Certain home features once signaled you’d made it in suburban America. As design trends evolve, yesterday’s status symbols have become today’s design faux pas.
What once made neighbors green with envy now makes design experts cringe.
1. Giant McMansions
Bigger isn’t always better! Once the pinnacle of suburban achievement, those massive cookie-cutter mansions now symbolize wasteful excess and poor taste.
Architectural critics mock their mismatched styles and bizarre proportions. Younger homebuyers increasingly prefer quality craftsmanship and thoughtful design over sheer square footage.
2. Overly Ornate Iron Gates
Driving past those grandiose iron gates with swirling patterns and gold-painted accents used to inspire awe. Now they just look like medieval castle cosplay gone wrong.
Neighborhood associations increasingly discourage these imposing barriers. Modern homeowners prefer sleeker, understated entrances that welcome rather than intimidate visitors.
3. Fake Tuscan Columns
Nothing says “I watched too much HGTV in 2005” like faux Tuscan columns flanking your suburban entryway. Inspired by Mediterranean villas, homeowners embraced this trend with gusto.
Unfortunately, cheap materials and improper scaling created awkward proportions. Real estate agents now advise sellers to remove these dated features before listing homes.
4. Wall-to-Wall Carpeting
Plush wall-to-wall carpeting once signaled luxury throughout suburban homes. Vacuum lines in pristine beige carpet were practically a status symbol!
Fast forward to today, and homeowners are ripping up carpet to reveal hardwood floors underneath. Now, buyers see wall-to-wall as outdated, high-maintenance, and a magnet for allergens and stains.
5. Plastic Lawn Flamingos
Pink plastic birds once strutted across manicured lawns as the ultimate tongue-in-cheek status symbol. Placing these tropical sentinels announced you had both lawn space and a playful personality.
Well, today, they’re seen as the epitome of kitsch. HOAs frequently ban these colorful creatures, relegating them to ironic displays or retro-themed parties rather than permanent lawn fixtures.
6. Oversized Leather Recliner Sofas
Remember when the ultimate living room centerpiece was a massive leather recliner sofa with cupholders and hidden compartments? Dad’s throne room dominated many a family space.
Interior designers shudder at these bulky behemoths. The puffy, overstuffed leather look has given way to sleeker, more proportional seating that doesn’t take over the entire room.
7. Carved Oak Entertainment Centers
Massive oak entertainment centers once anchored suburban living rooms, proudly displaying bulky TVs and extensive DVD collections. Homeowners invested thousands in these imposing furniture pieces.
Flat screens and streaming services have rendered these wooden giants obsolete. Modern homes favor minimalist media consoles or wall-mounted solutions that don’t dominate the entire room.
8. Jacuzzi Tubs with Steps
Climbing up those carpeted steps to sink into a massive jetted tub once epitomized master bathroom luxury. Bonus points if it had a mirrored surround and fake plants!
Water-wasting and energy-inefficient, these tubs have fallen from grace. Contemporary homeowners prefer sleek freestanding soakers or spacious walk-in showers that don’t require an Olympic leap to enter.
9. Faux Finish Walls (Sponging, Rag Rolling)
Weekends spent creating textured wall finishes with sponges and rags were a suburban rite of passage in the 90s. People proudly displayed their DIY prowess through mottled, multi-toned walls.
Today’s clean aesthetic has banished these busy textures. Modern homes embrace smooth walls in neutral colors, making those sponged burgundy dining rooms look like relics from a distant design era.
10. Matching Bathroom and Kitchen Themes
Coordinating your kitchen and bathroom with identical apple-themed wallpaper borders and accessories once demonstrated impressive commitment to home decor. Matching soap dispensers, towels, and canisters completed the look.
Design experts now emphasize more organic, less contrived approaches. Matchy-matchy themes have been replaced by cohesive color palettes and complementary elements that don’t scream “I bought the entire collection.”
11. Gold-Plated Bathroom Fixtures
Gleaming gold faucets, towel bars, and shower frames once announced your bathroom was the height of luxury. The shinier and more ornate, the better!
Modern bathrooms have embraced matte black, brushed nickel, or warm bronze finishes. Those shiny gold fixtures now read as outdated and excessive, especially when they start to tarnish or reveal their brass underpinnings.
12. Massive Waterfall Fountains in Front Yards
Artificial rock formations with cascading water once announced suburban prosperity to everyone driving by. Bonus points if colorful lighting illuminated the water at night!
Environmental consciousness and water conservation have made these thirsty features less appealing. Today’s landscaping favors native plants and sustainable designs over energy-guzzling water features that require constant maintenance.
13. Etched Glass Front Doors
Elaborate etched glass featuring swooping birds, flowers, or geometric patterns once graced suburban front doors. Homeowners paid premium prices for these customized entryways.
Clean lines and clear glass have supplanted these busy designs. Trending front doors prioritize simplicity and architectural integrity, making those etched glass creations look like relics from a bygone era of excess.
14. Vinyl Siding in Loud Colors
Bold teal, vibrant purple, or electric blue vinyl siding once made suburban homes stand out from their neighbors. Homeowners embraced these statement exteriors as personal expressions.
Property values and neighborhood aesthetics now favor more subdued palettes. Real estate agents report that homes with attention-grabbing vinyl colors sit on the market longer and often sell for less than their more neutrally-clad counterparts.
15. Chandelier in the Master Bathroom
Hanging a crystal chandelier above your garden tub once represented peak luxury in suburban master bathrooms. Nothing said “I’ve arrived” like bathing beneath dangling crystals.
Safety concerns and practicality have dimmed enthusiasm for this trend. Moisture and electricity make uneasy companions, and cleaning crystal pendants in steamy bathrooms quickly loses its appeal for homeowners.
16. Mirrored Closet Doors
Wall-to-wall mirrored sliding doors once adorned nearly every suburban bedroom closet. Parents appreciated how mirrors visually expanded spaces while teenagers perfected poses in full-length reflections.
Contemporary design favors more architectural closet doors with panels or texture. Those massive mirrors now read as outdated shortcuts that collect fingerprints and create awkward reflections of unmade beds.
17. Giant Above-Garage Coach Lamps
Oversized carriage lamps flanking garage doors once illuminated suburban driveways with old-world charm. Bigger was definitely better when it came to these statement fixtures.
Architectural photographers often recommend removing these disproportionate fixtures before listing homes, as they date properties instantly and distract from cleaner façade elements.