13 Living Room Decor Ideas That Are Disappearing Across Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania homes are changing, and so are the living rooms inside them. Many classic decor styles that once filled these spaces are quietly fading away as new trends take over.

I want to show you which beloved design choices are becoming harder to find, and why they mattered to so many families across the state.

1. Floral Wallpaper Borders

Remember when every living room had a strip of flowers running along the top of the walls? Those colorful borders used to tie entire rooms together. Homeowners loved them because they added charm without overwhelming the space.

Now, people prefer clean walls with solid paint colors. The borders feel too busy for modern tastes. Many Pennsylvania families are peeling them off during renovations, replacing them with simpler designs that feel more current and fresh.

2. Heavy Drapes with Valances

Thick curtains topped with fancy valances once dominated Pennsylvania windows. These layered treatments blocked light and added formal elegance to living spaces. Families chose them to create privacy and showcase their decorating skills.

Today, lighter options like simple blinds or sheer curtains are winning out. Heavy drapes collect dust and make rooms feel darker. Younger homeowners want natural light flooding in, so they’re ditching the elaborate window dressings for cleaner, airier alternatives.

3. Wall-to-Wall Carpeting

Carpeting that covered every inch of the floor was once the standard in Pennsylvania living rooms. It felt cozy underfoot and muffled noise throughout the house. Parents appreciated how it cushioned falls when kids played.

Hardwood and laminate flooring have taken over now. Carpets trap allergens and stains that are tough to remove. Most homeowners are ripping them out to reveal the beautiful wood underneath or installing easy-to-clean alternatives.

4. Brass Light Fixtures

Shiny brass chandeliers and lamps used to sparkle in living rooms throughout the state. That golden glow represented elegance and quality craftsmanship. Homeowners polished them regularly to keep the metal gleaming bright.

Chrome, nickel, and matte black finishes are the favorites now. Brass looks outdated to many younger buyers. Pennsylvania homes are swapping out those golden fixtures during updates, choosing cooler tones that match contemporary furniture and color schemes better.

5. Entertainment Centers

Massive wooden units that held TVs, VCRs, and DVD collections were living room centerpieces. These entertainment centers provided tons of storage and made technology look organized. Families displayed photos and decorations on the shelves alongside their electronics.

Flat-screen TVs changed everything by mounting directly on walls. The bulky furniture takes up valuable space that modern rooms need. People are selling or donating these pieces, preferring sleek TV stands or floating shelves instead.

6. Matching Furniture Sets

Buying a couch, loveseat, and chair all in the same fabric used to be the smart way to decorate. These matching sets created harmony and made shopping simple. Furniture stores promoted them as foolproof solutions for achieving a pulled-together look.

Mixed styles are trending now, with people combining different pieces for personality. Matching sets can feel boring and lack character. Pennsylvania homeowners are mixing textures, colors, and eras to create spaces that reflect their individual tastes.

7. Decorative Plate Displays

Hanging plates on walls was a popular way to showcase collections and family heirlooms. Grandmothers passed down china that deserved to be seen, not hidden in cabinets. These displays added color and told stories about travels or heritage.

Minimalist wall art is replacing plate collections in Pennsylvania homes. Younger generations find them cluttered and old-fashioned. The plates are being carefully packed away or donated, making room for framed prints and canvas art that feels more modern.

8. Popcorn Ceilings

Those bumpy, textured ceilings were everywhere in Pennsylvania homes for decades. Builders loved them because they hid imperfections and were cheap to apply. The texture also helped with soundproofing between floors in multi-story houses.

Smooth ceilings are what buyers want today. Popcorn texture looks dated and can be difficult to repair or paint. Homeowners are scraping them off during renovations, even though the process is messy and time-consuming, to achieve that clean, modern appearance.

9. Oversized Sectional Sofas

Giant sectionals once dominated Pennsylvania living rooms, promising comfort for the whole family. These massive furniture pieces wrapped around entire rooms, leaving little space for anything else. Families loved them for movie nights and lazy Sundays.

Now, homeowners prefer smaller, more flexible seating arrangements. Modular furniture that can be rearranged easily has become the new favorite. People want their living spaces to feel open and airy rather than cramped.

The shift reflects changing lifestyles and smaller family sizes. Many Pennsylvania residents are downsizing to more manageable homes. Bulky sectionals simply do not fit the modern aesthetic or practical needs anymore.

10. Dark Wood Paneling

Walk into certain Pennsylvania basements or older homes, and you will find walls covered in dark wood panels. This look was everywhere during the 1970s and 1980s. Homeowners believed it added warmth and sophistication to their spaces.

Today, those same panels make rooms feel small and gloomy. Natural light cannot bounce around properly, creating a cave-like atmosphere. Younger buyers especially dislike this outdated feature.

Renovation shows have inspired many to rip out the paneling completely. Fresh white or light-colored paint instantly brightens these spaces. The transformation reveals how much potential was hidden beneath those dark walls all along.

11. Vertical Blinds

Remember those long plastic strips hanging in front of patio doors? Vertical blinds were the go-to window treatment for Pennsylvania homes with large windows. They seemed practical and affordable at the time.

The problem is they constantly break, tangle, and collect dust like magnets. That distinctive rattling sound when someone walks past drives people crazy. Plus, they scream 1990s office building rather than cozy home.

Homeowners now choose flowing curtains or modern roller shades instead. These alternatives look cleaner and operate more smoothly. The change makes living rooms feel more elegant and less like waiting rooms at the dentist office.

12. Artificial Ficus Trees

Dusty fake trees stood in corners of Pennsylvania living rooms for years, pretending to be real plants. These artificial ficus trees required zero maintenance, which made them appealing to busy families. They added a touch of green without the watering responsibility.

The problem is they fooled absolutely nobody and collected impressive amounts of dust. Cleaning those tiny plastic leaves became a dreaded chore. They also faded under sunlight, turning an unnatural yellowish color over time.

Real houseplants have made a huge comeback across the state. People enjoy caring for living things that actually purify air. Even low-maintenance succulents beat sad plastic trees any day of the week.

13. Curio Cabinets Filled with Collectibles

Glass-fronted cabinets once showcased precious collectibles in Pennsylvania homes. Grandmothers especially loved displaying porcelain figurines, commemorative spoons, and tiny trinkets from vacations. Each item told a story and sparked conversations with visitors.

Younger generations see these collections differently though. They view them as clutter that needs constant dusting and serves no practical purpose. Minimalism has replaced the urge to display every treasured possession.

Many families now donate these collections or pack them away in storage. Clean, uncluttered surfaces have become more desirable than crowded shelves. The shift represents changing values about what makes a house feel like home.