A Home Is Not a Place for Random Trends
Trends come and go, especially when it comes to home upgrades. What looks stylish and modern today might feel outdated and impractical just a few years down the line. So many are tempted to try what looks nice on Pinterest, and then they regret it. Here’s 35 trends that haven’t aged well.
Barn Doors Everywhere
Barn doors were all the rage for a while, but they’re not as charming as they once seemed. They don’t seal off sound or smell like regular doors, and they scream “2016 Pinterest.” Plus, they can be awkward in tight spaces. If you're not living in an actual barn, you might eventually wish you'd gone with something more timeless.
Open Shelving in Kitchens
It looked stylish on design blogs, but open kitchen shelving is unfortunately a dust and clutter magnet. Unless your dishes are photo-ready 24/7 and you’re willing to devote a lot of time to them, it just doesn’t work long-term. Many homeowners now miss their cabinets and the cleaner look they provide.
All-White Interiors
The all-white look felt fresh and modern for a while - but boy, is it hard to live in. Scuffs, spills, and dirt show up instantly. It’s also a little sterile and cold, like living in a snow globe. Many people now find themselves adding warmth and color back into their spaces just to feel at home.
Vessel Sinks
Vessel sinks were the ultimate “look at me” bathroom upgrade once upon a time. But alas, they’re not actually very functional. Water splashes everywhere, cleaning around them is a pain, and they’re often too high to use comfortably.
Concrete Countertops
Concrete counters have that cool, industrial vibe that many men love, but they’re heavy, porous, and prone to cracks and stains. Sealing them is a must (and a chore). What seemed like a trendy design choice quickly becomes a huge headache. Most homeowners who tried it eventually wish they’d picked something easier to live with.
Industrial Lighting Fixtures
Exposed bulbs, pipes, and metal cages - sure, it looked cool and edgy at first. But industrial lighting can feel harsh, cold, and more appropriate for a warehouse than an actual home. The look is starting to feel a bit tired now, and many homeowners are opting for softer, more inviting lighting.
Shiplap Overload
Thanks, Joanna Gaines! While shiplap can definitely be charming in moderation, entire rooms (or homes) covered in it now feel a little too dated. Less is definitely more when it comes to shiplap, but people got way too into it and are now paying the price.
Wall Decals and Giant Quotes
We all went through the “Live, Laugh, Love” phase, sadly. Vinyl wall decals were an easy way to personalize a space, but they quickly became cliché and well, kind of tacky. Most quotes feel dated now, and peeling them off usually leaves a mess behind. If you want to draw attention to your walls, maybe stick with traditional art.
Edison Bulbs Everywhere
They gave a warm, nostalgic glow, but those exposed Edison bulbs aren’t exactly energy-efficient or even bright. The novelty has worn off, and now they’re more often replaced with modern LED options that don’t scream “hipster coffee shop.”
Faux Wood Tile
Faux wood tile seemed like the perfect blend of style and durability, until people realized the pattern repeats were obvious, the texture was fake, and it didn’t actually feel like wood. Plus faux wood tile floors age quickly, especially if they’re low-quality.
Beadboard Ceilings
Beadboard on the ceiling looked quaint and cozy at first, but over time it can make a room feel busy or even a little claustrophobic, especially in smaller spaces. It’s also prone to discoloration and warping if not installed or sealed properly – and a lot of the time it isn’t.
Sliding Barn Shower Doors
Barn-style shower doors look trendy but are often impractical. They’re harder to clean, water can leak out more easily, and the hardware can rust over time. It’s one of those upgrades that’s better in theory than in actual daily use.
Statement Range Hoods
Oversized, decorative range hoods took center stage in kitchens for a while, but they can quickly feel dated and rather overwhelming. Plus, many don’t offer any better ventilation than the more modest models.
Chevron Everything
Chevron patterns showed up on walls, floors, rugs - everywhere. While it added a touch of personality at first, it quickly became overused and now feels stuck in a very specific design era. Many people are now getting rid of it.
Ultra-Modern Fireplaces
Those sleek, snazzy fireplaces looked futuristic a decade ago. But today, they can feel cold and disconnected from the cozy vibe people want from a fireplace. If the style doesn’t match the rest of the home, it ends up standing out for all the wrong reasons.
Popcorn Ceiling Makeovers
Covering popcorn ceilings with wood planks, fabric, or panels might’ve seemed like a cheap fix, but many of those “makeovers” just swapped one bad idea for another. The added weight and potential moisture issues often lead to sagging or peeling. Sometimes scraping is still the best route, even if it takes a long time.
