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Trends in home design come and go throughout the years but there is one thing that is consistent; homeowners are always looking for cheap and easy ways to make their homes look better that will eventually translate into a greater resale value. The challenge in making these updates is knowing which trends will be gone in a flash or which will have staying power.
Take a look at some trends you should avoid in 2016:
Kitchen desks
At one time, desks were all the rage in kitchens as they became a place to make phone calls, pay bills and store kitchen items such as cookbooks. But now, with most homeowners not bothering with a landline, use what would have been a desk as counter space instead and gain more room to work and additional storage.
Bare windows
Over the past couple years, the trend has been to embrace minimalist design and try to emulate open loft spaces by leaving windows bare of any treatments. However, the lack of curtains or drapes also means a lack of privacy and a lack of personality. Instead, designers recommend that you use shades or simple panels that will add a touch of warmth, give the desired privacy but not overtake a room.
Microwave over the stove
Hanging a microwave over the stove has been part of kitchen planning for the past 20 to 25 years. Initially it was done to save space since kitchens were built small. However, as kitchens start getting bigger and open into family rooms, designers have started to replace them with stylish looking range hoods while moving the microwave to a drawer under the counter top or other not so prominent places.
Tile counter tops
This trend has been around for a long time but had a resurgence in popularity in 2014 due to the fact that tile is cheaper than granite or copper. However, while the tile looks nice and is cheaper, it is more difficult to clean and sometimes not worth the bother. Instead, if granite is too expensive, look to install a quartz countertop.