You’re out and about, going about your business and something immediately catches your attention. Before you, stands someone in a stunning ensemble topped off with a pair of trousers that take you back, way back, to those teenage years when owning a pair of bell-bottoms was the in-thing. If anything, the wider the funnel base the more desirable they were and trendier the wearer was. Where am I going with this? In the same way that your choice of clothes come with a time stamp, so does the choice of fittings, fixtures and furnishings you use in your space. Designing with the future in mind is thus about creating timeless interior spaces. Carefully selecting the pieces and finishes to adorn your space while avoiding anything that is bound to date it or quickly go out of style. In order to go about it like a pro, I’ve gone ahead and listed several pointers to keep you on the right track.  

Pointer #1 Form

Form plays the most important role when executing a timeless design. Selecting furniture sets, building cabinetry and casting moulding with clean precise lines, paying close attention to symmetry and even greater detail to proportion isn’t a walk in the park. However, perfectly executing it will set you on a winning track. Overly ornate detailing will look good today but could easily appear tacky tomorrow. Clean lines on the other hand, have been known to transcend the test of time and are a no-brainer when designing with the future in mind. 

Pointer #2 Palette

Your palette that is, the choice of colours, also has a great bearing on your success in creating timeless designs for your spaces. With the wide array of hues that natural elements like wood and stone come in, incorporating them in your space will definitely set it apart. Coupled with neutral colours like beige, sand and greys, your space will effortlessly exude an aura of serenity. Imagine walking into the room and feeling all your anxiety melt away, that is exactly the kind of power a timeless palette has on any space.

Pointer #3 Patterns

It goes without saying that when designing with the future in mind, going for loud over-the-top patterns and prints is a no-go zone. Instead settle for subtle almost muted textures and patterns for the different fittings and furnishings that’ll go into the space. Soft prints have been known to do more justice to a space than any loud print could ever do; as the saying goes, less is more. 

Pointer #4 Metallics

Metals and metallic pieces seamlessly introduce a classic yet timeless touch to your designed space, but only when done right. A matt metal finish will work the necessary magic while a shiny gloss finish will only serve to date and sadly “cheapen” the overall look and feel of the space. The beauty of metallics is you do not need to do the most to achieve a positive outcome, just going for a subtle approach, with hints here and there, will leave you stunned as you watch the transformation happen right before your eyes.

Pointer #5 Character

When it comes to character, we are all lucky to be blessed with our own individual tastes and preferences, and it is at this point, that we let it shine through. Introducing a fixture with a different design style, a trendy signature element for a focal area or a few accent pieces to add some colour, will give your space that wow factor that’s personalized and in alignment with you. It is your space after all, and as you’re designing it with the future in mind, you remain the key feature, and this should thus be clearly reflected. Again, less is more so gladly check and stop yourself immediately you start overdoing it, you’ll definitely thank yourself later on. 

That said, I hope these pointers help steer you in the right direction as you go about designing with the future in mind. Timeless design as the words state, never go out of style, and neither should your space. So happy designing and as always, should you need a helping hand, we are but a call away.

Till next time…Baraka Tele