Glass Block Accents
Glass blocks had a weird moment of popularity again, especially in showers and basements. But they still scream 1980s, and not in a good way. They rarely blend into modern design and are notoriously hard to update.
Overly Themed Rooms
Tropical bathrooms, Parisian kitchens, beach-themed bedrooms - they were fun to create, but living in a theme park eventually wears thin. These kinds of designs often don’t age well and can hurt resale value. It’s great to have your unique personal style, but you need to think about the future.
Too Much Gray
Gray walls, gray floors, gray furniture - it was everywhere not too long ago. But too much gray feels cold and dreary after a while. Trends are now moving back toward warmth and color, leaving a lot of homeowners wondering why they painted everything grey in the first place.
Two-Tone Cabinets
Upper white cabinets and darker lowers (or vice versa) looked bold for a while, but the look is quickly falling out of favor. It can break up the flow of a kitchen and feel unbalanced. Many are going back to single-color schemes that feel more classic and cohesive.
Epoxy-Coated Garage Floors
That high-gloss epoxy finish seemed like the ultimate garage upgrade at first. But it can peel, stain, or turn yellow over time, especially if it wasn’t installed perfectly. It ends up looking worse than plain concrete in the long run unless you're constantly maintaining it.
Tiny Mosaic Backsplashes
Those little 1x1 glass mosaic backsplashes looked great… in 2009, not now. Now they’re harder to clean, visually noisy, and can seriously clash with modern cabinet and counter trends. Large tiles or simple slabs are replacing them.
Vessel Bathtubs
They look like works of art, but works of art aren’t always what you want in a comfortable home. After the wow factor fades, most people find them more form than function. They’re not exactly inviting for a relaxing soak, and they can be a nightmare for old or disabled people.
Platform Beds Without Storage
Sleek, low-profile platform beds were once considered cool. But without under-bed storage, they waste valuable space. Plus, they’re tough on the knees as you age. A lot of people eventually swap them for something more practical and easier to get out of in the morning.
Dark Accent Walls
A stylish navy or charcoal wall made a dramatic statement for a while. But those dark accent walls often made rooms feel smaller or unbalanced. What started as moody can quickly become just plain gloomy, like living in a vampire’s castle.
Ladder Shelves
These leaned ladder shelves were trendy for displaying plants, books, or knick-knacks. But they’re not very stable, they collect dust, and they usually don’t offer much actual storage. They’re more style than substance, and people are starting to ditch them.
Painted Brick
Painting over brick, especially with stark white, was a common “modernizing” move back in the day. But once the paint chips, and it will, it’s tough (and expensive) to undo. Painted brick also loses the charm and texture that made it special in the first place.
Oversized Islands With Waterfall Edges
Huge kitchen islands with waterfall countertops seemed luxurious at first, but they eat up a ton of space and don’t always fit in cozier homes. Waterfall edges also chip easily and can be hard to repair.
Statement Tile Floors
Bold patterned tile floors made a splash at first - but they’re hard to match with evolving styles. What felt trendy and artistic five years ago might now feel like an eyesore. You’re stuck designing around them or ripping them up entirely.
Sunken Living Rooms
Everyone thought this ‘70s classic was making a comeback, but sunken living rooms are hard to navigate, especially as people age. They can lead to trip hazards, and you don’t want that.
LED Strip Lighting Everywhere
LED strips under cabinets or behind TVs added a cool glow to your tech, but they often look cheap or gimmicky -especially in bright colors. Many peel off over time or stop working altogether. The trend is fading fast, and with good reason.
Wall-Mounted Faux Fireplaces
These electric units tried to mimic real fireplaces but often look flat and artificial. Without real heat or flame, they’re more like oversized nightlights than anything e;se. Over time, most become wall clutter rather than cozy focal points like a real one.
Painted Floorboards
Painting wood floors white or a bold color was trendy for a hot minute. But the paint chips easily, shows dirt constantly, and is nearly impossible to maintain. Many homeowners regret covering up beautiful wood grain with a color that doesn’t even age well.
Chalkboard Walls
They looked fun and artsy at first - perfect for meal plans, silly doodles, or quotes. But chalkboard walls quickly become dusty, messy, and hard to keep looking neat. Plus, the novelty wears off fast. Most people end up repainting them once they realize they’re not running a café or a preschool.
Faux Fireplace Mantels
Installing a mantel without a real fireplace underneath seemed like a clever decorative hack - but it often ends up looking awkward and inauthentic. Without the warmth or function of a real fire, it's just a shelf on a wall pretending to be something it's not.
