😂 “this forest is looking a little bit dated” omg

My approach: look at images from 10, 15 and 20 years ago. If it doesn’t look dated, chances are it’s timeless.

I love how down-to-earth and practical your videos are. Most of interior design KZfaq is a bit proud and unapproachable. You really stand out as someone to learn from!

"Have you ever walked into a forest and thought this place looks really dated?" Hilarious.

The person watching this that bought him the marble water bottle: 👁💧👄💧👁

Your tip about the forest and natural elements was spot on. First time I have heard it presented that way and was a perfect comparison. Looking forward to following your channel.

“I can’t believe you were so inspired to do that crazy taupe wall!’ 😄 Sentences like these are one of the many reasons to love & watch this guy!

Indeed. Wool oriental rugs, fine furniture, classic ceramics and hand-made items age very well.

I would add: keep lines and shapes simple and details minimal. The more basic an item is, and the longer you expect to keep it, the simpler it should be to prevent it becoming outdated quickly. Choose simple classics for case goods and major upholstered items like sofas, and add the fun with inexpensive items like occasional chairs or decor items. As a geologist, I hate any kind of fake rock and usually select my colors from my GSA rock color chart, guaranteed to be both natural and timeless. I know marble is beautiful, but I wouldn’t use if for kitchens and bathrooms. It is a very soft, porous rock that stains, etches and scratches easily. It can’t be vigorously cleaned to remove scale, stains, paint drips or anything, really, even plastic scrubbers can ruin the finish. There are rocks that are almost as hard as granite, but gave a marble look, I chose a beautiful dark green/grey serpentine rock for my kitchen that looks similar to marble, but is indestructible unless you pound it with a sledge hammer. There are thousands of types of “hard” rock in every imaginable texture and color. Ask someone who really knows what is a hard rock vs. a soft rock, sales people usually don’t know, but the owner probably does. Many of them are very knowledgeable about the characteristics of each rock type, visit the quarries, etc. If not, call a local geologist, we love to briefly advise on rocks for free, or you could select some in the showroom and take a geologist along to help with practicalities for your final selection. Everyone I know who got marble counters, showers, etc. was unhappy with them in a year. I use it in accessories, vases, slabs, bookends, decor pieces like obelisks, etc. Adding beautiful rocks and minerals to your home is a great way to bring in nature, too, along with plants, flowers, and other natural materials.

I love the forest analogy of how a forest never looks dated. Yes, sometimes it needs some “clearing “but you are spot on!!!

“This crazy inspired taupe wall, like no ones ever said that”...😆😆😆😆😆😆omg! I love it!❤️

I keep trends to my small easily replaceable items....like pillows, etc

This is probably one of the best interior design videos I have ever watched. Excellent advice delivered with great fluency of expertise yet so down to earth and easy to understand. My favourite tips are on neutrals and quality. Irrespective of trends - we will all fall for a few - don't skimp on the big ticket pieces you plan to keep for the long haul, and a neutral backdrop and real greenery tends to tame the most trendy beasts in your space.

I think that the signs with all the farmhouse sayings will be a thing that will date most. I am doing a black and white Victorian farmhouse kitchen but staying far away from the cute farmhouse signs.

Hi really good channel I just subscribed as design lover. I come from Carrara, the town where marble comes from I wanted to say that for how aesthetically pleasing can be is also causing the WORST ecocide and environmental disaster in Europe, I live in the UK now but I was raised in Carrara in Italy in one of those villages close to the quarries, the Apuane Alps our beautiful mountains are actually slowly disappearing! I love design I studied it at uni and I'm a artist, but I think that sometimes we should be aware of what we choose for our design, you said that nature is timeless and you're right but we can't challenge nature forever.

I agree that imitation marble isn't great. Didn't care for it in the 80's when it trended either. However, with so many people being concerned with "living green", I am very disturbed at the amount of marble, granite, etc. that is being destroyed in the name of "the supreme decorator kitchen". These materials take thousands of years to form and the supply is finite. I have watched so many privileged people tear out what they refer to as " tacky white marble" (when it isn't trending) or tacky sand beige granite when it "clashes" with the new "white kitchen". I would love to see this very destructive trend come to an end. There's also the fact that both materials are quite cold and uncomfortable on an island and the surface is so hard china and glassware can easily be broken and chipped. There's nothing wrong with a decent laminate that is relatively easy to maintain and in 15 to 20 years if the kitchen needs a facelift, there's no great loss in replacing these. I would simply stay away from trends on this choice also.

