18 Features Buyers Are Starting To Avoid In Modern Homes

When house hunting, most people dream of finding that perfect place… But let’s face it, not every “must-have” from years past still makes the cut.

Walk through a modern home today, and you’ll notice the wish lists have changed. Trends that once turned heads now feel outdated, impractical, or just too high-maintenance to bother with.

Thinking about a renovation? Getting ready to sell? Or just love seeing how home design keeps evolving? This list uncovers the features modern homeowners are starting to avoid, and some of them might really surprise you! Let’s dive in.

1. Carpet Everywhere

Wall-to-wall carpeting has lost its appeal to many modern buyers. Most people now prefer hardwood, laminate, or luxury vinyl flooring for their durability and cleanliness.

Carpets trap allergens, stains easily, and requires frequent deep cleaning. They’re especially problematic for pet owners and allergy sufferers.

If you’re selling, consider replacing carpets in main living areas while perhaps keeping them in bedrooms where their warmth and comfort are still appreciated.

2. Formal Dining Rooms

The dedicated formal dining room is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Think about it, when was the last time you actually used one outside of the holidays?

Today’s families crave open-concept living, where the kitchen, dining, and living areas flow together for everyday connection and easy entertaining. That formal dining space often sits untouched, collecting dust while taking up valuable square footage.

Wouldn’t it be more useful as a home office, a playroom, or an extension of your living space? Flexible rooms that can adapt to real life are taking center stage, while single-use spaces are being shown the door.

3. Whirlpool Tubs

Those massive jetted tubs that were all the rage in the 1990s are now seen as water-wasters and cleaning nightmares. They take up enormous bathroom space while rarely getting used.

Buyers today prefer large walk-in showers with rainfall heads or steam features. These options use less water and create a spa-like experience without the maintenance headaches.

If you have one of these dinosaurs, replacing it with a modern shower setup could significantly boost your home’s appeal.

4. Dark Kitchen Cabinets

Heavy, dark-stained kitchen cabinets make spaces feel smaller and more dated. Current home seekers are drawn to lighter, brighter kitchens that feel airy and open.

White, light gray, or natural wood tones have taken over as preferred cabinet finishes. These lighter options reflect more light and help create the illusion of more space.

Even if you can’t replace cabinets entirely, painting existing ones a lighter color can dramatically update your kitchen’s appeal without breaking the bank.

5. Tuscan-Style Kitchens

The ornate Tuscan kitchen, with its brown granite, scrollwork, and bronze fixtures, has had its moment. While it once screamed luxury, it now tends to feel busy and dated, especially to younger home seekers.

Today’s kitchens are all about clean lines, light color palettes, and a less-is-more approach. Quartz countertops, subtle backsplashes, and sleek fixtures are leading the way.

Got a kitchen that leans heavily into the old-world villa look? It might be time to scale things back and freshen it up before putting your home on the market.

A few simple updates can make a big difference in helping others see its full potential.

6. Overly Personalized Spaces

Is your hobby room helping or hurting your home’s value?

Highly customized spaces built around specific hobbies or interests can actually lower resale appeal. That dedicated wine cellar or home theater might look impressive, but not everyone will find it practical. People want to picture their own lives in a home, not someone else’s vision.

Rooms that serve multiple functions tend to attract more interest than those limited to a single use. When preparing to sell, consider restoring these spaces to more neutral, flexible layouts that leave room for imagination.

7. All-White Kitchens

The pendulum has swung! After years of all-white kitchens ruling the design world, they’re now being seen as too sterile and hard to maintain. White surfaces show every speck of dirt and can come off as more clinical than comfortable.

Warmer tones, wood accents, and colorful islands are making a comeback, bringing a sense of balance and personality to kitchen spaces. A touch of color or natural texture goes a long way in making the space feel more inviting.

An all-white kitchen can feel a bit stark, but it doesn’t take much to warm it up. Try adding wood accents, textured rugs, or warm-toned accessories. Even painting the island a soft, inviting color can add personality and make the space more appealing to potential buyers.

8. Elaborate Media Centers

Built-in entertainment centers designed for outdated tech are quickly getting the boot. Those oversized wall units built to cradle boxy TVs and stacks of DVDs now feel more “blast from the past” than “home of the future.”

With streaming, smart TVs, and tablets running the show, media is now consumed on sleek, wall-mounted screens, or even curled up with a phone. What once looked like a high-end feature now just hogs space and screams dial-up era.

Ditching or updating these built-ins can breathe new life into the room and give it a clean slate. In the end, nothing says “modern living” like freeing your walls from the ghosts of tech past.

9. Busy Bathroom Tile Patterns

Intricate mosaic tile designs and bold patterns in bathrooms are losing favor with buyers who prefer cleaner, more timeless looks. Those tiny multicolored tiles that were popular in the early 2000s now look busy and dated.

