Everything old becomes new again, or so they say – and houses are no exception. Style and design elements have changed a lot over the years, and many trendy home fashions of decades past have faded into obscurity (and rightly so).

But just because something is older doesn’t necessarily meant that it’s bad or needs to be replaced – in fact, sometimes older styles are just misunderstood. Today, we’ll be highlighting some old-fashioned home trends that actually have plenty of advantages over more modern features, and why you should consider keeping (or adding) them in your house.

Wraparound Porches

In most cookie-cutter new builds, wraparound porches are a rarity. More often than not, buyers end up with a small, unembellished concrete or masonry walkup that leads directly into the house – nothing more, nothing less. But wraparound porches are great for both form and function!

A well-designed, well-maintained wraparound porch can add a lot to a house. Elegant landscaping, a classic post and rail edge, and timeless materials like brick and hardwood all come together to create a beautiful, inviting space that doubles as both entranceway and gathering space. And as a bonus, a covered wraparound porch means that windows can remain open when it rains – saving homeowners on cost and allowing fresh air to constantly circulate through the home.

Double Pocket Doors

In today’s world of open floor plans and uninterrupted sight lines, walls and doors have really gotten the shaft when it comes to home design. But if you’re craving an open space, you don’t have to sacrifice the potential benefits of a door. After all, how can you block off noise or mess from the living room when you’re gathered with friends in the dining room, if you don’t have a door?

Enter (no pun intended) the double pocket door. This traditional style allows you to slide both doors open into a recessed section of the wall – meaning you don’t lose any additional space in the room and don’t have doorknobs banging into your primo paint job – while getting a fairly open feel that a hinged door can’t provide. But when it’s time to close the doors, that option is available too, meaning that you can section off your home as needed to limit noise, visible clutter, etc.

Built-Ins

Built-in shelving and cabinets might not seem like a thing of the past – they’re still seen sometimes in modern homes – but not with the same frequency as they were used in the past. One of the biggest benefits to a built-in shelving unit, cabinet, or other fixture is that you can gain a lot of extra storage without taking up floor space.

Additionally, there are two big maintenance advantages to build-in fixtures. First, the quality of the materials tends to be higher, which means a longer lifespan. For example, a built-in bookcase is likely to be constructed of solid wood, securely anchored to the studs or masonry in the wall, whereas a modern budget bookcase might just be made of particle board, held together with a few screws and dabs of glue. Second, built-in fixtures are easier to clean on and around, since you don’t have to shift heavy furniture to get a thorough clean. And bonus: you won’t scratch your hardwood floors or tear carpet moving a built-in, because it’s not going anywhere.