I really appreciate how you are so not pushy with your ideas and opinion, and you cater to a wider budget range and acknowledge that probably the majority of us are your average middle-class peeps who can't always afford a lot of the things designers and influencers etc. recommend us. Very friendly channel you've created.

Don’t rip out real hardwoods- EVER!!!!

The gray/silver glamour glass furniture. The look is gonna go faster than the black laquer/gold furniture in the 90s.😄Please do a segment on that so people won't waste their money.

Rosé-gold. Was never into it, but now extra over it.

Today is day 1 of me quitting smoking, and binging your videos is helping to distract me. I love your vibe ❤

One thing I think will always be timeless is quality items that are made to last. Like vintage furniture pieces that you can see is actually made by someone who had to know their craft will always be beautiful compared to mass manifactured items that are the equivalent of the fast fashion of furniture

For me the Hippie chic of the 70s has always been my style. I guess it is considered Boho now, but bentwood rockers, Tiffany lamps, Persian rugs and macramé will never go out of style.

One thing I find useful for Ikea fans is getting the products that they've been selling (and that sell well) for decades. I have an arm chair that was on the cover of their catalog almost 30 years ago. That's what I call timeless!

I think a major thing is to just decorate your place in a way that you truly love. If you truly love a huge green wall (or whatever) then for you it will never go out of style.

I love that you are ultra knowledgable yet humble! You teach us not talk down to us, in such a pleasant way. I get my pen and note pad out when I watch your video!

I agree. Classic shapes and colors in things like woven throws, baskets, and curtains can withstand the test of time. For example, a cable-knit oatmeal-colored wool throw, a sturdy jute basket near the fireplace for kindling, or simple, natural muslin curtains are all classics. Ditto simple silver or brass candlesticks, or terra cotta pots & saucers as containers for plants. These things have been "in style" for over a century. This longevity is one of the reasons that I like plan white linens and plain white dishes. Unlike the harvest gold and avocado of the 70's, plain white dishes purchased back then would still be in style. My mother taught me this. A well-made plain white tee is never out of style, but a neon green tee will be in style for about ten minutes.

I had a red sofa that I loved for a few years. I got rid of it when I moved - and it was expensive when I purchased it. I realized that I’d rather use color for accessories and keep the sofa fabric neutral.

I grew up in a contemporary style beach house in Southern California- 30 years later all the furniture and art from that house still feels super modern. Contemporary has a certain timeless elegance.

I think framed art work with words and phrases has run its course. I don’t need instructions on how to use the bathroom.

color of the moment I usually associate with pillows

Here's a challenge for you Nick: Try giving tips for the many, many of us who are restoring old houses and don't want things that look like everything else out there. You know, white, beige, grey or greige. We like the look of vintage room/colors/designs. For instance our current old house restoration project is a 1947 Mid Century Modest home. Thankfully (due to neglect) most of the original things remained--with the exception of the bathroom and kitchen which had both been ignored and abused (think unchecked water leaks and a poor 'update' about 1960). We are 'restoring' to what most fits the era of the house and utilizing some historic colors (Sherwin Williams). There are a lot out there like us who want to both restore where we can and put in sensitive changes where necessary. And example: We are looking for a double bowl sink with an integrated drainboard; having a very hard time finding that. Lots of 'farmhouse' sinks of course. I grew up on a farm and never saw a sink like those. So much of what designers show are too much the same. And very few want looks like what we see in online or print offerings. I will say that I couldn't agree more about your take on double islands. WHAT a waste of space! Not to mention, I thought that islands were on their way out?

What I always think is also important with achieving a timeless, functional home is thinking about your future! Do want want kids? Do you have pets? A white couch and a marble couch table with harsh corners are maybe not the best option if you want to have kids, just like white rugs if you have a dog etc. Because it will easily get dirty, messed up and hitting your head in marble vs wood is quite a big difference. But that's just a little thing to think about and just my opinion. 💕 Ps: great, wonderful video as always. I'm thinking about studying to become an interior designer and your videos are really interesting ❤️✨💭

Great advice. My mother, who would be in her 90s if alive today, got caught up with a couple of furniture trends in her youth when money was super tight and regretted it. Over time, she opted for traditional and transitional pieces and better quality (usually on sale and paid cash, only buying as she saved up the money). She went eclectic before eclectic was cool and had to weather a few snobbish comments from people with more money who came to conduct charity business (a charity Mom volunteered for) in her home. Regardless, her home was warm and inviting and functional and I took that with me when I left home. About selection, placement, and hanging of pictures / art. If anyone is confused about scale and placement, look to some well designed rooms by well known designers (not the flashy and more modern ones if that's not your style) that you like, and then, look at pictures of homes for sale. You'll see a lot of how to do it wrong. Then... don't do that.

