13 Old California Home Trends Likely To Fade Away By 2030

California has always been a trendsetter when it comes to home design, but not every style stands the test of time. As we approach 2030, many once-popular features are starting to feel outdated and impractical.

I’m here to show you which California home trends are on their way out, so you can make smarter choices for your space.

1. Wall-to-Wall Carpeting

Remember when every room had thick, plush carpeting? Those days are numbered. Hardwood floors and easy-to-clean surfaces are taking over because they’re healthier and look more modern.

Carpets trap dust, allergens, and pet dander, making them less appealing to health-conscious homeowners. Plus, they stain easily and need constant maintenance. By 2030, you’ll likely see carpet only in bedrooms, if anywhere at all.

2. Formal Dining Rooms

Who actually uses their formal dining room anymore? Most families eat in the kitchen or living area, making these spaces feel like wasted square footage.

Open floor plans are replacing separate dining rooms because they encourage family interaction and flexibility. People want multipurpose spaces that adapt to their lifestyle. That fancy room collecting dust will soon become an office, playroom, or extended kitchen instead.

3. Oversized Jacuzzi Tubs

Giant jetted tubs seemed luxurious back in the day, but they’re actually maintenance nightmares. Cleaning those jets is gross, and most people prefer quick showers anyway.

Water conservation is a huge priority in drought-prone California, making these water-guzzling tubs impractical. Sleek walk-in showers with rain heads are the new luxury standard. By 2030, expect to see these bulky relics replaced with spa-like shower experiences.

4. Granite Countertops

Granite had its moment in the spotlight, but those busy patterns now feel dated and overwhelming. Quartz and other engineered materials offer cleaner looks without the maintenance hassle.

Unlike granite, quartz doesn’t need sealing and resists stains better. Homeowners are gravitating toward simple, uniform surfaces that create calm kitchen environments. The bold, speckled granite slabs are becoming design relics as minimalist aesthetics take over California homes.

5. Popcorn Ceilings

Nothing screams outdated quite like popcorn ceilings. These bumpy textures were popular for hiding imperfections, but they trap dust and make rooms feel darker.

Smooth, modern ceilings reflect light better and create cleaner lines throughout your home. Many contain asbestos from older construction, giving homeowners another reason to remove them. Flat ceilings are the standard now, and popcorn texture will be nearly extinct by 2030.

6. Tuscan-Style Kitchens

Faux-finished walls, wrought iron, and heavy wood cabinets defined Tuscan kitchens in the 2000s. Today, they feel overly themed and cluttered rather than elegant.

Clean lines and neutral palettes are replacing these ornate designs because they’re more versatile and timeless. The Mediterranean look requires specific decor that limits your options. California homeowners now prefer lighter, brighter kitchens that feel fresh and adaptable to changing tastes.

7. Builder-Grade Brass Fixtures

Shiny yellow brass was everywhere in the 90s, from doorknobs to light fixtures. Now it just looks cheap and dated, especially the thin, builder-grade versions.

Matte black, brushed nickel, and aged brass offer more sophisticated alternatives that complement modern design. Mixing metals has become acceptable, giving you more creative freedom. By 2030, that bright brass will be completely replaced with finishes that actually enhance your home’s value.

8. Vertical Blinds

Those clunky plastic slats make an awful noise and constantly break off their tracks. They’re the least attractive window covering ever invented.

Sleek roller shades, plantation shutters, or even simple curtains provide better light control and aesthetics. Vertical blinds scream rental property or office building, not stylish home. California homeowners are ripping them out in favor of treatments that actually complement their decor and function properly.

9. Matching Appliance Suites

Buying every appliance in the same finish used to be the rule, but that’s changing fast. Mixed metals and custom panel-ready appliances create more interesting, personalized kitchens.

You don’t need matching stainless steel everything to have a cohesive look anymore. High-end designers are intentionally mixing finishes for visual interest and character. By 2030, the matchy-matchy approach will seem as outdated as avocado green appliances do now.

10. Laminate Countertops

Cheap laminate counters peel, burn, and stain way too easily. They were budget-friendly solutions that screamed compromise rather than quality.

Even affordable homes now feature better materials like butcher block, tile, or basic quartz. Technology has made quality surfaces more accessible to average homeowners. Those fake-looking laminate tops with obvious seams will be completely phased out as better options become standard in all price ranges.

11. Overly Themed Bathrooms

Seashell soap dishes and anchor towel hooks made sense near the coast, but themed bathrooms quickly become tacky. They limit your decorating options and feel childish over time.

Clean, spa-like bathrooms with neutral palettes are timeless and relaxing instead of gimmicky. You can always add small themed touches without committing every surface. California homeowners are choosing sophisticated simplicity that won’t embarrass them in a few years.

12. Large Lawns

Maintaining a golf-course lawn in California’s climate is expensive, wasteful, and increasingly frowned upon. Water restrictions make traditional grass lawns impractical and environmentally irresponsible.

Drought-tolerant landscaping, native plants, and artificial turf are replacing thirsty grass. These alternatives require less maintenance, save money, and look beautiful year-round. By 2030, big lawns will be rare as Californians embrace sustainable landscaping that makes sense for the climate.

13. Accent Walls

Painting one wall a dramatic color seemed edgy in the 2000s, but now it just chops up the room visually. These walls rarely add the impact people hoped for.

Cohesive color schemes throughout spaces create better flow and make rooms feel larger. If you want visual interest, texture and artwork work better than random color blocks. California designers are moving toward subtle, sophisticated palettes where accent walls feel jarring and dated.