Every now and then, I stumble across an article that makes me mutter, “Oh really?” out loud. The Spruce recently ran a piece titled “7 Stylish Decor Trends That Are Secretly Hurting Your Home’s Value.” Naturally, I had to click. Because if something is supposedly stylish but also hurts your resale value, it gets my spidey senses activated.
Some of their advice wasn’t completely off the mark. But other parts? They were simplistic, misleading, or just plain silly. (Spoiler Alert: Nobody ever lost a home sale because of a “smart thermostat.”)
So today I’m walking you through each of these seven so-called “bad” design choices.
I’ll tell you where I agree, where I don’t, and—most importantly—how to actually make these choices work beautifully in real life.
Now, I do realize that these statements in the article were made by design professionals– maybe. I’ve been misquoted before or had a statement taken out of context so that the meaning became something other than what my intent was. However, since this was endorsed by “The Spruce” magazine, and I got in trouble once for mentioning someone’s name, everything is attributed to The Spruce.
Please follow along by clicking on this link to read the article.
Design Choice 1: Color Drenching
The Spruce’s claim: Painting the walls, trim, and ceiling all the same bold color overwhelms buyers and makes resale harder.
Hmmm… Tell that to Laurel Bern! ;]
Okay. They are calling color drenching the internet’s hottest trend. Ummm… while it might appear that way, color drenching has been around for centuries.
Deerfield Academy from my day trip to Historic Deerfield in June 2020.
It just takes Americans a long time to catch onto something they’re not used to seeing. (Such as always painting a ceiling white and believing that’s how it has to be.)
As for overwhelming buyers, this makes me nuts. Buyers are human beings, right? You are also a human being, right? Are you overwhelmed by your design choice?
1. Do your family and friends walk and spontaneously, excitedly say– “I love” or “What color is that?”
Or
2. Do they give you the side eye and make a snide remark?
If it’s #2, you may want to consider changing it. But, if it’s #1, then it’s most likely an asset, not a liability.
However, if you’ve chosen a wonderful color and the room is beautifully decorated, then color drenching could very well be a selling point.
Please remember this:
Buyers want move-in ready. Every realtor I’ve ever spoken with has told me the same thing. So, the chances are good that you may need to repaint the room anyway. If the color is a bit too much, you can always tone it down. However, you only need ONE buyer; therefore, I wouldn’t stress that one too much.
One last thing about color drenching.
The super deep, dramatic colors are best suited to smaller spaces. Dark colors make a room look larger, not smaller. Light colors make the room look more airy and bright, but not larger. They are two different things. We covered that topic in this post about dark vs light wall colors. It is a matter of physics.
Design Choice 2: Fluted Everything
The Spruce’s claim: Fluted or reeded panels are trendy and risk looking out of place or cheap. Your take goes here.
Okay, they are only partially right here. There is a trend toward reeded panels in furniture. In small doses, like these wonderful vanities you can find on Etsy, I don’t have a problem with that. Reeding is a timeless design feature. As for fluting. I know that most people who followed my renovation realize that there is fluting in the following locations:
Door and window casings
Antique marble fireplace mantel
Anglo-Indian sconces
Alabaster Chandeliers
Kitchen and Entry semi-flush mount milk glass fixtures
End tables flanking the antique settee
I couldn’t find a very good close-up of the tables. The reeding is difficult to see, but it’s there.
It’s a bit difficult to see, but the chair leg above features stylized faux bamboo fluting.
And, at the bottom of the stairs, my Louis XVI-style Milling Road Chest, purchased circa 2000, with fluted legs and bottom railing.
I would’ve loved a reeded edge on my new Englishman’s dining table, but it would’ve jacked up the price a lot, and I didn’t feel it was worth it.
Reeding and fluting are classic motifs that have been around since ancient times. That crap they put on the wall is hideous and must be a design trend from a parallel universe.
Design Choice 3: Over-the-Top Smart Home Upgrades
The Spruce’s claim: Techy add-ons such as smart lights and app-controlled features quickly date and confuse buyers.
