22 Clear Signs Your Home Is Not Trendy Anymore, According To Designers
Trends come and go, just like that avocado-colored fridge your grandma swore was timeless. If your home’s still channeling 2011 (or worse, 1993), it might be due for a serious style update.
Designers can tell when a home hasn’t kept up, from worn-out details to trends that have long faded away.
Ready to find out if your home’s still fresh, or just hanging onto trends long gone? Let’s see what the pros have to say before your shiplap stages a comeback tour.
1. All-White Kitchens Look Clinical
Remember when everyone wanted that pristine, hospital-like kitchen? Well, those sterile white spaces now feel colder than my ex’s heart. Today’s kitchens embrace warmth through wood tones, colorful cabinets, and mixed materials.
Personality has returned to cooking spaces! Even a simple swap of hardware or introducing a painted island can breathe life into that antiseptic box.
Trust me, your kitchen shouldn’t look like somewhere surgeons scrub in.
2. Barn Doors Hanging Around
Those sliding barn doors that everyone slapped onto bathrooms and bedrooms? They’re about as current as flip phones. Besides looking themed and forced, they’re terrible for privacy and sound insulation.
Modern interiors favor pocket doors or statement hinged doors if you need a space-saving solution. The farmhouse craze has officially left the building.
Unless you actually live in a converted barn, these doors now read as a desperate attempt to look country-chic.
3. Gray Everything Has Lost Its Appeal
Gray was the color of the 2010s. Gray walls, gray floors, gray furniture, you couldn’t escape the grayscale revolution! Now those spaces look as dull as a rainy Monday morning.
Current designs embrace actual color again. Warm neutrals, earthy tones, and even bold hues have returned triumphantly.
Your all-gray living room might be whispering (in a very monotone voice) that you haven’t updated since Pinterest’s early days.
4. Word Art Speaks Volumes
Nothing screams “I decorated with TJ Maxx clearance finds” quite like those wooden signs declaring “Live Laugh Love” or “Blessed.” These mass-produced sentiment pieces have become visual noise that designers run from.
Wall decor should reflect your personality, not generic platitudes. Consider actual artwork, photographs, or textiles instead.
Your walls deserve better than motivational phrases that have been plastered across millions of homes.
5. Accent Walls Stand Out (Not In A Good Way)
That single burgundy or navy wall in your dining room? It’s basically wearing bell-bottoms while everyone else has moved on. The isolated accent wall trend has been replaced by more cohesive approaches to color.
Current design favors fully painted rooms or architectural color-blocking with purpose. Sometimes all walls deserve attention!
Consider painting built-ins or architectural details instead. Try to show sophistication rather than indecision about committing to color.
6. Tuscan Kitchens Need A Passport Home
The faux-Italian kitchens with terracotta tiles, wrought iron accents, and grape motifs are more dated than last year’s calendar. Unless you’re actually living in the Italian countryside, this look has become the equivalent of wearing a costume.
Today’s Mediterranean-inspired spaces take subtle cues from the region without the theme park approach. Skip the fake distressing and wine bottle decor. Your kitchen shouldn’t look like it’s trying to convince visitors they’ve teleported to a villa.
7. Mason Jar Overload Creates Clutter
Mason jars repurposed as everything from drinking glasses to light fixtures to bathroom organizers reached peak saturation years ago. This crafty trend now reads as unimaginative rather than rustic-chic.
Contemporary spaces favor intentional choices over DIY Pinterest projects. While glass containers still have their place, the branded Ball jar with a handle isn’t the sophisticated choice it once seemed.
Your home deserves vessels designed for their actual purpose!
8. Chevron Patterns Zig When They Should Zag
Chevron exploded onto the design scene, zigzagging across everything from rugs to accent pillows to entire walls. Now these sharp peaks and valleys look as dated as the 2012 Pinterest boards they dominated.
Modern interiors favor organic patterns or more timeless geometrics. That chevron rug might be comfortable, but visually it’s shouting “I haven’t redecorated in a decade!”
Take it from a pro, just a sprinkle of this pattern can instantly add years to your space!
9. TV Above Fireplace Creates Neck Pain
Mounting your flat-screen above the fireplace seemed clever when everyone started doing it. Now designers recognize it as both visually dominant and physically uncomfortable. Your neck shouldn’t need chiropractic adjustment after movie night!
Current design prioritizes comfortable viewing angles and more balanced room arrangements. The fireplace and television can coexist without stacking.
Your living room should serve your comfort, not force an awkward layout because some builder thought it saved space.
10. Edison Bulbs Have Lost Their Glow
Tired of feeling like you’re stuck in an old-timey sepia photo every time the lights go on? Those exposed vintage-style bulbs that cast everyone in unflattering yellow tones have finally dimmed in popularity.
While they once added industrial charm, now they’re as overdone as your smartphone addiction. Today’s lighting blends style and function with fixtures that actually brighten your space. No more squinting or awkward shadows!
11. Vessel Sinks Overflow With Problems
Bowl-shaped sinks perched on vanities used to scream luxury. However, they have since earned a reputation for splashing water everywhere and trapping grime along their edges. Today’s bathrooms lean toward integrated or undermount sinks that combine sleek style with practical design.
Your morning routine shouldn’t involve wiping down puddles on the countertop! The best bathroom designs balance beauty and function without compromise.
