California’s 14 Most Regrettable Home Trends (And What’s Coming Next)
I’ve walked through countless California homes, and some design choices just make me cringe. You know that feeling when you spot a trend that seemed brilliant in the 90s but now looks totally outdated?
Golden State homeowners have embraced some seriously questionable styles over the decades. Let me show you the biggest design mistakes that are finally on their way out.
1. Overly Dark Kitchen Cabinets
Dark cabinets seemed sophisticated once, but now they just swallow all the light in your kitchen. I can’t tell you how many homeowners complain about feeling like they’re cooking in a cave. Natural light becomes your enemy instead of your friend with these gloomy giants.
Cleaning shows every single fingerprint and dust speck, which drives people absolutely crazy. The trend now leans toward lighter woods or crisp white cabinetry that opens up the space.
Your kitchen will feel twice as big and way more welcoming with brighter choices.
2. Popcorn Ceilings
Nothing screams 1980s louder than those bumpy, textured ceilings that collect dust like magnets. Builders loved them because they hid imperfections and absorbed sound cheaply. But honestly, they just look dated and make rooms feel shorter than they actually are.
Removing popcorn texture has become one of the most requested renovation projects across California. Smooth ceilings create a modern, clean aesthetic that makes spaces feel taller and brighter.
Plus, you won’t spend forever trying to dust those annoying little bumps anymore!
3. Wall-To-Wall Carpet
Carpet everywhere seemed cozy decades ago, but now it just feels like a dust and allergen trap. I’ve seen California homes where even the dining room had carpeting, which makes zero sense for spills. Hardwood and tile have taken over because they’re easier to clean and look more sophisticated.
Pet owners especially regret this choice since accidents and odors sink deep into those fibers. Modern homes embrace mixed flooring with area rugs for warmth where you need it. Your allergies and your vacuum cleaner will both thank you for ditching the wall-to-wall mess.
4. Ornate Crown Molding
When crown molding gets too fancy, it starts looking like a wedding cake exploded on your ceiling. I’ve toured homes where the trim was so elaborate it competed with the furniture for attention. Simple lines work better in California’s laid-back aesthetic than all that fussy detailing.
Cleaning those intricate grooves becomes a nightmare that nobody warns you about beforehand. Minimalist profiles or simple shaker-style trim now dominate modern design choices. Your eyes need places to rest, not architectural elements that demand constant attention and dusting efforts.
5. Shag Carpeting
Shag carpet felt groovy in the ’70s, but those long fibers hide things you really don’t want to think about. Crumbs, pet hair, and who knows what else disappear into that jungle never to be seen again. Vacuuming becomes an Olympic sport that nobody signed up for willingly.
California’s casual vibe has shifted toward surfaces you can actually keep clean without professional equipment. Low-pile rugs or smooth flooring let you enjoy texture without the maintenance headache.
Your toes might miss the fluffiness, but your sanity will definitely appreciate the upgrade to something manageable.
6. Brass Fixtures
Brass fixtures dominated the 80s and 90s like nothing else, but that yellow-gold finish now looks seriously outdated. I watch homeowners immediately swap these out when they move into older California properties. The shiny brass clashes with nearly every modern color palette people prefer today.
Polishing brass to keep it looking decent requires way more effort than anyone wants to invest. Brushed nickel, matte black, or stainless steel have become the go-to choices for contemporary homes.
Your bathroom and kitchen will instantly feel updated with this simple switch that makes a huge visual impact.
7. Wallpaper Borders
Those little strips of patterned wallpaper running around rooms seemed like easy decoration once upon a time. But honestly, they just chop up your walls and make ceilings look lower than they are. I’ve helped remove countless borders featuring ducks, ivy, and country patterns that nobody wants anymore.
Peeling them off becomes a sticky nightmare that damages paint and tests your patience completely. Clean walls with maybe one accent wall work better for California’s breezy, open aesthetic. Your rooms will feel taller and more spacious without that dated stripe cutting everything in half visually.
8. Heavy Window Treatments
California sunshine is precious, so why would anyone block it with layers of heavy drapes and valances? I’ve seen windows so covered you’d think vampires lived there instead of sun-loving Californians.
These bulky treatments collect dust and make rooms feel dark and stuffy instead of bright.
Simple blinds or sheer curtains now dominate because they let you control light without the drama. Your windows should showcase views, not suffocate them under pounds of fabric and tassels. Energy efficiency matters, but you don’t need curtains that weigh more than your couch to achieve it properly.
9. Overly Open Floor Plans
Open floor plans seemed revolutionary, but some California homes took it way too far. When your kitchen smells invade every room and conversations echo everywhere, you’ve got a problem. I’ve visited homes where you could see the toilet from the front door, which is just awkward for everyone.
People now crave some separation and defined spaces for different activities and privacy needs. Strategic half-walls or room dividers bring back functionality without totally closing things off.
Your home needs zones where you can escape noise and cooking odors, not one giant echo chamber.
10. Faux Finishes On Walls
Sponge painting and faux marble techniques seemed artistic in the 90s, but now they just look messy. I cringe every time I see walls that someone spent hours dabbing with sponges in multiple colors. These finishes rarely age well and usually just make rooms feel chaotic instead of sophisticated.
Solid paint colors or simple accent walls have replaced these complicated techniques across California homes.
Your walls should provide a backdrop for your life, not compete for attention with busy patterns. Clean, simple surfaces let your furniture and artwork shine without visual overload from dated painting tricks.
11. Built-In Entertainment Centers
Massive built-in entertainment centers seemed practical when TVs weighed 200 pounds and needed serious support. But flat screens changed everything, leaving these bulky units looking ridiculous with tons of wasted space.
I’ve seen California homeowners struggle with how to use all those shelves nobody needs anymore. Modern homes favor minimalist TV stands or simple floating shelves that don’t dominate entire walls.
Your electronics have shrunk dramatically, so your furniture should too for a cleaner look. Ripping out these dated built-ins instantly opens up rooms and brings them into this century successfully.
12. Tile Countertops
Tile countertops seemed economical and colorful once, but those grout lines become disgusting faster than you’d believe. Cleaning between tiles where food and bacteria hide turns into a constant battle you can’t win. I’ve watched people scrub for hours trying to make these counters look decent again.
Solid surface materials like quartz or granite have taken over California kitchens for good reason. Seamless counters without grout lines stay cleaner and look infinitely more polished and modern.
Your kitchen deserves surfaces that don’t require a toothbrush and bleach to maintain basic hygiene standards daily.
13. Carpeted Bathrooms
Carpeted bathrooms represent one of the most baffling design choices ever made in California homes. Water and carpet are enemies, yet someone thought combining them near toilets and showers made sense. I can’t even imagine the mold and bacteria thriving in those damp fibers you can’t see.
Tile, vinyl, or waterproof flooring now dominate bathrooms because they actually handle moisture properly. Your bathroom should be the easiest room to clean, not a science experiment growing under your feet. Anyone selling a home with carpeted bathrooms should rip it out immediately before scaring away buyers.
14. Mirrored Walls
Entire mirrored walls made rooms feel bigger in the ’80s, but now they just feel like living inside a funhouse. I’ve been in California homes where you can’t escape your own reflection, no matter where you look. Cleaning fingerprints and smudges off that much mirror becomes a full-time job nobody wants.
Strategic mirrors still work great as decor, but covering whole walls went way too far. Your home should feel comfortable, not like a dance studio or gym from decades ago.
Removing mirrored walls instantly modernizes spaces and lets you decorate without seeing yourself constantly from every possible angle imaginable.