Well, they don’t have to use the smart apps. I can’t imagine a wife whispering to her husband, “Oh, Honey, they’ve installed smart appliances. Let’s not waste our time here.”
So no, your resale value isn’t in jeopardy because of a smart thermostat.
Design Choice 4: “Instagram Beige” Minimalism
Francisco Miralles SPANISH PAINTING ON THE BEACH – Sothebys.com – gray and beige decor 19th century art
The Spruce’s claim: Stark, beige-on-beige minimalism looks cold and uninviting in person, which turns off buyers.
Hey, don’t blame Instagram. Blame HGTV, or perhaps Instagram fashion influencers who are trying to capitalize on a “decorating vertical.” That’s fine. Of course it’s fine. haha
But, what might be a problem is that for some, their untrained eye might be leading people astray. As I’ve pointed out many times, beige and gray have suffered from a bad rap, not because of their inherent color, but because of the way they are used. Please enjoy one of my favorite posts about the classic use of gray in interiors.
I adore the gray and beige painting above!
Design Choice 5: Statement Tile
The Spruce’s claim: Bold tile choices date quickly and limit appeal; classic tile lasts. In most cases, they are probably right, and their example is perfectly awful. However, it depends on the style of your home and the location.
Take Lindsey Buckingham’s killer kitchen. I adore everything in this room, including the encaustic tile floor. In fact, I think it makes the space!
Lindsey Buckingham Kitchen encaustic cement tiles via Architectural Digest
Who remembers this post from 2018?
And this is a good post as well, featuring encaustic cement tiles.
Design Choice 6: Excessive Open Shelving
The Spruce’s claim: Too much open shelving in kitchens suggests clutter and impracticality.
Oh, I already know that the majority of you will agree with this one. And I don’t disagree. But how much is too much? I’ve seen kitchens where one or two open shelves make the room. In any case, if it’s already there, I would leave it and style it so that it reeks of charm and isn’t too cluttered. May I suggest a beautiful ironstone collection?
Design Choice 7: Accent Walls with Moulding
The Spruce’s claim: DIY trim panel accent walls often look cheap and feel like extra work for the next owner.
Okay, let’s back up a second here. Most long-time readers are aware that I’m not particularly fond of accent walls, as discussed in the current most popular post on the blog.
However, I had to look at what they meant by accent walls with moulding.
Some of the examples they linked to included more ugly reeding panels. I’ve never seen that before and don’t know why anyone would want that in their room. Some of the accent walls featured wall paneling or wainscoting. I don’t think they have a clear idea of what they mean, either.
Accent walls of any kind are good if they make architectural sense. In other words, they’re not there just for the sake of it, but because it’s an important design element.
So, do these design choices really hurt resale value?
My short answer: not inherently. Good design is never about the gimmick of the moment—it’s about all of the design elements together as a cohesive whole, not examining each element as a single unit.
A paneled wall can be atrocious if the mouldings are way out of scale or if the wainscoting is at a strange height. (Thank you, Brent Hull for setting the record straight.) Conversely, it can enhance the space so beautifully that the home will sell very quickly. Buyers get a beautiful move-in-ready home that requires little more than plunking down their furnishings. Open shelves can be cluttered dust collectors or a charming, practical detail. However, if you can’t stand them, then of course, you can do something else like put up some beautiful artwork.
My advice when it comes to making design choices?
Don’t panic every time a magazine warns you about the latest “deal-breaker.”
If you love something and it suits your home, I wouldn’t hesitate to do so. The buyers who appreciate your tasteful additions will appreciate it.
Now, tell me—what’s the worst “resale-killing trend” you’ve ever heard of? Or better yet, which of these do you actually love– or hate? Please share in the comments below—I can’t wait to hear your thoughts.
xo,
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16 Responses
Great blog post that stirs up the juices! I appreciate your thoughtful take and those of the readers. Nice to have actual realtors respond too. Unfortunately I think quite a few people find it difficult to look past features that are not mainstream or trends like grey floors that ultimately turn into passing fancies and are costly and difficult to replace. There is a reason why purple cars languish on used car lots. When we decide to sell, we’ll repaint in off-white (covering up a dark blue feature wall) and replace our loud serapi rugs with subdued pattern free rugs. And of course clean, clean, clean and declutter.
