Think Before You Commit to a Design Trend
So, you’re looking to redesign your house. You’re probably poring over magazine and Pinterest trying to pinpoint the perfect design choices. The trouble is, though… what looks good in an image (and a carefully curated image at that) is not what’s necessarily going to look good in real life. And a lot of the time, the design doesn’t even function how you want it to in reality. Here’s a listing of the worst design trends to follow if you want a stress-free life.
All-White Interiors
Do not even think about having all-white interiors if you have children or pets in the house. They look great, but they’re impossible to maintain, and you’ll shortly find yourself worrying about every little dirty speck on the wall. It’s just not worth it – spend time with your baby or furbaby instead!
Open Shelving in Kitchens
So many people are drawn to this trend not realizing that you have to have perfectly matching crockery for it to work. One wrong color mug and the whole thing is thrown out of whack. Plus, you’ll be feeling the pressure to keep your plates clean all the time, and no-one wants that.
Floating Bathroom Vanities
People buy floating bathroom vanities because of how sleek they look, and then they realize too late just how much dust collects under them. Plus, they can be harder to clean around if the plumbing isn't fully concealed.
Minimalist Living Spaces
Does anyone like minimalism, really? A minimalist living space looks great in photographs but what about all your stuff? Do you really want to get rid of it all or cram it all into a cupboard? What about your children’s toys, do you expect them to pick them up?!
Open Floor Plans
There’s a reason this one is going out of fashion – open floor plans are just awful. For a start, if you’re sharing the house with someone, you can’t get any privacy. And for another, cooking smells travel right across the room and entrap you.
Glass Shower Enclosures
People love the look of these but soon discover actually keeping them nice is a pain. You’ll constantly battle streaks and water spots to keep the "clean" look intact, and that’s not even getting into the buildup of soap scum. Plus, glass shower enclosures have been known to shatter from time to time.
Dark Painted Walls
At first, dark painted walls seem dramatic and/or cozy, but they soon start to pose a problem. They show dust, fingerprints, and scuffs so much more easily than lighter shades, and they also make the room feel so much smaller.
Matte Black Fixtures
There was a time not so long ago when everyone was painting their fixtures matte black, especially if they were into the gothic look. Then they all realized how dirty they get with fingerprints and soap residue, and how likely they are to chip.
Industrial Style Décor
It’s hard to believe, but industrial style décor used to be huge. People went about their day surrounded by harsh brick walls and pipes – and all this did was give them more stuff to clean and more dangers for small children to run into.
Concrete Countertops
Concrete countertops are still out there, but they’re not as popular as they used to be. For a start, they’re expensive. For another thing – or several things – they’re prone to staining or cracking, and if you drop a plate on one you can say goodbye to the plate.
Barn Doors
People started getting really into barn doors a while back. Unfortunately, they offer little sound privacy and don’t seal well – something people only found out after they’d already gotten one for the bathroom. That considerably downgraded their house, no-one wants to be heard in the bathroom.
Ultra-Low Furniture
It has a modern look, no doubt, but low-profile furniture is hard to get in and out of - especially for older adults or those with mobility issues. And remember, anyone can get mobility issues at any time. Less of a problem, but it also limits under-furniture storage.
Vessel Sinks
Vessel sinks are considered beautiful but they’re not as great as you think. They’re splash-prone and awkward to use. Water often gets trapped between the bowl and counter, leading to grime buildup and more frequent cleaning. Ewww.
Wall-Mounted Faucets
Another bathroom trend that people are slowly easing out of. Installation and repair for a wall-mounted faucet is trickier, especially if there’s a leak inside the wall, and there’s often splash issues with the sink. It’s better to just not bother.
No Upper Kitchen Cabinets
People who like minimalism often choose to have no upper kitchen cabinets, but that works out poorly for them. You’ll constantly bend down for bottom cabinet access, potentially hurting your knees and back.
Statement Bathtubs
People often go all out on their bathroom even though no-one apart from them is likely to spend much time in there. They buy a statement bathtub, which is expensive to install, and then find themselves cleaning it constantly to keep it nice.
Clawfoot Tubs
To be fair, clawfoot bathtubs are very cool, but they’re so impractical. The exposed floor beneath collects dust, and there's no edge to store toiletries. Plus, some people find that climbing into them can be downright dangerous.
High-Gloss Cabinets
Everyone wants the glossy look but no-one wants to spend time keeping that gloss nice. Fingerprints, scratches, and smudges show up instantly on high-gloss cabinets and, unless you’re lucky enough to have a maid, it’s you who’ll be constantly cleaning them.
White Upholstery
People regret it so, so much when they buy white upholstery with a child or a pet around. One little spill, and all that money is down the drain. Even stain-resistant fabrics don’t usually hold up for very long, unfortunately.
Glass Tabletops
Glass tabletops are prone to smudging, so you’ll have to clean it constantly… and then there’s the issue of safety. An old person or a child can easily trip and fall into a glass tabletop, and the results can be disastrous.
