One of the most common questions new home buyers face is whether or not to renovate their homes. Is it worth it to go through the hassle of securing a renovation permit and waiting for the renovation works to be completed after you have acquired the property?

In the long term, if you are looking to sell the property, you would most likely be interested in selling it at the highest price possible. After all, who would not want the extra profit from selling their property? In most cases, one would have to wait several years until their property prices appreciate. However, the appreciation of your property is not guaranteed. Many factors such as the market demand and supply and changes in the URA’s Master Plan may affect the value of your home in the future. Is there then a sure-fire way to enhance your property value? Read on to find out.

Maurice Broady’s Theory on Architectural Determinism (1966) poses the idea that human behavior in a given environment is heavily influenced by their environment. In other words, a neat and aesthetically pleasing space inspires you to be more happy, creative, and productive.

Here is where renovation comes into play. Not only do you get to live in a more pleasant and aesthetic environment that encourages positive behaviors, but it also allows you to increase your property’s value without waiting for several years.

Trendy Vs. Classic interior design styles

Now that you are convinced of the benefits of renovation, the first question you would ask is then how should I design my house? With so many interior design styles ranging from Industrial to Scandi, you would be spoilt for choice. But interior design is subjective – what appeals to you might not appeal to the next buyer of the property. A buyer that does not like the current interior style will not offer a good price for the unit as they will incur extra renovation costs to refurbish the unit to their preference after the sale. Thus, it is important to stick to the classic interior design styles rather than what is trendy to ensure that you can demand a higher price in the future when selling your house. We have identified some of them for you below.

Trendy Interior Design Styles

1.     Grey-on-Grey

Photo credits: Qanvast 

For the past decade, many houses were saturated in many tones of greys and blacks. While it may be appealing at first sight, some people might not want to live in a dark environment dominated by cool colors. What is in demand is quite on the contrary. Ariel Okin of Ariel Okin Interiors, a reputable ID firm in the states, sees a recent surge in demand for warmer toned palettes instead of cool palettes. Thus, decorating your house with cool greys and black may not be a good idea if you plan to sell it in the future.

2.     Industrial Interior Design

Photo credits: Renopedia

A recent trend that has been dying down is the Industrial style, the industrial design style is characterized by the use of exposed metals, wood, and concrete – the raw materials required to construct a building. While the industrial design might appeal to some people, others who prefer a warm and cosy home may view it as too “bold” and “hard” for a home.

3.     Wallpaper-inspired Interior Design

Photo credits: WallHub

 Before you decide to apply wallpaper to your house, you must be aware that preference for wallpaper style is highly subjective, especially if the wallpaper of choice is too bold. For instance, consider the top-selling wallpaper in the previous photo. A nature lover may enjoy this accent wall, but others may find it too messy and unfitting for a home. A buyer who wishes to remove the wallpaper will offer a lower price tag as they will have to pay out of their pocket to restore the wall.

Classic Interior Design Styles

1.     Minimalist Interior Design

Photo credits: The Minimalist Society

The style most people will be familiar with is the minimalist style, it features simple and basic pieces of furniture, a bright and airy space, and either a neutral or monochromatic palette. This design is an affordable option for minimalists as very minimal furnishings are required to create the style, but it is not for those who enjoy shopping a lot, as excess purchases and items lying around the house may break the perfect harmony of a minimalist space.

2.     Mid-Modern Century

Photo credit: One Kindle Design

An interior design style that has withstood the test of time since the late 30s is the Mid-modern century style. The style emphasizes functionality over form, thus, most of the furniture performs multiple functions at once. For instance, many of the furniture like the geometric table act as ornamental pieces while serving as a tea table. Mid-modern furniture is also known for their inorganic and geometric shapes, with a round tapered leg. They are usually made from hardwood for increased durability. Using a neutral color palette with a bold accent color is also a signature of this interior style. It is recommended for homeowners that do not mind paying a little more for more functional and durable furniture.

3.     Scandinavian

Photo credit: Lookbox Living. 

Ah, Scandinavian! The classic IKEA catalog interior style that never goes out of fashion. This style features muted color palettes, lots of natural light, wood accents, modern and subtle furniture with a few potted plants around the unit to soften the aesthetics. Most people will be comfortable with Scandinavian interior design as it is an affordable and versatile style that would meet most people’s preferences. 

The recommended classic interior design styles above will likely grant you more bargaining power in selling your house in the future. If you are excited to start renovation for your new house and are interested to find out more, check out our partner Redbrick Homes now and try out their matchmaking function to find out the perfect ID style for you!