I do not like open concept floor plans. Open concept seems cavernous and cold. I like interesting, cozy rooms where I can sit and read or chat on the phone privately. Sometimes I want to get away from the family. I also do not like entertaining with the pots and pans or dirty dishes on display. I am introvert and like my rooms like little nests.
Hi Laurel,
With the current housing market folks probably aren’t concerned about needing to repaint. But I am surprised the use of wallpaper wasn’t listed in the article. I’ve wallpapered several spaces in my home & my daughter has told me it’s going to make it harder for her to sell after I die. Ask me if I care. 😂
This is cool to read about fluting. I didnt know anyone outside of historic home decor paid attention to it.
My husband made fluted columns for the fireplace mantel in our small Victorian rowhouse. It was lovely.He also made panels and installed moldings. Our house was not nearly as grand as Laurel’s butit was pretty.
I have found that paint color is the hardest thing for buyers to ignore -because it evokes an emotional response. And don’t forget we are all MUCH more interested in design and can probable see past minor issues than the average person that may not ever think about the design of their homes unless they are moving!
For me a deal breaker would be “gray” floors!
Laurel, first I want to say I love everything about your renovation. Your home has so much character – it is a feast for the eyes. Second – these decorating do’s and don’ts from publications like The Spruce are to be taken with a grain of salt. I wonder just who writes them. My reason is that I have a relative who writes a home tips & trends column for a well-known newspaper. My relative is male and doesn’t know one color from another or what a hammer is for or anything about taking care of house let alone how to decorate. He lives in a condo in NYC, where the super and help do everything – and his home looks like it came out of Conran’s or Crate & Barrel. He uses what he finds on the internet to write his column or what is posted on Pottery Barn or Crate & Barrel’s site. And that is my third point – Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, and others like them have corrupted the minds of present-day buyers. I agree that “Victorian – country – granny styles are very dated, yet PB and CB styles are also doomed to become dated. And I will not get started on the inferior quality of their furniture. Fifth – home automation is confusing?? Whomever wrote this does not understand what is happening, smart devices are here to stay – from home security, lawn irrigation, lighting, and smart home ovens/refrigerators/appliances – all connected to the internet with their own portals – AND smart meters for electricity and gas enabling homeowners the ability to manage and conserve their use of energy. This is not a trend – this is modern computer science being integrated into our homes. There is no avoiding it. I worked for Microsoft and this was Bill Gates dream at the time. And finally, with regard to resale. I totally agree with realtors that present day buyers want move in ready. But this doesn’t necessarily mean renovation – unless your roof leaks. I read your blog post on resale a long time ago – which emphasized clean, clean, clean and declutter, declutter, declutter. Which is my mantra. So, in sum, your blog is filled with excellent information and analysis of home design and decorating trends. And publications like The Spruce can go the way of the DoDo. 🙂
“Luxury” vinyl plank floors in any color would be a deal breaker for me—unless I could negotiate the price down to have them replaced with real wood. Vinyl replacement windows are also a deal breaker—again unless I could negotiate down the price. Vinyl or Hardie board siding is another dealbreaker—unless I could negotiate down the price. Bit of a trend here.
On resale preparation, what I look for as a buyer is how much I will need to dump into new windows, painting inside and out, driveway repairs, etc. Big ticket items. I know most likely I will want to make major bath and kitchen renovations since it would be rare to walk in and love what you see. On the topic of HGTV for me the most impactful designer since Candice Olson was Joanna Gaines. Why?, because she brought an entirely new demographic to the party. Young people, newly weds and young families that began to look at home life as family building. Farmhouse clicked with so many at a time when farm to table was emerging. Raising chickens, putting in gardens, all things that brought a whole generation to love where they live and their home life.
