Do you like outdated decor?

[disykat]

I know we've talked about this before, but I guess I'm really in the "I like my old stuff, darn it!" mood. So, curious where other people stand.

I'm not a person who changes decor frequently. When I find what I like (often already outdated by the time I get around to inputting it) I tend to stick with it. I have no problem with furniture from different eras and think it adds personality. I did update some country oak by painting and staining during the pandemic, but even that trend is now outdated. We updated both bathrooms. I still have oak kitchen cabinets, but updated around them with new hardware, fixtures, etc. I even find myself resisting moving knick knacks - I like them where I put them initially so sometimes things stay the same for a long time! (Even things like Christmas decor evolve VERY slowly since I enjoy bringing out the same things each year, but I do see a big difference if I compare to 20 years ago.)

I've been debating window treatments and going back and forth on whether it's worth it to remove some valances. I actually still like the valances where they are, but admittedly wouldn't put them up if I were decorating right now.

Pros to keep... I actually still like them, I made most of them myself - specifically so they wouldn't be too fussy, I have fond memories of them, they add color, and mostly - I don't want to have to repaint when I take down the rods!

Pros to remove.... updated look, getting out of my rut, not turning into my mother.

I don't want to be my mother, because her house we're about to put on the market in really sad shape because she flat out neglected updates (for example, they had to put in a new shower for repair about 20 years ago, but left the cabinets and formica from the 60's because they were perfectly functional - it is NOT a cute eclectic look, it's bad) , but I also don't see the need to update just because things have been there a while if I actually still like them.

ARRRGH. The struggle is real. I've probably been thinking about these window treatments for a year. We're systematically going through the house and doing updates and repairs since we're nearing retirement and we've made it through everything else. The stuff I'm seeing on the market doesn't really look different than what I have now to me when I look at pictures.

Any thoughts or wisdom to share?

 

[PollyannaMom]

Any thoughts or wisdom to share?

Not really. I feel the same as you. - Why would I change it if I like it?

 

[RogueX]

I don't follow trends, I stick by what I like. I honestly don't even know what someone would refer to the style of my decor as....pop culture centric with a hint of adulting, perhaps.

 

[Disneylover99]

I hate outdated decor, but my house is full of it, so I’ve made my peace. Lol.

 

[luvnwdwgal]

Decor is whatever you like.

 

[Christine]

I've been in my house 26 years and have changed the color scheme 3 times. I renovated my bathrooms once (2 years ago) and did a partial on my kitchen which was simple going from Formica to granite, adding a tile backsplash, and painting my oak cabinets white. I like change but I don't like it every other year (nor do I have the money to do that all the time).

I don't like "clutter" which to me includes too many draperies, pillows, knick knacks, etc. I did go through a time of having all that and I get tired of it very easily. I don't change out my stuff nearly as much as people I know, but I also don't want to get stuck in a rut with things but that's because it brings me down. If it didn't, I probably wouldn't change a thing either.

 

[dvcgirl67]

It took us awhile, but after moving into our home in 2007 and paining the interior and putting up curtains, decor...some area rugs on our hardwood floors...etc, in 2019 we completely redecorated the interior. New cooler colors, ditched the curtains for clean lines with bright faux wooden shades. The rugs went while ago, so that was good. We brighten up the kitchen with newly bright white painted cabinets. They were already white, this was just a touch brighter. That's the one place that we didn't go with new trends...I see lots of cabinets painted many different colors now and we just wanted to stick with a brighter white. Changed out all plumbing and light fixtures. It really feels great....just cleaner and bright. But ultimately, you have to go with what makes you happy. Good luck with your choices!

 

[NAB]

I don’t like change either. Moved into this house and my living room is the same. The kids rooms have changed over time but I only changed our bedroom last summer. Been in the house 25 years.

Made small changes , got rid of all my gold light fixtures now that is back…lol

My kitchen used to be very country and changed that but keep wanting to go back to things in the store that are country.

Keep our furniture until it is broken not because we are bored with it.

 

[dvcgirl67]

Made small changes , got rid of all my gold light fixtures now that is back…lol

Ha...that's true. I started seeing gold fixtures back in kitchens a few years back. I told my husband this is Big Kitchen....an invisible consortium out there that changes every ten years so we'll continue to spend money. But...while I don't mind the gold fixtures and hardware in the kitchens I see....I still wouldn't love it for my house. I'll get into the gold about 3 years before the trend is about to end...lol.

