A Look Back At The 2010s
The 2010s gave us plenty of home design ideas - some we’re glad stuck around, and others we wish would just go away already. What was the deal with all that grey? Everyone was trying to get a home that looked striking in Instagram photos, and along the way they forgot about the most important aspects of a home. Does your home still harbor any of these out-of-date disasters?
Overdone Subway Tile
Subway tile has its charms, but the 2010s went overboard with it - backsplashes, showers, entire walls. And it was often paired with stark white grout, which is a nightmare to keep clean. Maybe leave subway tile for the actual subway instead?
Faux Distressed Furniture
The shabby chic trend had everyone sanding down perfectly good furniture to make it look “aged.” The result was, more often than not, a bunch of chairs and tables that looked like they just came from a garage sale. Real antiques have character, but fake distressing doesn’t give it so easily.
Mason Jar Everything
Mason jars were everywhere not so long ago – they were light fixtures, soap dispensers, drinking glasses, storage. It was way over the top, though very good for Pinterest and people who sold mason jars. It’s thankfully less of a trend these days.
Accent Walls in Wild Colors
Painting one wall (or even two) a bright color was the go-to trick of the 2010s. It was supposed to add personality, but often it just made rooms look off-balance. Time passed, and gradually a lot of people quietly painted over their accent walls.
Granite Countertops Everywhere
Granite was the must-have surface of the 2010s, but let’s be honest - it’s been done to death now. Every kitchen in America seemed to have the same speckled granite pattern for ages. There are so many better and more exciting countertop options out there now.
Matching Bedroom Sets
The 2010s loved those big-box store bedroom sets where the bed, dresser, and nightstands all matched perfectly. But they made bedrooms, supposed to be the coziest rooms in the house, feel flat and uninteresting. What you need to do is mix styles and textures, and not be afraid to showcase your personality, rather than the store’s.
Man Caves
The concept of the “man cave” was a place in the house where a man could basically go to avoid his family. Women soon put a stop to that. Man caves are fewer and far between these days, and those that do exist are more welcoming.
Faux Marble Everything
Peel-and-stick marble was slapped on tables, countertops, shelves, and even laptops during the 2010s. Did people really love marble that much? Apparently they did! Gradually people began to see the trend as tacky and it’s died down now.
Over-The-Top Gallery Walls
The 2010s were big on filling entire walls with frames of all shapes and sizes, trying to capture something of an art gallery vibe. While it seemed creative at the time, it often just looked cluttered and chaotic. A few well-placed pieces of art make a bigger impact than a mishmash of photos and prints.
All-White Kitchens
There’s something timeless about a clean, white kitchen, but the 2010s took it to the extreme. All-white cabinets, counters, backsplashes, and floors left kitchens looking more like a science lab in a bad sci-fi movie than anything else. Kitchens should be warm and inviting!
Edison Bulbs Everywhere
Edison bulbs had their moment in every coffee shop and loft-style apartment, but now they just feel overdone. They’re not energy efficient, either, so swapping them out for modern lighting is a smart and environmentally friendly move.
Word Art Signs
“Live, Laugh, Love.” Need we say more? The 2010s were full of inspirational quotes plastered on walls and signs in every room. Some people found it uplifting, but these days a cloying quote on the wall just seems a little cringe. Sorry!
Gray Everything
The 2010s loved gray walls, gray furniture, gray floors - you name it. People were obsessed! At first, it felt sleek and modern, but now it just looks flat and lifeless. Homes started to feel more like offices than places where people actually lived.
Barn Doors Inside the House
Sliding barn doors were everywhere in the 2010s, but unless you live on an actual farm, they don’t make much sense. They’re heavy, noisy, and don’t block sound and smells like a regular door. So many people hopped on the trend and then had to pay through the nose for new doors when they were disappointed in the barn ones.
Open Shelving in Kitchens
Sure, open shelves look great in perfectly styled Pinterest photos, but in real life they collect dust, grease, and clutter way too fast. Unless you want to get up early every morning and perfectly style your shelves, they’re best left to the dustbin of interior design.
Industrial Chic
Exposed pipes, concrete floors, and raw brick walls felt cool and edgy for a while, but in suburban homes, the industrial trend often looked forced to say the least. Not everyone wants to feel like they’re living in an unfinished warehouse.
Chandeliers Everywhere
The 2010s had chandeliers in dining rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, all over the place. While statement lighting can be gorgeous, too many oversized chandeliers just feel… well, a bit like someone is cosplaying at being rich. Plus, they’re hard to clean.
Heavy Drapes
This is another one where the idea is to capture the feeling of living in the lap of luxury. But it often doesn’t work. Heavy curtains can make a room feel small and pokey, and if you have young kids they’re inevitably going to end up playing in them and maybe accidentally tearing them down.
Chalkboard Walls
The chalkboard paint craze had everyone turning kitchen walls into giant galleries of words and doodles. It seemed fun at first, but in practice, chalk dust is messy and what if you wanted something else on the kitchen wall? Chalkboard walls are few and far between these days.
