Designers Reveal 15 Home Decor Choices Falling Out Of Favor

Home design is a living, breathing reflection of how we want to feel in our spaces – and it’s always changing. Styles that once seemed fresh and essential can quickly lose their appeal, leaving rooms feeling dated or disconnected from modern life.

As new ideas and aesthetics take hold, designers are pointing out décor choices that no longer resonate, encouraging anyone considering a refresh to let go of trends that dim rather than enhance the beauty and comfort of home.

1. Oversized Sectional Sofas

Remember when bigger meant better? Those massive couches that dominated living rooms are now seen as space-wasters by modern homeowners.

Oversized sectionals are being replaced by sleeker, more modular options that can be reconfigured as needed. People are prioritizing breathing room and flow over maximalist seating that overwhelms the space.

2. Matching Bedroom Furniture Sets

The cookie-cutter approach is officially passé. Purchasing an entire bedroom suite where every piece perfectly matches is no longer considered stylish.

Matching bedroom sets are giving way to thoughtfully curated, mixed-material collections. Today’s design-savvy homeowners prefer creating character through intentionally mismatched pieces that tell a unique story and showcase personal style.

3. Heavy Dark Wood Pieces

Goodbye, visual weight! Those chunky mahogany and cherry furnishings that once signaled luxury are making rooms feel outdated and oppressive.

Heavy wooden pieces are being swapped for lighter finishes and mixed materials. The shift toward brighter, airier spaces means furniture that doesn’t dominate the visual landscape or make rooms feel smaller than they actually are.

4. Tufted Headboards

Once the hallmark of luxury hotel-inspired bedrooms, the reign of button-tufted opulence is coming to an end. The formal, structured look no longer fits with more relaxed living.

Tufted headboards are being replaced by simpler, cleaner designs with subtle texture. Contemporary bedrooms are embracing minimalism with slim profiles, natural materials, and less ornate statement pieces.

5. Word Art Signs

The writing is on the wall – literally – and it’s not staying there much longer. Those ubiquitous phrases like “Live, Laugh, Love” and “Home Sweet Home” are losing their appeal fast.

Word art signs are being replaced by more personal art choices. Homeowners are gravitating toward original artwork, vintage finds, and meaningful photographs that express individuality rather than mass-produced sentiments.

6. Gallery Walls With Mismatched Frames

Chaotic collections are losing their charm. The once-trendy mishmash of differently sized and styled frames creating a busy wallscape is now seen as visually overwhelming.

Gallery walls are evolving toward more cohesive, curated approaches. The new preference is for thoughtfully arranged displays with complementary frames, consistent spacing, and a more intentional overall composition that creates harmony rather than visual noise.

7. Chevron Patterns

The zigzag fever has finally broken. After dominating everything from rugs to wallpaper throughout the 2010s, this distinctive pattern has reached saturation point.

Cheron designs are being replaced by more timeless patterns. Subtle geometrics, organic shapes, and classic stripes offer similar visual interest without the strong date-stamp that immediately identifies a space as belonging to a specific trend era.

8. Macramé Wall Hangings

The boho-chic staple is finally unraveling. After years of popularity riding the bohemian wave, these knotted creations are starting to feel like craft fair leftovers rather than deliberate design choices.

Macramé hangings are being replaced by more sophisticated textile art. Homeowners are turning to woven tapestries, framed vintage textiles, and contemporary fiber art that offers more complexity and artistic value.

9. Faux Fur Throws

Fluffy fakery is falling flat. Those ultra-plush synthetic throws that once adorned countless sofas and beds are now recognized as environmentally questionable and dust-collecting nuisances.

Faux fur accessories are giving way to natural fiber alternatives. Cotton, linen, and responsibly sourced wool throws offer comfort and texture without the maintenance issues or the increasingly dated look of imitation animal products.

10. Shag Rugs

The high-pile party is winding down. While incredibly popular for their plush comfort, these deep-fibered floor coverings have proven to be impractical maintenance nightmares that trap dust, pet hair, and debris.

Shag carpeting is being replaced by low-profile alternatives. Flat-weave rugs, thin pile options, and washable varieties offer cleaner lines and easier care while still providing color and texture to anchor living spaces.

11. Damask Curtains

Formal fabrics are falling from favor. The ornate, traditional patterns that once conveyed luxury and sophistication now appear stuffy and out of step with more casual modern living.

Damask window treatments are being replaced by simpler drapery. Today’s homeowners prefer solid colors, subtle textures, or understated patterns that complement rather than dominate a room’s visual landscape while still providing necessary privacy and light control.

12. Metallic Accent Pillows

The shine is wearing off this once-glittering trend. Those flashy gold, silver, and copper pillows that added instant glam now look like leftover New Year’s Eve decorations.

Metallic cushions are being replaced by more sophisticated textures. Designers are embracing subtle sheen through natural fabrics like linen and silk, or incorporating metallics more discreetly through trims and small accents rather than all-over sparkle.

13. Mason Jar Decor

The rustic glass phenomenon has finally reached its expiration date. From candle holders to bathroom organizers, these repurposed containers have become the poster children for overdone farmhouse style.

Mason jar crafts are being replaced by more refined storage solutions. Glass is still appreciated for its sustainability, but sleeker vessels with intentional design, rather than repurposed food containers, are taking center stage in stylish homes.

14. Decorative Orbs

Those mysterious spheres are losing their gravitational pull. The abstract balls that once adorned countless coffee tables and bookshelves without serving any real purpose are finally rolling out of style.

Decorative orbs are being replaced by more meaningful objects. Today’s accent pieces tell stories through artisanal craftsmanship, personal significance, or functional beauty rather than existing solely as generic three-dimensional space fillers.

15. Crystal Chandeliers

The traditional sparklers are losing their luster. Those elaborate, crystal-dripping fixtures that once defined dining room elegance now appear fussy and overly formal for today’s lifestyle.

Crystal lighting is evolving toward more streamlined alternatives. Contemporary homes are embracing architectural lighting with clean lines, interesting materials, and artistic shapes that make statements through form rather than through glittering extravagance.