My fave style is Bauhaus. Some don’t like it, because it’s so harsh. But to me it’s so clean cut, it sticks to basic geometric shapes and designs. And all the famous furniture pieces from the Bauhaus style are high end. So quality is on par. Also I try to stick to as much white as possible. People tell me it’s so cold and has no personality. But for me it’s exactly why I love it. Always a blank canvas I can accentuate with accessories and pops of colour.

I have gotten some great, quality items at auctions and resale shops, you just need patience. I bought 3 large Drexel heritage 70's cabinets, all for $200 and put them in a room I turned into a home library. I won a 1952 Kindel handmade dining room set and hutch for $800 at an estate auction. The people bought it when they got married and kept it all those years. It is in amazing condition and has three leaves in the original box. Kindel furniture is still being handmade today but the prices are way, way up there.

I would love to see your take on interior design for older, smaller working class homes like coal miners' or factory workers' houses. We have a small six room home that I want to decorate to match the age and purpose of the home while not making it feel dated.

We have a lot of nice antiques in our house, but we acquired them by going to secondhand stores that get their stock from estate sales. I don't wear your grandad's coat, but I adore the reading table he inherited from his grandma and kept! And I didn't pay thousands for it.

You yourself are "Timless" Nick. I love your style. My Wife and I have learned a lot from watching your videos and our new home is looking fantastic by taking what you speak of, into account.

I kinda laughed nervously while looking at my marble print shower curtains, tray and soap dispenser 😅 but I like to change cheaper items like those to follow fun trends, so what you followed that up with made me feel better Haha!

Me decorating exactly like my grandmother does lol... make things look dated on purpose & you will not have a problem

I feel like part of it is embracing your personal style being unapologetic about it. And picking things that suit the space by embracing the architecture style. Like if a place normal suburb ranch house has Versailles gold imitation stuff it looks dated unlike the actual Versailles. Also doing what you can to have good quality pieces that you take care of because I think part of the reason things look dated is when they start looking old or worn out in a bad way.

0:43 I still wear my boot cut jeans. 😂

on HGTV home flips I “loath” the FLASHY PATTERNED TILES they incorporate when designing showers---back splashed kitchen counters--fireplaces-etc. yes, looks ok -however 1-yr later it would get old- when choosing tiles, a pattern (in a solid shade) looks more sustainable in chevron - houndstooth- vertical- or horizontal (my opinion) you would grow less tired of it- too much WOW FACTOR is not a wise choice- just my opinion 🤷‍♀️

You nailed it! Thank you, so obvious but so hard to implement all of them, mostly the less is more tip.

Excellent tips. The hardest for me seems to be the "less is more", but SUCH an important philosophy!! I'm trying, I'm trying... Btw, as far as technology, the PC on the desk you showed in the video is not only dated, it is vintage at this point! 😂😂

Natural, sustainable, and real in our home...you said it...spot on. you thought of everything in this video. Also, I think you are the ONLY designer on YT who has said that technology is not timeless. Some say to hide the TV, okay. We think that technology is always cutting edge but...you are right....it changes very quickly. great advice. great video.

To be fair my home is designed to reflect me and I doubt it will go out of style for me at least, anytime soon. I tend not to jump on trends.

interior, or any design: the art of restraint.

“Just waiting for you to play some Avril Lavigne” BAHAHAHA I just love the spicy comments. Great information and a good laugh

A big huge healthy plant with a cement pot in a corner. Timeless chic. And real wood, especially in the floors. Always

First off: Great video! Second: Timeless design has gotten a whole new level of importance if you implement the environmental aspect in it also. Timeless design and quality is perfect for getting a bit more control over this consumption society we have build for ourselves.

I love your ideas. I use outdoors colors in my home, I like beige, forest green, off white, and textures, leather, wood, and well cared for plants, it makes me feel like I am one with nature.

Very good presentation. I agree with many of the points that you make. Swapping out accessories of colour definitely works very well. However, I am so, so sick and tired of the endless sea of neutrals! In my mind, the way to avoid looking dated is to pick items that are not on trend at the moment but look stunning! If it is not seen over and over again all over the place, people don’t get tired of it and think of it as dated. Unfortunately, if you use items that are easily found in many stores, you know that these items will be in every other person’s home. When we see things over and over again we tend to get tired of it no matter how beautiful. Bucking the trend is not an easy way to design but it is, in my opinion, the only way to avoid being dated.

