Ditching Dated Décor

Try these tips when you update your home

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

If your home is swathed in minimalistic gray or (shudder) still boasts the Tuscan theme, it’s a great time to freshen up your home.

The quarantine period of the pandemic caused a lot of people to take a frank look at their homes. Now that home centers have supplies in stock, why not renovate?

To avoid a dated look, Dina Pollitts-McCarthy, owner of Fiddlehead and Fern in Phoenix, said that the first step is to assess what you have. There’s no need to chuck all of your home furnishings — in fact, it’s a mistake to do so.

“When you stay with pieces that resonate with you and express your own personality, over time it’s something that still feels comfortable, like home to you,” she said. “I actually celebrate people’s own life experiences and try to fit the pieces they most value and love and that most inspire them into their space.”

She might center a room around a rug that was handed down in the family or has some kind of meaning and use colors from the rug to inspire the rest of the room’s décor. When she’s shopping for that client, she would look for things that work with that special item.

“Keep anything that holds significant sentimental value and is good quality, yet don’t be afraid to use things and alter things in ways that make sense for you, such as repurposing or painting furniture,” Pollitts-McCarthy said.

Holding on to pieces that represent you can help your home reflect you, even if they don’t perfectly match your design concept. No design concept? No problem. Review ideas on Pinterest for inspiration for a few minutes for a few weeks. Once you’ve collected numerous images, pare them down to about 10 or fewer that are your favorites and try to incorporate the colors, styles, textures and shapes you see.

“If it’s really kind of too formal for my taste, but I love it, I’ll find ways to bridge the gap,” she said. “I’d mix a more casual look with that formal piece. You can do that by bringing in other little formal details.”

For example, an intricate gold frame could bring in other little touches of gold into the room to pull the whole look together.

It’s OK if a beloved item doesn’t really “fit” with the rest of the house. In fact, Pollitts-McCarthy said that’s an ideal way to create a focal point for a room, with an item that sparks curiosity from visitors.

The “canvas” for all the furnishings and walls should be neutral if you want your décor to remain timeless.

“Then you can switch out smaller items over time,” Pollitts-McCarthy said. “Like a neutral sofa. You can change out the throw pillows and blankets not only to go with the seasons but to accommodate changes in your taste over time. You can change out accent pieces.”

Wallpaper is back. However, it’s not as permanent as it used to be. Pollitts-McCarthy said that the new peel-and-stick wallpaper allows for customization without a long-term commitment, as it’s easy to remove.

Subway tile is very popular. However, Pollitts-McCarthy views it as timeless because it has remained a staple for the past 100 years.

“I don’t think you can go wrong unless you use a colored grout that is very strongly colored,” she added.

Traditional woodworking details that are also timeless include recessed panels, chair rail molding and wainscoting.

“They add detail to your house but it’s not something that’s dated in a way that will hurt the resale of your house,” Pollitts-McCarthy said. “Use what you love and what speaks to you. Ultimately, it’s a sanctuary for you. If it feels like a sanctuary, you can enjoy it in your life while you’re there. If you stay with purely timeless foundation pieces and color, what you love can be translated into something that appeals to a wider group of people.”

If it seems too overwhelming, working with an interior designer can ease the process. However, homeowners should communicate with the designer and to speak up when they feel things aren’t working.