Get ready to dive into a world of home design trends that might just surprise you! While modern trends often get all the hype, some old-school favorites are making a comeback, and for good reason. Here's a list of 21 home design elements that, despite being considered outdated, have their own unique charm and practicality.
The Mudroom: A Necessity for All Climates - Justwandering24 and lunaamethyst8124 both advocate for the mudroom, a space between the outer door and the front door. It's not just for cold climates; it's a brilliant way to keep your home insulated and provides a dedicated area for coats and boots.
Storage, Storage, Storage - An anonymous 30-year-old from Australia laments the lack of storage in modern designs. With extra bedrooms often taking precedence, the storage space suffers, leaving tiny bedrooms with minimal storage.
Real Wood Floors: Warmth and Durability - Another anonymous individual, this time a 63-year-old from Oregon, sings the praises of real wood floors. They're warm, durable, and provide a natural, non-slippery surface, unlike the cheap-looking vinyl plank flooring.
Dining Rooms: A Space for Family Gatherings - An anonymous 64-year-old from Nebraska misses the large dining rooms of yesteryear. With modern homes often prioritizing smaller spaces, it's becoming harder to find a dining room that can accommodate a large family gathering.
Glassed-in Front Porches: A Cozy Welcome - ehch suggests bringing back the glassed-in or screened-in front porches. These provide a cozy, welcoming space and offer a unique architectural feature.
Dark Wood: A Rich, Warm Aesthetic - ehch also laments the trend of gray and white-washed wood, preferring the rich, warm tones of dark wood.
Claw-Foot Tubs: Fun and Functional - An anonymous 55-year-old from New Hampshire shares how their grandkids love the claw-foot tub, providing a fun, spacious place to play and get clean.
Basements: A Kids' Paradise - Another anonymous contributor suggests that basements make great kids' areas, providing a separate space for family activities after dinner.
Detached Garages: Curb Appeal and Functionality - An anonymous 71-year-old from Texas prefers detached garages, arguing that they enhance the curb appeal of a home and don't dominate the front view with a large garage door.
Glass Block Windows: Light and Privacy - An anonymous individual shares their experience with a glass block window in the bathroom, providing both natural light and privacy.
Laundry Chutes: A Modern Convenience - Another anonymous contributor regrets not installing a laundry chute during their bathroom renovation, highlighting how it simplifies the task of carrying heavy laundry baskets up and down stairs.
Radiant Heat Floors: Cozy Comfort - An anonymous individual raves about radiant heat floors, which keep the feet warm during winter, eliminating the need for socks or slippers.
Built-in Ironing Board: Convenience and Space-Saving - An anonymous resident of Utah loves their built-in ironing board, providing a dedicated space for ironing that doesn't take up extra room.
Broom Closets: A Place for Everything - An anonymous 69-year-old from Ohio emphasizes the need for broom closets to store vacuums and other cleaning tools.
Multiple Bathrooms: A Luxury - An anonymous individual grew up in a large house with five bedrooms and four bathrooms, appreciating the luxury of having multiple bathrooms.
Wainscoting: Protection and Style - Another anonymous contributor from Utah appreciates wainscoting, especially in the kitchen, as it protects the walls from chairs and provides an easy-to-clean surface.
Large Backyards: A Kid's Paradise - An anonymous individual laments the modern trend of paving over backyards, arguing that a large backyard is essential for kids to play and have fun.
Cedar Closets: Mothproof and Magical - An anonymous 79-year-old from Maryland shares their love for cedar closets, which are mothproof and provide a unique hide-and-seek spot with a distinct aroma.
Coffered Ceilings: A Touch of Elegance - ehch suggests bringing back coffered ceilings, adding a touch of elegance and architectural interest to a room.
Quality Hardware and Glass Door Knobs: Small Details, Big Impact - ehch also appreciates the small details in homes, like quality hardware and glass door knobs, which can elevate the overall aesthetic.
Jack and Jill Sinks and Lazy Susans: Practicality and Nostalgia - An anonymous 53-year-old from Indiana shares their love for Jack and Jill sinks in bathrooms and lazy Susans in kitchens. The Jack and Jill sink helped save time in the mornings with their children, and the lazy Susan provided easy access to stored items while cooking.
And there you have it! A list of 21 home design trends that, despite being considered outdated, have their own unique benefits and charm. So, which of these trends do you think deserve a comeback? Share your thoughts in the comments, and let's spark a discussion on the future of home design!