12. Shiplap Walls Have Sailed Away
Thanks to certain renovation shows, everyone suddenly wanted wooden planked walls regardless of architectural style. Unless your home has historical precedent for this feature, shiplap now reads as a trendy choice past its prime.
Modern interiors favor textural walls with purpose rather than applying a one-size-fits-all treatment. Your Colonial, Mediterranean, or Mid-Century home probably never had shiplap historically!
Consider wall treatments appropriate to your home’s actual architecture instead.
13. Matching Furniture Sets Look Showroom Stale
Buying the entire bedroom or living room suite straight off the showroom floor results in spaces lacking personality. Those perfectly matched pieces suggest you bought everything during one lunch break.
Designer spaces feature thoughtfully curated furniture that relates without matching exactly. Make your home tell your story, not the furniture store’s!
Even mixing different nightstands or end tables creates more visual interest than the clone-army approach.
14. Granite Countertops Show Their Age
Still rocking those speckled granite countertops that scream “early 2000s throwback”? Especially when teamed with cherry cabinets, it’s like your kitchen’s stuck in the flip phone era, retro, but not in a good way.
Today’s kitchens lean toward sleek quartz, marble-look surfaces, or even concrete and wood for a fresh, modern vibe. Those busy, multicolored granite patterns tend to age a space faster than you can say “dial-up internet.”
Remember, your countertops shouldn’t be the loudest thing in the room!
15. Tufted Furniture Buttons Up Too Tight
Deeply tufted furniture with crystal buttons or nail head trim everywhere reached peak popularity but now feels stuffy and overdone. Those Chesterfield sofas and diamond-tufted headboards read more formal than the relaxed interiors currently favored.
Modern upholstery tends toward cleaner lines with selective details. Your furniture shouldn’t look like it’s wearing a Victorian corset.
Comfort has returned as a priority, with deep cushions and relaxed silhouettes replacing the rigid, over-tufted pieces.
16. Tile Countertops Grout On Your Nerves
Tiled kitchen countertops with grout lines that have trapped years of stains are screaming for an upgrade. The classic 4×4 ceramic tiles create an uneven work surface that’s a magnet for crumbs and spills.
Modern kitchens call for smooth, seamless surfaces that look great and make cleanup a breeze. Making your morning coffee shouldn’t feel like an obstacle course.
And those grout lines? They’ve probably shifted from white to a stubborn shade of “how did that happen?” despite all your scrubbing.
17. Overstuffed Recliner Chairs Take Too Much Space
I remember those massive, puffy recliners that dominated living rooms like throne chairs for TV watchers. Finally, they have fallen from design grace.
While comfort matters, these oversized eyesores often look like they’re swallowing the room. Current comfort seating offers streamlined profiles without sacrificing relaxation.
Your favorite chair doesn’t need to look like it belongs in a sports bar. Modern recliners and lounge chairs prove you can have both style and comfort without the bulky silhouette.
18. Harsh Track Lighting Spotlights Problems
If you’re still using rigid tracks with adjustable spotlights shooting every which way, chances are your lighting is doing more harm than good.
Those harsh, unflattering beams belong in retail stores, not cozy homes. Modern lighting mixes layers of light for both mood and function. It’s so your ceiling doesn’t end up looking like a miniature airport runway.
Today’s track lighting, when used, is sleek, subtle, and designed to blend seamlessly with your space instead of stealing the spotlight.
19. Wallpaper Borders Frame Outdated Spaces
The days of 6-inch wallpaper borders featuring country geese, fruit baskets, or floral patterns are long gone, and for good reason. These outdated strips instantly drag any room back several decades, making your space look stuck in a design time warp.
Contemporary wall treatments embrace full accent walls or architectural molding. Your walls deserve better than a decorative hat band.
Even if you’re keeping some wallpaper, the border addition has firmly landed in the design history books.
20. Popcorn Ceilings Need Scraping
Popcorn ceilings, the dreaded cottage cheese texture, are one of the most hated design leftovers in many homes. They not only date your space but also trap dust and make cleaning a pain.
Modern ceilings favor smooth finishes or stylish details like beams and coffers that add charm without the mess. Removing popcorn ceilings can be messy, but it’s one of the easiest ways to instantly refresh and modernize any room.
Say goodbye to the bumps and hello to a fresh, clean look!
21. Mirrored Furniture Reflects Poor Taste
Remember those gleaming mirrored nightstands and console tables everyone had to have? Well, they’re now reflecting your outdated style choices back at you! The fingerprint-magnet surfaces that once screamed ‘luxury’ now just scream ‘cleaning nightmare.’
Modern designers have moved toward furniture with character and natural materials. Those mirror-covered pieces create a cold, impersonal vibe that feels more like a 2000s nightclub than a cozy home.
Want a contemporary alternative? Look for pieces with textured wood, mixed metals, or even concrete elements that add depth without the constant Windex sessions.
22. Technicolor Appliances Cooking Up Eyesores
Don’t you remember those candy-colored refrigerators and fire-engine red stand mixers that once dominated Pinterest boards? They’ve spoiled faster than milk left on the counter! Trendy lime green toasters and cobalt blue coffee makers now mark your kitchen as stuck in a bygone era.
Today’s design-forward homes embrace appliances that blend seamlessly rather than scream for attention. Think integrated units with clean lines or subtle metallic finishes that complement rather than compete with your space.
The contemporary kitchen whispers sophistication through thoughtful details and quality materials. It doesn’t rely on a rainbow explosion of gadgetry that looks like a preschool art project gone wrong.
