I’ve definitely fallen for a few home trends that felt amazing in the moment, only to cringe a year later and wonder what I was thinking.
Decorating should be fun, but some styles age faster than others and not in a good way. If you’re like me and want your space to still feel fresh years from now, it might be time to rethink a few of those hot right now choices.
Here’s a look at some decor trends that had their moment but might be better left in the past if timeless style is what you’re going for.
1. Word Art Everywhere
Remember when ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ signs invaded every home in America? Word art quickly transforms from cute to cliché. Those massive ‘EAT’ signs in kitchens aren’t telling anyone anything they don’t already know!
Instead, let your personality shine through meaningful art pieces that speak without spelling it out. Family photos or local artists’ work creates more authentic conversation starters than a wooden board announcing ‘Blessed.’
2. All-Gray Everything
Gray had its heyday, but turning your entire home into a grayscale photograph makes spaces feel cold and impersonal. From walls to furniture to flooring, the all-gray approach lacks imagination.
Your home deserves some color! Try incorporating neutrals with warmer undertones or adding pops of color through accessories.
Even small touches of blue, green, or terracotta can breathe life into spaces that otherwise feel like cloudy days.
3. Barn Doors On Everything
If your home wasn’t built in rural Kentucky circa 1850, maybe reconsider that sliding barn door to your bathroom.
What started as charming farmhouse flair has morphed into a strange solution for homes with no agricultural history whatsoever.
Not only do these doors rarely provide proper privacy or sound insulation, but they also scream ‘I watched too much HGTV in 2018!’ Traditional hinged doors or pocket doors offer timeless functionality without the rural cosplay.
4. Mason Jar Overload
Once upon a time, someone discovered you could put things in mason jars besides jam. Now we’ve got mason jar soap dispensers, mason jar lighting fixtures, and mason jar everything else.
While they’re perfect for actual canning, using them as drinking glasses or bathroom organizers feels forced.
If you love the vintage vibe, mix in some actual vintage pieces instead of mass-produced ‘rustic’ items that everyone else has too.
5. Accent Walls Gone Wild
That single navy blue wall with gold pineapple wallpaper might have seemed like a good idea at the time.
Accent walls can quickly become the design equivalent of a bad tattoo – something you committed to in a moment of excitement.
For longevity, consider more subtle contrasts or texture differences instead of shocking color changes. If you must have an accent feature, focus on a naturally highlighted area like a fireplace wall or consider using wainscoting or trim for dimension.
6. Chevron Patterns Everywhere
Zigzagging its way into our homes around 2010, chevron pattern quickly went from fresh to overdone. Those sharp peaks and valleys on everything from rugs to wallpaper to throw pillows create visual chaos rather than calm.
When you’re aiming for staying power, subtle patterns like small-scale geometrics or organic shapes tend to remain pleasing longer.
If you love linear designs, try classic stripes or herringbone patterns which have centuries of staying power behind them.
7. Edison Bulb Explosion
Nothing says ‘I’m trying to look industrial-chic’ quite like exposed Edison bulbs hanging from every ceiling. While initially charming, these energy-hungry lights with visible filaments have become the avocado-green appliances of our era.
Modern lighting with clean lines or genuinely vintage fixtures will serve you better in the long run. Plus, your electricity bill will thank you!
If you love the warm glow, consider fixtures that incorporate the warmth without exposing the actual bulb.
8. Faux Distressed Furniture
Factory-made furniture deliberately designed to look old and worn misses the point of actual antiques. Those chalk-painted dressers with sandpaper-rubbed edges don’t fool anyone into thinking you inherited great-grandma’s heirloom.
True vintage pieces earn their character through decades of use. If you love the lived-in look, invest in actual second-hand furniture with real history.
Alternatively, quality new pieces will develop their own patina and character as they age with your family.
9. Pallet Wood Everything
Sure, upcycling is great for the planet, but not every shipping pallet deserves to become wall art. Those rough-hewn planks nailed together as headboards, coffee tables, or wall coverings often look unfinished rather than rustic-chic.
Many pallets contain chemicals you shouldn’t bring indoors. If you appreciate woodwork, invest in properly finished pieces made from quality lumber.
For the eco-conscious, look for furniture from sustainably harvested wood or genuinely repurposed materials with better craftsmanship.
10. Giant Clocks As Art
Enormous wall clocks with oversized numbers have ticked past their prime. Often these statement timepieces don’t even function as actual clocks – they’re just big metal circles taking up wall space.
For timeless wall decor, consider artwork that speaks to your interests or heritage. Real art appreciates in value and meaning over time.
If you need to tell time, normal-sized clocks or your phone work perfectly fine without dominating your design scheme.
11. Overstuffed Throw Pillows
The great pillow invasion has claimed too many couches! Sofas buried under mountains of decorative pillows force guests into an awkward game of ‘where do I put these?’ before they can sit down.
Quality over quantity wins this design battle. Two to four well-chosen pillows that complement your furniture make more impact than fifteen mismatched ones.
Your guests will appreciate actually having somewhere to sit, and you’ll save money on unnecessary fabric squares.
12. Vessel Sinks On Parade
Those bowl-shaped sinks that sit on top of the counter looked revolutionary in 2010. Fast forward to today, and they’re mostly just splashing water everywhere and making hand-washing a chore.
Undermount or integrated sinks offer cleaner lines and easier cleaning. They also don’t draw attention to themselves as trendy bathroom features.
Plus, they’re much more practical for everyday tasks like washing your face without soaking your sleeves.
13. Matching Furniture Sets
Walking into a room where everything perfectly matches feels like visiting a furniture showroom, not a home. Those bedroom suites with identical dressers, nightstands, headboards, and mirrors lack personality and creativity.
Curated spaces that evolve over time tell your unique story. Mix different wood tones, materials, and styles that complement each other without being twins.
Your home will feel more authentic and interesting when pieces look thoughtfully collected rather than bought all at once.
14. Overwhelming Open Shelving
Open kitchen shelving looks amazing in magazines where professional stylists arrange perfect collections of matching dishes.
In real life, it’s a dust-collecting display of mismatched mugs and the plastic cups you got free at sporting events. Most of us need at least some closed storage for the less photogenic necessities.
A mix of open and closed options provides the best of both worlds. Display your pretty pieces while hiding the practical but unsightly ones behind cabinet doors.
15. Fake Plants That Fool No One
Those plastic ferns gathering dust don’t bring nature indoors – they bring factory-made petroleum products pretending to be nature. Even high-quality faux plants eventually fade, collect dust, and look obviously fake.
Low-maintenance real plants like snake plants, pothos, or ZZ plants thrive with minimal attention. They actually improve your air quality instead of collecting allergens!
If you truly can’t keep anything alive, quality dried botanicals or branches make better alternatives than plastic imitations.
16. TV As Room Focal Point
Arranging all furniture to face the giant black rectangle on your wall makes your living room feel more like a movie theater than a space for human connection.
When the TV becomes the room’s shrine, conversation and interaction take a backseat. Consider repositioning furniture to create conversation areas.
Or explore options like frame TVs, projectors, or TV cabinets that help the screen blend in when not in use. Your living space should primarily facilitate living, not just viewing.
17. Tile Countertop Catastrophes
Tiled kitchen countertops with grout lines that catch every crumb and stain were popular decades ago. Now they’re just cleaning nightmares that date your kitchen faster than expired milk.
Solid surface options like quartz, butcher block, or even updated laminates provide easier maintenance and cleaner aesthetics.
Food preparation becomes much more hygienic without those impossible-to-clean grout lines harboring bacteria and stains from that spaghetti sauce you spilled three years ago.