Loved this video😊 So true.. In Europe we have neutral walls and bring trends in soft furnishings and artwork. Also real wood furniture... Timeless.. And looks better with time when it gets knocked about a bit😊 So agree with all these LED lights in everything.. Shower heads, taps, baths, etc... They use energy/electricity which is not good for the environment.

Oh Nick.....I'm going to remember you every time I hike.

Great ideas ! So many times I’ve spent a lot on a trend and then I’m over it but have trouble letting it go because i spent so much on it .

Nick, I loved the tips so much! The incorporation of real natural materials instead of plastic or fake stuff was already something I subscribed to cause that is also what composes a big part of my wardrobe, so it made perfect sense.

So glad you said "bring the trendy colours in your accessories and not on the walls"😊.. Most you tubers say.. Paint paint paint 😭.. But honestly.. I do not want to have to waste time and money painting my walls every year or so, because you get tired of the colour or it isn't trendy anymore🙄.. Plus light neutrals just make a space look bigger.. Which in smaller European homes is important! Great video!

My father was a master carpenter and craftsman. His number one rule was never touch paint to wood. It didn't matter if the wood was furniture, floors, trim, or doors. He said it was insulting to the natural beauty of the trees! I've never had a piece of painted wood in my home (I'm 64) yet everything I have still looks fantastic and not dated. Of course, many of my pieces were made by him, but I took his rule seriously and never regretted it. Although we are not Amish, he learned many of their techniques with wood working and it also helped keep that timeless look and aesthetic. He did make some pieces with carved legs, etc. but the simpler in looks actually stands out better. I know most people won't agree with the painting wood thing, but that's fine. Everyone likes what they like. I just wanted to share this because he is the only craftsman I knew who had that feeling about the trees.

Another classic is wood floors if you can spring for them. Stain colors may change but wood floors continue to be worth the investment.

Seriously? Time for your TV show! Love your advice; design sense, and timeless tips :))) Thank you Nick

I just discovered this channel today and this is my 3rd video. I’m an active military wife and I think making a house a home is very important as we move so often. It’s a challenge when you’re in base housing because it’s all the same, but it’s also so fun to play with design and make it your own!

Good information. Trendy colors in temporary items makes sense. You gave sound advice about electronics because not only does the technology change, most of it gets more compact, and now blue tooth makes wires almost unnecessary. My home is all earth tones. The walls in muted greens, yellows, and blue. There are pops of color, mostly red and orange. For my kitchen I chose a mid-tone wood for my cabinets, yellow quartz for the counters, and (gasp!) white appliances because I consider them timeless. Another aspect of "timeless" is gender neutral. Not too feminine, not too masculine. Florals are on the pillows, stripes are the window coverings, solid fabric on soft furnishings. Because I have pets I chose leather and Sunbrella for the fabrics. Except for the couch which has a high thread count (the most expensive piece of soft furniture I've ever purchased). Decorating can be satisfying once a basic color palette is zeroed in on. When I first started it was a bit of a mish mash. A decorator came in and helped me decide what direction to go after asking me what I liked or disliked about certain things I owned. Final answer: wood, muted earth palette, imperfect, and curved. I experimented with extremely inexpensive versions of what I thought would work (thank you Walmart and Home Depot) until I became comfortable I was on the right track and confident enough to choose permanent pieces. That only took about 8 years ... One of the smartest things I've done is work with interior designers. The first one to set me on the right track. My second one to choose a creative layout for my living room and to help complete my furnishings.

I'm all about classic. I however love color and I have my home mostly in soft colors but my kitchen and an accent wall is a bold color, 'Cinnamon Stone' and I have to say, it's beautiful.

Something that is really important that you didn't talk about here is the importance of finding your own style and staying true to it. If you get an item because you love it, and not because it's 'on trend,' then it's not going to go out of style either. And then to top it all off, you're also developing a collection of furniture/decor that you love and a style that's all you!

Thank you. This just made my sofa and dining table purchase so much easier. Just go with real, natural materials. Done and done.

The forest analogy is brilliant.

I think this is what you're trying to say about things that are faux: avoid faux finishes on things that couldn't actually be made from that material. So if you have a faux marble fireplace, that makes sense, whereas a marble door does not. Faux marble countertops--okay. Faux marble rug--will look dated sooner rather than later.

Timeless is well-nigh impossible to achieve, because manufacturing has, well, manufactured obsolescence into all design products. Yes, you can opt for an iteration of MCM or maybe you can do a preppy interior. But those too get updated over time. Best to pick what makes you happy. I've always just decorated for me. And Covid has strengthened that conviction.

I liked his humble approached not irritating! And mostly it is concise!!

