13 Things You’re Buying For Your Home That Are Already Out Of Style
Ever bring home a new décor piece only to realize it doesn’t quite feel as fresh as you thought? With trends constantly changing, it’s easy to spend money on items that are already falling out of fashion.
The good news is that spotting outdated home buys is easier once you know what to look for. In this article, I’ll walk you through popular home items that have lost their design appeal, and what you might want to choose instead.
Style is subjective, and while trends shift over time, personal preference should always guide your decorating decisions.
1. Word Art And Quote Signs
How many ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ signs does one neighborhood need? These mass-produced sentiments have become the punchline of design jokes everywhere. Word art peaked around 2015 and hasn’t recovered since.
The walls in your home should reflect your personality, not generic phrases found in every discount home store across America. Consider personal photographs, original artwork, or even a blank wall (yes, that’s allowed!) instead.
2. Mason Jar Decor
Mason jars once stood as the quintessential symbol of rustic chic, used in everything from lighting to storage solutions. Their versatility and charm made them a staple in farmhouse-inspired homes, exuding a sense of homespun warmth.
Despite their once-universal appeal, mason jars have become ubiquitous, a cliché rather than a chic choice. Overuse has dulled their novelty, and they often feel contrived rather than naturally integrated into a décor scheme.
To rejuvenate your space, consider glassware with unique shapes or colors that better align with contemporary styles. This small change can refresh your environment without sacrificing the cozy appeal you seek.
3. Overmatched Furniture Sets
Purchasing entire matching furniture sets from showrooms might seem efficient, but it screams, “I have zero imagination.” Those identical end tables, coffee tables, and entertainment centers create a catalog-perfect but soul-free living room.
Designers now mix styles, textures, and periods for spaces that feel collected rather than purchased. Your home should tell your story, not the furniture store’s quarterly sales goals. Try pairing vintage finds with modern pieces for a more authentic look.
4. Heavy Drapes With Valances
Though heavy, multilayered window treatments once signaled luxury, they now just signal dust collection. Those swags, jabots, and valances paired with thick, puddling curtains are blocking more than just sunlight, they’re blocking your home’s potential.
Today’s window treatments lean toward simplicity, clean panels, natural materials, and minimal hardware. Light, airy fabrics that allow natural light have replaced the fortress-like window armor of decades past. Your windows deserve to breathe again!
5. Chevron Patterns
Remember the zigzag of chevron patterns that once danced across every accent and accessory? This bold design was the talk of the town, but now it echoes a time gone by. Homeowners once sought it for its dynamic and eye-catching appeal, painting entire walls or upholstering furniture with this pattern.
Today, it feels reminiscent of a bygone era, like a nostalgic nod to the early 2010s. While it once breathed life into a room, offering a playful contrast to solid colors, it now seems more like a relic of past design choices.
If you’re looking to refresh your space, consider more subtle or abstract patterns that offer a modern twist without overwhelming.
6. Busy-Pattern Granite Countertops
When did kitchen counters start trying so hard to be the center of attention? Those speckled, multicolored granite countertops with gold, brown, and burgundy flecks are the visual equivalent of shouting in a library.
Today’s kitchens feature subtler surfaces like honed marble, soapstone, or quartz with minimal veining. The busy granite patterns that dominated the early 2000s now date your kitchen more effectively than a calendar.
Simple, understated countertops create a more timeless backdrop for your culinary adventures.
7. Subway Tiles
Subway tiles have been a staple in kitchens and bathrooms for years. However, their ubiquity has led to a saturation point, causing them to fall out of favor.
These tiles, while classic, are often seen as too safe and uninspired for those seeking a more personalized touch. Designers are now opting for bolder patterns and textures to add character.
Consider experimenting with geometric patterns or colorful mosaics to bring life to your space.
8. Industrial Pipe Shelving
Where did we collectively decide that plumbing supplies make great bookshelf materials? The industrial pipe shelving that dominated Pinterest boards has finally reached its expiration date in homes that aren’t actual warehouses.
These heavy, often impractical shelves collect dust in hard-to-clean crevices and can damage walls with their weight. Contemporary shelving opts for cleaner lines and materials that actually make sense in residential settings. Your books deserve better than being displayed on repurposed plumbing parts.
9. Metallic Accents
Metallic accents, like gold and silver embellishments, once added a touch of glamour and sophistication. However, their reflective nature can now seem overpowering and flashy.
Many are opting for more subtle finishes, like matte black or brushed nickel, which offer a contemporary and understated elegance.
Reconsider the use of metallics in favor of finishes that complement rather than dominate your home’s aesthetic.
10. Dark Wood Kitchen Cabinets
Those espresso-stained kitchen cabinets are making your space feel like a cave from 2008. Dark cabinetry absorbs light instead of reflecting it, making kitchens feel smaller and more oppressive than they actually are.
Current kitchen trends favor lighter woods, painted finishes, or even mixed materials that brighten the heart of your home. While white isn’t the only alternative, moving away from those chocolate-brown cabinets will immediately modernize your space. Your morning coffee routine deserves better lighting.
11. Shiplap Wall Coverings
Thanks to certain home renovation shows, horizontal wooden planks invaded our walls like termites in reverse. Shiplap reached peak saturation around 2018 and now screams “I watched too much HGTV” rather than timeless charm.
Unless you’re in a coastal cottage where this treatment makes historical sense, it’s time to consider smoother sailing.
Modern wall treatments like textured plaster, subtle wallpaper, or simply well-painted surfaces offer more sophisticated options. Not every wall needs to look like it was salvaged from a shipwreck.
12. Vessel Sinks
Sitting atop your bathroom counter like a decorative fruit bowl, vessel sinks prioritize form over function in the worst possible way. These elevated basins splash water everywhere, collect grime around their bases, and make simple tasks like washing your face unnecessarily complicated.
Contemporary bathrooms favor integrated sinks or undermount options that combine practicality with clean design. The vessel sink’s 15 minutes of bathroom fame have expired, leaving behind wet countertops and frustrated hand-washers everywhere.
Sometimes the classics are classic for good reason.
13. Over-The-Range Microwaves
Hovering above your stove like an architectural afterthought, over-the-range microwaves combine poor ventilation with awkward accessibility. Reaching over a hot cooktop to retrieve your heated leftovers is neither convenient nor particularly safe.
Modern kitchens integrate microwaves into islands, pantry walls, or dedicated appliance garages at proper heights. Better ventilation options, like proper hoods, actually remove cooking odors instead of recirculating them.
Your kitchen deserves better airflow, and your short friends deserve to reach the microwave without a stepladder.
