How to Tell If a Home Trend Is Timeless or Fleeting

Ever since Chip and Joanna became household names, it felt for years like the modern farmhouse was the new modern. This trend wouldn’t go away. Modern farmhouse-style homes started popping up in communities located hundreds of miles from farms and you couldn’t leave Target without encountering shelves upon shelves of rustic decor. But today, many people stare at their shiplap walls with a sense of regret.

It feels as if trend cycles are faster than ever these days (thanks, TikTok). So, how do you find furniture and decor that you’ll love for the long haul? We consulted experts for tips on how to tell if a home trend is timeless or fleeting.

Does the Trend Have Historical Roots?

Lauren Lerner, interior designer, CEO and founder of Living with Lolo, tells me timeless trends usually have historical roots. “Examples include classical architecture, mid-century modern design, and traditional features like hardwood flooring,” she says. “These trends are versatile with clean lines, neutral colors, and quality materials.”

Laura Tribbett of Outline Interiors shares a similar sentiment, explaining, “A timeless trend to me is something consistent you see in multiple applications across a variety of time periods,” she says. “It might be a material, a finish, or a form that is reinterpreted over time but has nods to an earlier era.” For example, Tribbett says she recently visited Versailles and particularly took note of the stonework in the floors, the window jambs, and the baseboards throughout the palace. “This palace was built in the 1600s, but I can see current stone fireplaces, for example, that are very reminiscent of this earlier design,” she says.

So, if you’re considering integrating a trend into your home, ask yourself if you’ve seen it before. If something is suddenly popular out of nowhere—and it feels very specific to this current time—it is probably a fleeting trend.

Is the Trend Functional?

If there’s an element of function to the trend—such as open kitchen designs—it’s unlikely to be a flash in the pan. Trendy colors also tend to lack function (think Millennial Pink), while neutral hues, such as earth tones can be very functional, explains interior designer Francesca Grace. “Unlike trendy color palettes that come and go, earth tones offer a sense of warmth, tranquility, and connection to the natural world that transcends fleeting fads,” she says. “These colors create a harmonious backdrop for any space and can be easily paired with other hues to create cohesive and inviting environments. Earth tones complement a wide range of design styles, from rustic and traditional to modern and minimalist.”

If there’s no real reason for the trend to exist beyond aesthetics, it could be a fleeting trend.

Is the Trend Everywhere?

If you start to see a home trend everywhere—beyond just decor and furniture—Tribbett tells me that’s a sign that trend isn’t here for the long haul. “The checkerboard tile pattern was having a big resurgence in the interior world, but it has also filtered into patterns on water bottles, clothing, and phone cases,” she says. “When you see an oversaturation of a particular trend in the interiors world, as well as the fashion world and tech or personal accessories, it’s probably fleeting.”

This doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate that trend into your home, but you’re probably better off going with smaller accents that are easier to swap out, like a pillow or a picture frame vs. a piece of furniture.

Could a Timeless Trend Also Be Fleeting?

One of the most popular design trends in recent years is wallpaper. Molly Borman Heymont, founder of Housewife Essentials, a brand that makes very timeless wallpaper inspired by vintage Chanel fabric, says, “Back in the day, wallpaper on the ceiling was super trendy, now it’s mainstream. The magazines will tell you wallpaper is in again, but if you ask the installers, the ones actually hanging the paper, they’ll say it never left. I’m even getting requests for the wallpaper border trend again!”

So, here lies the problem: While wallpaper itself is timeless, you could end up choosing a pattern that might look dated in a few years—or worse, a few months. But does it really matter anyway?

“If you have strong intuition and something feels really good to you, and is playing nicely with the rest of your space—then lean into it,” Tribbett says. “A lot of this is very subjective.”

But if you’re considering something that’s expensive and challenging to replace, like paint, traditional wallpaper, or a large piece of furniture, Borman tells me, you better be in love. “When it comes to incorporating a trend, make sure that trend is really you, because if it’s not, you’ll be itching for a remodel in six months,” she says.