15 Household Items That Are Only Popular Because of HGTV
Ever wonder why everyone suddenly wants a farmhouse sink or a wall covered in shiplap? HGTV shows have transformed ordinary household items into must-have home features almost overnight.
Home renovation celebrities like Chip and Joanna Gaines have convinced millions of viewers that these design elements are essential for a stylish home, even though many barely existed in mainstream design before their TV debuts.
1. Barn Doors
Remember when doors just swung open? Now sliding barn doors dominate modern homes, taking up wall space and demanding attention.
Joanna Gaines introduced these rustic-chic sliders on ‘Fixer Upper,’ and suddenly everyone needed one, regardless of whether their home had ever seen a hay bale. The hardware alone costs hundreds, yet we all happily pay for that farmhouse aesthetic.
2. Shiplap Walls
Once used exclusively in actual ships and barns for practical purposes, shiplap has invaded living rooms across America.
Chip and Joanna Gaines practically built their empire on these horizontal wooden planks. Before HGTV, most people couldn’t identify shiplap in a lineup. Now people rip out perfectly good drywall just to install this trendy wood paneling that collects dust in all those charming grooves.
3. Open Shelving in Kitchens
Gone are the days when kitchen items were hidden behind cabinet doors. HGTV designers convinced everyone to display their dishes like museum exhibits.
What they don’t show on TV is the constant dusting required or how quickly those perfectly arranged shelves become cluttered messes. Despite the impracticality, everyone continues to dismantle perfectly good cabinets to achieve this camera-ready look that demands a minimalist lifestyle.
4. Subway Tile Everything
Originally found in actual subways, these rectangular tiles now cover every kitchen and bathroom surface imaginable.
While subway stations used them for their durability and ease of cleaning, HGTV stars promote them for their “timeless” appeal. People now agonize over grout colors and pattern layouts for these simple white rectangles, treating the decision with the gravity of choosing a college.
5. Industrial Pipe Fixtures
Plumbing supplies escaped the hardware store and invaded our homes thanks to HGTV’s obsession with industrial chic.
Black metal pipes now form bookshelves, towel racks, and light fixtures in homes that have never seen a day of factory work. The irony? These purpose-built industrial items cost more as decorative elements than they do as actual plumbing supplies, yet homeowners happily pay the markup.
6. Sliding Pantry Doors
Ordinary pantry doors weren’t dramatic enough for HGTV producers, so sliding barn-style pantry doors became the new must-have.
Viewers quickly forgot that traditional doors tuck neatly away instead of constantly covering part of your wall. Despite being impractical in small spaces, these statement doors continue appearing in kitchens nationwide, requiring special hardware and extra clearance just to access your cereal.
7. Faux Fireplace Mantels
Who needs actual heat when you can have a decorative mantel? HGTV convinced viewers that fireplaces are more about styling opportunities than warmth.
Faux mantels now adorn walls in homes across America, often with no fireplace in sight. Candles and seasonal décor are carefully arranged on these architectural features that serve no functional purpose—except to anchor Instagram-worthy vignettes and hold Christmas stockings once a year.
8. Oversized Wall Clocks
Wall clocks grew to mammoth proportions once HGTV designers decided timepieces should dominate entire walls.
Often sporting Roman numerals and distressed finishes, these statement clocks became the focal point of dining rooms and entryways nationwide. Ironically, most now check phones for the time anyway, making these enormous timepieces purely decorative despite their supposed functionality.
9. Word Art Signs
Nothing says “I watch HGTV” quite like a wooden sign declaring “Gather” or “Blessed” hanging prominently in your home.
Before renovation shows popularized these text-based decorations, walls were adorned with actual art. Now walls proudly display obvious statements like “Kitchen” in the kitchen or “Family” above family photos, creating a curious phenomenon where rooms are labeled like a children’s picture book.
10. Farmhouse Sinks
Once utilized by actual farmers for practical purposes, these deep, single-basin sinks now grace suburban kitchens that have never seen a day of farm work.
After appearing in countless HGTV renovations, homeowners began ripping out perfectly functional double-basin sinks for these showpieces. What the shows don’t mention is the hefty price tag, special cabinetry requirements, and how easily these ceramic beauties chip when you drop a pot.
11. Exposed Edison Bulbs
Lamp shades apparently became optional once HGTV designers discovered the visual appeal of bare vintage-style bulbs.
Glaring directly into eyes everywhere, these energy-inefficient light sources create more atmosphere than actual illumination. People now willingly pay premium prices for bulbs designed to look like century-old technology, proudly displaying their filaments in pendant clusters above kitchen islands across America.
12. Reclaimed Wood Accents
Old barn wood found new life after HGTV convinced viewers that weathered planks deserve premium prices.
What was once considered scrap material now fetches top dollar when marketed as “reclaimed” or “with character.” Many install these splinter-prone boards as accent walls, headboards, and floating shelves, paying extra for wood that looks like it’s been neglected for decades.
13. Chevron Patterns
Zigzag patterns zigzagged their way into homes everywhere after HGTV designers embraced this geometric motif with unbridled enthusiasm.
Suddenly appearing on rugs, accent walls, and throw pillows, chevron became the pattern of choice for anyone wanting an “updated” look. Despite its dizzying effect when overused, homeowners continue incorporating these sharp angles into every room, ensuring their spaces look distinctly 2010s for years to come.
14. Painted Mason Jars
Jars designed for preserving food found a surprising second career as home decor thanks to countless HGTV craft segments.
Painted in chalk-finish pastels or distressed whites, these glass containers now hold everything from flowers to bathroom cotton balls. Viewers dutifully collected and transformed these humble jars into statement pieces, creating an entire cottage industry of Mason jar crafts that grandmother canners would hardly recognize.
15. Distressed White Furniture
Perfectly good furniture gets deliberately damaged and painted white after HGTV convinced viewers that new items should look old.
Chalk paint manufacturers owe their fortunes to shows teaching viewers to “distress” everything from dressers to dining tables. Many now spend weekends sanding edges and applying antiquing wax to create an artificial worn appearance, paying premium prices for special paints designed to look like they’re peeling off.
