Here are 20 design and feature trends you should avoid when investing in your home.
1) Inconsistent Architecture
Potential homebuyers may be put off if your home has a mix of architectural styles. A ranch-style home that has columns on its front porch is not as appealing as one with log-cabin-styled accents and art deco. Every architectural style is unique, so make sure you highlight these aspects. It can feel like Pickles on ice-cream!
2) Oversized kitchens
This is what celebrity chefs are responsible for. Potential home buyers may be put off by kitchens that have too many appliances and too little space. If you don’t plan on hosting large gatherings with many cooks, it might be time to split the kitchen into smaller sections, such as a cozy breakfast nook or a family table.
3) Faux “Old World” Design
We may be able to recreate the European elegance by decorating and emphasizing a European style. However, unless we are sourcing the materials (and a winery to boot), there will always remain something unauthentic about channeling Europe to another part of the world.
4) White appliances
It’s time for an upgrade if your appliances are white. White was once a popular color to highlight a clean home. Everything looks better when it’s white. This is exactly the problem. Homebuyers will feel the effort of wiping down every surface, and will see stains that will never go away. Plastic materials can also fade over time, becoming a non-uniform color. Choose black appliances, stainless-steel, or the most recent in “black stainless”.
5) Wallpaper
Wallpaper can make a bold statement in a house. This boldness can be a deterrent to buyers, especially if it is old wallpaper or not as common. Potential home buyers may be put off by the labor-intensive process of removing wallpaper. This is especially true if the wallpaper is old and damaged. Wallpaper can also be a source for undetected mold growth. Use paint instead.
6) Carpeted bathrooms
It was once a great idea to step across your master bedroom onto a tiled floor. But that is now passé. This is why bathmats exist. Carpets that are in close proximity to water can lead to mold growth and damage. Modern homes often have heated flooring, which can be a big selling point for potential home buyers. It is far better than the health hazards of a carpeted bathroom.
7) Gaudy Gold Fixtures & Hardware
Metallic finishes can add warmth and sophistication to your home. However, if you have shiny-gold fixtures and hardware, consider getting rid of them. While gold may be attractive to the wealthy, it is outdated and can look too flashy. These fixtures should be replaced with warmer metals like polished brass orbrushed nickel.
8) Tiled Countertops
Potential home buyers will be able to see the countertops in your kitchen and bathrooms. Consider removing tiled countertops. Although this trend was once popular, the details involved in maintaining tiled countertops can be complicated. What do you do if your tile breaks? Do you have the time and resources to regularly clean porous grout to stop mold growth? This makes cleaning your kitchen an even more unpleasant chore.