Large-format tiles with minimal grout lines are the current preference. They’re easier to clean and create a more spacious, serene bathroom environment.

Simple subway tiles or large porcelain slabs in neutral tones have more staying power than trendy patterns.

10. Closed Floor Plans

Homes with many small, separated rooms feel choppy and outdated to today’s real estate clients. The trend toward open-concept living has been strong for years and shows no signs of reversing.

Families want to be able to interact across kitchen, dining, and living spaces. Parents cooking dinner want to be able to see children playing or help with homework while preparing meals.

Opening up key living spaces by removing non-load-bearing walls can dramatically increase a home’s appeal and perceived spaciousness.

11. Popcorn Ceilings

Popcorn ceilings might have been the height of style decades ago, but today they’re more of a design don’t than a feature to flaunt. Instead of adding charm, they tend to dull a room’s appeal, collecting dust, casting shadows, and reminding visitors of a bygone era.

They’re also a bit of a headache to maintain. In older homes, they might even pose health concerns due to materials used at the time.

Smoothing them out may involve some mess, but the transformation is worth it. A clean, flat ceiling instantly brightens a space and gives it that crisp, updated look that today’s design lovers appreciate.

12. Bathroom Carpet

Carpeting in bathrooms ranks among buyers’ top turnoffs, and for good reason. The combination of moisture and carpet creates the perfect environment for mold, mildew, and bacteria growth.

Ceramic tile, luxury vinyl, or natural stone are vastly preferred for bathroom flooring. These materials stand up to moisture, are easier to clean, and look more upscale.

If your bathroom still has carpet, replacing it should be a top priority before listing your home for sale.

13. Sunken Living Rooms

Once the height of 1970s sophistication, sunken living rooms are now viewed as potential hazards and accessibility nightmares. Those steps create trip hazards and make homes less accessible to people with mobility issues.

Modern home seekers prefer open-concept, single-level living spaces that flow seamlessly from one area to another. The continuous flooring creates a more spacious feel and improves accessibility.

Unfortunately, fixing a sunken room is a major renovation, but it might be worth considering if you’re in a high-value market.

14. Bold Accent Walls

Those bright red or navy blue accent walls that were all the rage a decade ago now tend to look dated and distracting. Bold colors are highly personal and can make rooms feel smaller or darker than they actually are.

Neutral wall colors, on the other hand, create a blank canvas that helps people picture their own furniture and style in the space. Soft grays, warm beiges, and gentle greens or blues have much broader appeal than dramatic color choices.

Repainting is one of the most cost-effective upgrades you can make before listing your home.

Thinking about giving your walls a refresh? Wondering what color might help seal the deal? Neutral is your safest bet.

15. Overlarge Master Baths

Massive master bathrooms that sacrifice bedroom or closet space are falling out of favor. Those football field-sized bathrooms with acres of tile to clean no longer impress buyers like they once did.

Today’s homeowners prefer reasonably sized bathrooms with high-quality fixtures over sheer square footage. The extra space is more valued in closets, bedrooms, or as separate water closets for privacy.

Well-designed bathrooms with smart storage solutions win out over cavernous spaces with wasted square footage.

16. Cheap Veneer Cabinets

Are your kitchen cabinets making the wrong first impression before anyone sees the rest of your home?

Shiny, plastic-like cabinets often found in builder-grade homes tend to fall flat. They scratch easily, can’t be refinished, and can look low-quality even when brand new.

In contrast, solid wood or well-made engineered wood cabinets with durable finishes are much more appealing. They offer longevity, can be updated over time, and give the space a more grounded, high-end feel.

If a full replacement isn’t feasible, you might try painting veneer cabinets with the right primer and paint. It’s a budget-friendly refresh that still boosts visual impact.

17. Outdoor Hot Tubs

I used to think a hot tub was the ultimate backyard upgrade, until I sold my last house. What I thought would wow buyers actually turned into a sticking point. A few people asked how hard it would be to remove, and one even called it a “leaf collector with plumbing.”

The truth is, unless you’re in a vacation-heavy area where hot tubs are expected, many people see them as more work than relaxation. They worry about maintenance, energy costs, and hygiene, especially if the tub’s been sitting unused.

When I finally removed it and cleaned up the deck, the space looked bigger, cleaner, and more inviting. A simple, open patio ended up being a bigger draw than the hot tub ever was.

18. Overdone Landscaping

Elaborate landscaping that requires constant maintenance can make a property feel overwhelming. Intricate gardens with rare plants and water features often translate to “weekend work” rather than relaxation.

Many people prefer outdoor spaces that are easy to care for and enjoyable year-round without a major time commitment.

Low-maintenance landscaping with native plants, simple designs, and efficient irrigation systems has broader appeal. Many people want attractive outdoor spaces without signing up for a part-time job maintaining them.

It may be wise to simplify overly complex landscaping before listing your home to highlight the space without drawing attention to the upkeep.