As homeowners look back at past design trends like bathroom chandeliers and dark grey grout with white tiles from the 2010s, many are seeking ways to create interior spaces that won't look dated in a few years. The desire for timeless design has become a major consideration for homeowners who want to avoid costly renovations and create lasting value in their properties.
Interior designer Karen Akers notes that the concept of timeless style comes up frequently in client conversations. "A lot of people find it overwhelming making decisions and they want to do it once – and once only – and then live with it forever," she explains. This sentiment reflects a growing awareness that while updating a wardrobe is relatively simple and inexpensive, changing a home's design requires significant time and financial investment.
Alexandra Donohoe Church, founder of Decus Interiors, emphasizes that interest in timeless design often stems from practical considerations. "It's all about longevity," she says. "It goes hand in hand with not over-capitalizing, in Sydney in particular, because a lot of people rely on their homes as their primary form of investment. They want it to be timeless so it will resonate with other people and they can maximize their investment when it comes time to sell."
From an aesthetic perspective, homeowners want to avoid making design choices they'll later regret. Donohoe Church compares it to looking back at teenage fashion choices: "From a design perspective, people are a bit nervous they are going to replicate that experience you have when you are a teenager and you've gone through your goth period. It's only looking back you can see how dated it looks. They want to be careful not to make a mistake aesthetically."
When it comes to creating timeless color schemes, neutral palettes remain popular, though definitions of "neutral" continue to evolve. Andrea Lucena Orr, a color expert at Dulux, points out that after spending about 15 years embracing "greige" – a cool combination of beige and gray – designers are now moving toward warmer neutral tones. "If you were planning a whole house 10 years ago you would have been looking in the cooler part of the spectrum," she notes. "Times do change."
Despite shifting trends, certain colors maintain their classic appeal. Dulux Natural White and Snowy Mountains Half remain the most popular choices among the brand's 125-plus white options. "People do want timeless design, so especially when they are doing a whole house, they tend to go for classic design in the white or neutral category," Lucena Orr explains. "These two whites go with the cooler whites and warmer whites. They sit in the center." However, she emphasizes that classic doesn't mean boring: "You still have to bring your personality out."
For those struggling to understand timeless design principles, interior designer Kate Nixon suggests looking to history for guidance. "When you look at history books or you visit old buildings in Europe where spaces are still intact, it's usually because they've used natural materials," she observes. "It is not something on trend or man-made materials. It's been around forever."
Natural materials like timber and stone form the foundation of timeless design because they age gracefully, developing an attractive patina over time rather than simply looking worn. Donohoe Church describes these materials as doing "the quiet heavy lifting" in interior spaces, allowing rooms to "quietly unfold" and providing an ideal foundation for classic aesthetics.
Creating timeless design doesn't mean sacrificing personality or visual interest. The key lies in establishing a solid foundation with classic materials and neutral colors, then adding character through carefully chosen details. Textured materials such as floor coverings, fabrics, and window treatments can create luxury and comfort even within a restrained color palette.
Donohoe Church explains that well-designed neutral spaces provide the perfect backdrop for dramatic elements. "I imagine you can't write a sentence full of punctuation marks, and it's the same with interiors," she says. "It's about how things are stitched together. If you try to stick random things together, it falls flat. If we go back to the basics, it's using quiet materials in a beautiful way."
Artwork and accessories offer an ideal way to refresh rooms while maintaining a timeless foundation. Nixon recommends focusing on easily changeable elements: "We will play with smaller details like paint, cushions and fabrics because they are much less expensive to change up easily than say, floors, and benchtops and tiles." This approach allows homeowners to update their spaces without major renovations.
However, design experts acknowledge that true timelessness may be impossible to guarantee. "Here's the thing," says Donohoe Church. "Trends change and transmute all the time. I could not look someone in the eye and say they will love their home in 15 years time. That's creating a false sense of security – and it's a bit of a dream." Ultimately, she suggests, a timeless interior remains in the eye of the beholder, and only time will reveal which design choices truly stand the test of time.
