As kids, there were two things we wanted very badly. We could not wait to be old enough to do adult stuff. Secondly, there were a lot of things about our parent’s home we found boring and determined would never have a place in our future home.

Flash forward to today; you are living in your own home with its up-to-date design and instead of feeling content, you find yourself missing granny’s home. You recall all the fun you had playing in it with its quaint features and wish you had those designs in your own home today.

New is not always better

It is human nature to think that what we have is not as good as what we could have. People love to buy new things and try out new ideas. Every new item that comes on the market is better and nicer than the one we are used to.

However, new ideas are not always better, but you may have no way of knowing that until you have tried the new one. Only then will you discover that the new item isn’t nearly as nice as you thought it would be. That is when you start wanting to go back to the old.

This happens a lot with some of the features of older homes that we like to think of as outdated. Living in a modern home shows you just how useful many of those designs are. Which old house trends would you like to see become popular again?

In this post, we put together a list of our favorite old house trends. Some are really useful features, others are just nice to look at, but all remind us of how houses used to be built. As you go through the list of our best old house trends, do feel free to add yours.

I don’t know who made the decision that it was better to make people haul their dirty laundry from upstairs to the laundry room downstairs instead of simply throwing them into a laundry chute. Laundry chutes are a great feature of old houses that deserves to be brought back.

1. Clawfoot tubs

Showers are efficient, but nothing beats the luxury of soaking in a bathtub. Modern bathtubs don’t compare to the elegance of a clawfoot tub. Clawfoot tubs don’t need to be positioned against a wall; you can get in and out of them from any side.

2. Built-in storage

This is one of the most ingenious ways to use empty wall spaces in the home. Built-ins describe a range of storage options – bookcases, cabinets, or shelves – which are built into the wall rather than freestanding. The wall itself serves as the storage; thereby saving space.

3. Built-in storage

This is one of the most ingenious ways to use empty wall spaces in the home. Built-ins describe a range of storage options – bookcases, cabinets, or shelves – which are built into the wall rather than freestanding. The wall itself serves as the storage; thereby saving space.

4. Closed floor plans

There are a lot of benefits to having an open floor plan but privacy is not one of them. A closed floor plan gives you better control of the home. The acoustics of a home with a closed floor plan are better, and you can define the boundaries of the home based on the functions of each space.

5. Walk-in pantries

You have to wonder who made the decision to retire this feature. Walk-in pantries give you far more room to store food and other items than modern kitchen storage solutions can. Not only do you have more space, but you can also organize your items easily and retrieve them without fuss.

6. Wraparound porch

A wraparound porch is exactly what the name says. Instead of being limited to the front of the house, it wraps around the sides of the building. This gives family members room to enjoy the outdoors in their chosen way without getting into other people’s hair.

7. Dutch doors

Dutch doors are a combination of window and door. The door is split into two halves – an upper and a lower half – that can be opened independent of each other. You can open the upper part to let light or air in and keep the lower half closed to keep your kid or pet inside.

8. Pocket doors

Pocket doors let you have the best of open and closed floor plans. The doors are designed to retract into a wall, effectively making them invisible. When the doors are opened, you have an open floor plan. Simply close them when you want privacy, and you have a closed floor plan.

9. Mudrooms

A mudroom or vestibule is a space between the front door of the house and the entrance to your living room or other spaces. Visitors and family members can remove their dirty clothes and shoes in this room before entering the living room. This is a good way to keep your living room clean and sanitary.

10. Picket fences

Picket fences are wonderful for enhancing the curb appeal of your home. They let you define the boundaries of your property without enclosing the entire home with a high fence. They can be used to keep children and pets within the property too.

With so many modern trends and amenities, we tend to overlook the simple pleasures from the past. Whether it was an aesthetically pleasing feature or a must-have luxury of the 70’s, there are some home features making a comeback. If you’re ready to tackle your next home renovation (whether you’re stuck in the 70’s or trying to bring the 70’s back), contact us today for a free design discovery call!