Conversely, if your stay is expected to be shorter – say, because you plan to sell your home in 2-3 years – adopting a strategy that enhances resale value might make more sense.
Neutral designs speak to a wider audience, making your home appealing to a broader range of potential buyers. While this might mean reining in some of your boldest design impulses, it doesn’t spell the end for creativity. The challenge becomes finding a way to inject personality into spaces without alienating future buyers, a task that requires both finesse and strategic thinking.
Personalizing Your Space: The Case for Flare
If you are determined to make a space uniquely yours and plan to enjoy it for many years to come, why hold back? Considering design trends cycle approximately every 15 to 25 years, there’s a good chance that any choice you make now—bold or otherwise—will be due for an update by the time you consider moving on.
Flare Items to Consider:
- Tile: With endless options in shapes, sizes and colors, tiles offer a fantastic way to inject personality into your space. Whether it’s a vibrant kitchen backsplash or a textured bathroom floor, these elements can make a space sing.
- Dark Flooring: There’s something undeniably dramatic about dark wood or tile floors. They ground a room and give it a substantial, elegant feel. While darker floors can show dust, they do a great job of hiding hair.
- Plumbing Fixtures: Today’s market offers everything from polished chrome to brushed gold, and each finish adds its distinct touch to a room. While polished finishes reflect classic beauty, brushed or matte finishes contribute a modern flair (but will drive up costs quickly).
- Cabinets and Vanities: The world of cabinetry offers a spectrum of color options. Colored cabinets can create a striking focal point but might limit future marketability or show wear quicker than wooden cabinets, such as the popular and timeless choice right now: White Oak Cabinets. On the other hand, bathroom vanities that mimic furniture pieces bring character but often come with a higher price tag.
- Appliances: While stainless steel remains a universal choice, exploring colors or built-in designs can craft a kitchen that stands apart.
Staying Neutral for Flexibility and Resale
If there’s a possibility of a move in your foreseeable future, neutral might be the way to go. Neutral designs don’t just safeguard your home’s marketability; they generally represent a more cost-effective approach to remodeling.
The Benefits of Going Neutral:
- Timelessness: Neutral designs have a staying power that transcends current trends. They provide a blank canvas that allows future homeowners to envision their own changes and provide you with the backdrop to add your own personalization with decor and furnishings.
- Versatility: A neutral palette offers versatility, allowing you to swap out accent pieces and change the feel of a room without having to completely redo the space.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Basic isn’t always bland. Sticking with standard options provided by manufacturers typically means lower costs and a broader appeal.
- Marketability: Neutral designs speak to a larger audience. When it’s time to sell, a tastefully neutral home can attract buyers more easily than one heavily customized.
Making the Choice That’s Right for You
Deciding between flare or neutral in your remodeling project boils down to a personal question: What are your intentions for your home? If you plan to stay in your home for 10 years or more, then embellishing it with your unique style might bring you the most joy. But if life’s unpredictable nature suggests a move might be on the horizon, then investing in timeless, neutral décor could pay off in the long run.
Remember, whether you choose flare or neutral, your home should reflect who you are and how you live. It’s not just about resale value or aesthetics; it’s about creating a space that feels right for you and your loved ones.
Are you ready to remodel your home? No matter how far along you are with exploring options, contact us and schedule a consultation. We’re happy to hear what you are looking for and share a bit about us, too, to see if we are a good fit. Tell us about your project.