You're absolutely right about seccond hand shops. That's where all the old reliable wood furniture goes after it has already lasted for decades!

Really helpful thank you! It has actually got me thinking about investing in some really good quality iconic mid century pieces rather than something of cheaper quality given that these pieces will still look as amazing as they did 60 years ago

Best design advice video I have ever watched. You echo my design mantras, including “The bigger or more permanent the piece, the more you want it to be timeless and neutral.” Just subscribed. Can’t wait to watch more.

Dude, I need to tell you, I love your sense of design, you know your stuff indeed, a real pro

It’s also important to know the difference between a trend that will look dated and something that is truly your personal taste, even if it’s out of style. A trend comes from media and advertisers, taste comes from your life. For example, if you’re chasing down decor and furniture to recreate the feeling of your grandma’s truly rad living room that she never redecorated post 1973, you will create a more enduring space than if you’re trying to imitate a “70s themed” spread you saw in an Anthropologie catalog. The first will create a space that you love regardless of the current trends, and imo sincerity rarely looks bad.

This is exactly what I needed! I'm buying my first home so this was perfect for when I go to buy my big furniture pieces. Thanks Nick!

When you pulled out the marble water bottle 😂

Thank you for your precious time. Every tip helps!

Been binging your videos. LOVE your sense of humour!! You keep me laughing... just randomly!

When you talked about nature it reminded me of the time I went to a national park with my bfs family and his sister in law stayed in the car, played solitaire the entire time and rarely looked up to see anything 😂

Might be off the subject but the little dog in the woods was so adorable.

Love your honesty and great tips!

Thank you - this is just the episode that i was looking for

Excellent advice. Practical, sensible and makes the home so easy to live with.

I appreciate your humor.

These are incredible tips for being relatable, too

My rule of thumb is to go for quality and natural colors for items you need to have stand the test of time, like sofas, kitchen tables, and bedroom furniture, and go for consignment if you need to, to get the most for your money. Love the idea of thinking of the forest, and I choose wall colors that are nature inspired to ensure a more timeless feel.

Thank you for this video! I love the classic look in a home. To me it is warm, comfortable and inviting and if you are willing to buy things that are well made you don't have to keep replacing things unless your tastes really change. You described the things that I love to a tee - nature, warm woods and stone like marble. I also like comfy chairs and convenient coffee tables and side tables to put down my cup and book. This video gives me confidence to keep the bones of what I have collected over the years and just add things and get rid of other things as I find them. I agree, small things like pillows or small decorations and paintings are much easier to change out as tastes change.

The wire CD rack, sooooooooooo funny.

Dear Nick, you’re just amazing! Thanks a million for all the outstanding interior design education. 💕

I love classic and timeless looks

I agree with everything but one element I immediately thought of was the technology bit. Yes the dated technology in a trendy house sets off the wrong tone, but I do believe there is a place for dated technology. It just has to be put together in an aestheticly pleasing manner. I have a turntable in what we call our fancy room on top of my great grandmas wood singer. I think it blends in with the rest of the room with the plants, bookshelves, and bar area. I’m also working on an intricate sound system with a tape deck, receiver, amp, and large JBL speakers from my dad in the living room. I do believe the difference is the speakers, though large, are still not going to be the focal point of the room as everything else in the room catches the eye first and we have a built in nook which is perfect for hosting a sound system so it doesn’t stick out but sets in with the surrounding wall. Just my two sense and thoughts expanding on your original idea. Thank you!

Thank you for covering the subject of classic timeless style - I spotted this video just as I was thinking the term “latest trends” was doing my head in - and I love the ikea video too - I’m going to check out their wishbone dining chairs 🙂👍

I love the crescent shaped tufted couches! They aren’t too big, like sectionals, but they still give you that unique, impressive, and a versatile design that encourages conversations and helps define and break up/separate a living room from a dining room and kitchen area in a classy way besides the same old usual use of rugs to do this. I love the way it looks and feel that it’s a nice refreshing touch and added better focal point for a room than a rug(s), especially when you have dogs (like my 2 beautiful English Mastiffs) and kids!!

You are so generous to share your expertise with us and your videos are terrific, thanks!

Excellent video! Well organized with great tips to think about. I totally agree with trendy accent color pieces. I think the farmhouse style trend is going to be outdated- but could be timeless using the tips you mentioned in your video.

What great information, I really like your style, thank you 😊

I absolutely agree with you. Thanks

I am dreaming of a Timeless home. Maybe I'll change the art on the wall on occasion. But you're right... natural products are usually timeless. Wood grain etc.