We will be renovating 2 bathrooms soon and I’m having a problem deciding what finish to use for the plumbing fixtures and accessories– mirror, lights. Loving the gold for fixtures but afraid it’s not a lasting look. What can you recommend in this instance Laurel, or anyone else who can chime in, for resale? Thanks
This is slightly off topic but after my in-laws died and their five year old home, which was in a parade of homes neighborhood, was being prepared for sale, the realtor told my sister in-law that the light fixtures in the bathrooms and the dining area needed to be changed and she recommended granite counter tops in the kitchen – they were quartz. My husband put on the brakes about the counter tops, but they went ahead and upgraded the lighting, which he told his sister was a waste. The home was and was well above the average home. The home sold within a few weeks. A while after the new owners had moved in, my sister in-law had the opportunity to visit. The first thing she noticed was that they had replaced all the fixtures that she had just installed. What she had chosen weren’t their taste. They had installed lighting very similar to what was originally in the house. What a waste and an unnecessary expense. People like to put their own mark on a home. You’ll never be able to guess what their style is. If the home is in good repair, clean and tidy and the decor is appropriate to the style, don’t think you have to make a bunch of improvements. Putting on a fresh coat of paint in a neutral color may help it sell, if you have some colors that are bold but beyond that, leave it alone. If people comment on how much they like your home when they visit you, don’t worry that it won’t sell when the time comes. The price reflects whether things need to be updated and it is best to leave that for the new owner to do.
I agree with you, 100%, Susan.
I’ve been a REALTOR for almost 21 years in three different states (CA, OR & WA). The trend that is completely “over” now is the gray “wood” luxury vinyl plank flooring. And the pallet wood glued to the wall or an island to make a “statement” — I guess their statement is that they are people who would rather scrounge old dirty pallets instead of getting some interesting art or wallpaper. But as to where we REALTORs get our ideas – it’s from seeing hundreds of homes annually and watching what sells quickly and what doesn’t. As you said, people want move-in-ready and don’t want to have to repaint before they can move in. Navajo white walls may be boring, but they generally don’t offend.
Lauren, well said! Six months before we put our previous home on the market back in 2009, we did a walk through with our realtor. She gave us her list of suggestions and we followed them to the letter. Even in the middle of the “mortgage meltdown,” we sold our home in six weeks and slightly above asking price! Our house sold so fast that we didn’t even have a new home picked out!
And I always appreciate Laurel’s wisdom! She explains how something like fluting is timeless when executed in the right way! Thanks to her, we better understand the difference between trendy and classic!
Real estate agents want the home to sell to the first buyer. If they get any negative feedback at all, they think this is what lost them the sale. But the truth is almost anything at all could turn off a buyer, anything.
We need to live in our homes and feel comfortable and love our spaces which are decorated according to our taste, not constantly look at them in terms of their resale value.
Articles like these are just meant to get the clicks of nervous American homeowners who move, on average, every seven years!!
As you always tell us Laurel: good design is good design no matter what era it comes from. If it has lasted, even if Americans are not familiar with it, it is probably beautiful.
The current trend in furniture refinishing is often to take all the character out of a piece in order to ‘modernize’ it. LOL.
These refinishers make the most offensive objects under that justification. I am happy for the trend towards refinishing as it pushes back against our throw away society. However, bowdlerizing decent furniture because you think you know what sells in your community is nauseating.
I am grateful to you Laurel for educating my eye and explaining different styles to us so that we understand the origins of many styles. Acutually, do more of that please. And how about a blog about colored ceilings down through the centuries?
Sometimes I wonder if these articles are geared solely towards keeping people insecure about their taste/style/home! To my thinking, a quirky but passionate space is always superior to a bland and soulless one. You can always repaint. 😉
I so agree with you. I do not know where are these real estate experts are getting their ideas.!! anything can be done badly… but the majority of things you’ve mentioned can be done, amazingly and look great. If the house has wonderful bones, I’m buying it no matter how color drenched the rooms are.!!!