 

[bcla]

I remember one of the first episodes of Frasier where they're in his apartment his dad is moving in and brings in his favorite chair. Frasier complains that it doesn't match, at which point his dad remarks about how nothing matches anyways. Frasier goes onto an extended explanation of what kind of reproductions of famous furniture he's got and comments that the style that has different types is supposed to be "eclectic". The dad says his chair should be fine because it's "eclectic".

I don't mind old stuff that's mix and match as long as it still works. We've got a culture that often engages in materialism just for the sake of materialism.

 

[Praying Colonel]

We bought a house in 2009 and it had a Tuscan color scheme inside. We loved it and never changed it.

When we sold it earlier this year we had a certain amount of $ for getting it ready to show and paint wasn't as high a priority. We got a great offer and at closing our realtor asked them the first thing they were going to do to the house. They both said at the same time, "Paint it."

Thank goodness they could see past the outdated paint. But if we'd stayed there, we probably never would've changed it.

 

[MillauFr]

I like Stickley Furniture from the Arts and Crafts period. Sure it is 100+ years old but I don't believe the works from Gustav Stickley and the Greene brothers ever go out of style.

 

[disykat]

We now have a pretty even distribution of brass, nickel, and black fixtures throughout the house at this point. I had no interest in adding the new gold! We actually spray painted a lot of the brass black - on the fireplace insert, light fixtures, etc.

 

[kanerf]

I have an Art Deco bathroom probably put in in the 30's. I am sure it was outdated in the 50's and 60's, but now it is retro cool. It was in the house when I bought it 15 years ago and I have kept it. Basically there is a pink toilet, sink and tub with tile in various shades of blue. The tub is really cool, it is square with a large platform on one corner and a fairly normal tub in the middle, running at an angle.

 

[MillauFr]

I have an Art Deco bathroom probably put in in the 30's. I am sure it was outdated in the 50's and 60's, but now it is retro cool. It was in the house when I bought it 15 years ago and I have kept it. Basically there is a pink toilet, sink and tub with tile in various shades of blue. The tub is really cool, it is square with a large platform on one corner and a fairly normal tub in the middle, running at an angle.

Art Deco is another timeless style that will always hold its charm...

 

[neverlandsky]

What's old will always be new again. Outdated is a negative term used by those who want you to spend money to stay on trend because it makes them money. Strike outdated from your vocab and add eclectic, retro, vintage, and timeless. Your home is your heart. It's where you shine and it's your comfort zone.

If you're truly looking for a change and you're unsure, maybe temporary box a few things up. Then you can try to live without those items/decor and see how you feel about it. If you don't miss it, then you can change it. If you do miss it, you can always put it back.

 

[barkley]

i like what i like not what's nesc. trendy. for example-i detest white cabinetry. i think it's because it reminds me of cheap bookcases so no matter how popular they are they will never be in my home.

 

[disykat]

White cabinetry reminds me of the kitchen I did in the 90's. I liked it then, but it seems like going backwards to me.

 

[indimom]

I change things: wall color primarily. I've painted just about every room in the house several times over the years.
DS's room went from Spiderman to Colts to Grey (still with some football/Colts thrown in, lol)
DD's room went from Disney Princesses to Fairies to a very pale peachy/pink.
Our room was a darker blue. I still like blue, but I did lighten the walls to a pale grey, and just kept the blue accents (pillows, etc).
I will change up the bathroom towels or curtains or bed linens every few years to make a room feel different.
Living room went from a light green to a cream/beige. My kitchen had two different shades of yellow for nearly 18 years. Now it's a cream white.
I've progressed to the more neutral walls and have slowly added that to every room downstairs.
But, it's because I like change and adding seasonal colors/decor... and the neutral walls let me have fun with that without feeling like things clash. lol

 

[Mysterian]

I've seen 50's and 60's décor done consistently, with people hardcore going for that vintage look. But the 70's? I remember so many ugly wallpaper and tile patterns. So much garishness, but I still get a nostalgia fix from it. Even from looking at old Dixie cups, or those Sears catalogs someone posted here once.

That said I love vintage Beistle Halloween and Christmas décor. Some of which they've reissued because it's become popular. Anyone remember those ugly inflatable Easter bunnies from back in the day too? Classic!