19 Outdated California Home Trends That Could Disappear By 2030
California homes have always been trendsetters, but not all design choices stand the test of time. As sustainability, technology, and changing lifestyles reshape our living spaces, many once-popular features are heading toward extinction.
It’s like your favorite flip phone, once the coolest gadget, now just a nostalgic conversation starter. So unless you want your home stuck in the past like last season’s jeans, it’s time to rethink those dated designs.
Here’s a look at the California home trends that probably won’t make it to the next decade, and why you might want to update them sooner rather than later.
1. Tuscan-Inspired Kitchens
Remember those dark wood cabinets, ornate scrollwork, and faux-finished walls that were all the rage in the early 2000s? They’re rapidly becoming relics of the past.
California homeowners are now embracing clean lines and bright, airy spaces.
Modern kitchens feature light woods, minimal hardware, and neutral palettes that make spaces feel larger and more inviting. The heavy Mediterranean look simply doesn’t mesh with today’s casual California lifestyle.
2. Water-Hungry Lawns
Gone are the days when lush green lawns symbolized California success! With recurring droughts and water restrictions becoming the new normal, maintaining that perfect emerald carpet is both environmentally irresponsible and increasingly expensive.
We’re now switching to native landscaping, drought-resistant plants, and creative hardscaping. These alternatives not only save precious water but also create distinctive outdoor spaces that reflect California’s natural beauty without the constant maintenance.
3. Granite Countertops
Though once the crown jewel of upscale kitchens, granite countertops are losing their sparkle in California homes. Their busy patterns and high maintenance requirements have fallen out of favor with homeowners seeking cleaner aesthetics.
Quartz, porcelain, and even concrete are taking center stage instead. These alternatives offer better durability, less maintenance, and more consistent patterning.
Plus, they don’t require the sealing and special cleaning products that granite demands.
4. Formal Dining Rooms
Who actually uses those formal dining rooms anymore? In California’s relaxed culture, these seldom-used spaces are increasingly viewed as wasted square footage.
Nowadays families prefer open-concept living where cooking, eating, and socializing happen in shared spaces.
The trend is now converting these formal areas into home offices, study spaces, or extending the kitchen. Multi-purpose spaces reflect how Californians actually live today. Casually and flexibly, rather than maintaining rooms just for occasional holiday gatherings.
5. Whirlpool Bathtubs
Those giant jetted tubs from the ’90s? Total bathroom dinosaurs. Once the pinnacle of luxury, now they mostly sit there… gathering dust and regret. Plus, they guzzle water like it’s 1995.
Walk-in showers are stealing the spotlight, with rainfall heads, steam, and sleek zero-entry vibes. They’re easier to clean, better for the planet, and way more “California cool.”
Spa day, minus the splash zone.
6. All-White Kitchens
The pristine all-white kitchen that dominated Instagram for years is finally losing its grip on California homes. While they photograph beautifully, they’re proving impractical for real-life families dealing with spaghetti sauce splatters and coffee spills.
Warm woods, colored cabinets, and mixed materials are bringing personality back to cooking spaces. Even white-lovers are incorporating contrast through two-tone cabinets or statement islands.
This shift embraces kitchens as lived-in spaces rather than museum-like showpieces.
7. Accent Walls
Single wall painted in a bold color or covered in busy wallpaper is quickly becoming yesterday’s news in California design. The once-popular accent wall often feels like a half-hearted commitment to color or pattern.
Instead, homeowners are embracing more cohesive approaches, either going bold throughout a space or using subtler ways to create visual interest.
Texture through plaster finishes, architectural elements, or thoughtful material choices adds sophisticated dimension to a space. It’s a more elevated approach than the once-ubiquitous accent wall.
8. Media Rooms With Built-In Entertainment Centers
Those massive built-in entertainment centers designed specifically for oversized TVs are becoming dinosaurs in California homes. These bulky fixtures were designed for technology that changes every few years, making them quickly outdated and inflexible.
Streaming services and wireless technology have eliminated the need for DVD storage and bulky components. Modern California homes feature minimalist TV mounts, floating consoles, or even projector setups that don’t dominate the room.
Flexibility is key as technology continues to evolve at breakneck speed.
9. Oak Cabinets
The honey-colored oak cabinets that dominated California homes from the 1980s through early 2000s are finally heading toward extinction. Their distinctive grain pattern and yellowish tone instantly date a kitchen or bathroom to a specific era.
California homes embrace either painted cabinetry in sophisticated neutrals or contemporary wood finishes like walnut, white oak, or ash. If you’ve got those golden oak cabinets, painting or replacing them offers one of the biggest visual impacts in updating your home’s look.
10. Popcorn Ceilings
If your California home still sports those bumpy “cottage cheese” ceilings, you’re living beneath a relic! These textured ceilings were popular through the 1980s but now scream “outdated” to any homebuyer or visitor.
Beyond aesthetics, many contain asbestos if installed before the late 1970s. Modern California interiors feature smooth ceilings, sometimes with subtle texture through techniques like skip trowel.
Removing popcorn texture instantly modernizes spaces and can make rooms feel taller and more spacious.
11. Closed-Off Kitchens
Walls separating kitchens from living spaces are crumbling across California homes. These isolated cooking zones reflect an outdated era when meal preparation was meant to be hidden away from guests and family activities.
Today’s California lifestyle embraces cooking as a social activity. Open-concept designs allow the home chef to interact with family or entertain guests while preparing meals.
The pandemic only accelerated this trend as families sought more connected, multifunctional spaces that accommodate various activities simultaneously.
12. Vessel Sinks
Ever bonked your elbow brushing your teeth next to one of those bowl sinks? You’re not alone. Once the darling of early 2000s bathroom design, these vessel sinks are quickly circling the drain in California homes.
They splash, they’re tricky to clean around, and let’s be honest, do we really need our sink to double as modern art? Many people are now opting for undermount and integrated sinks that keep things sleek, stylish, and a lot less splashy.
13. Mediterranean McMansions
Remember the massive stucco homes with terracotta roofs, ornate columns, and arched windows that dominated California developments in the 1990s and 2000s? They’re definitely falling from favor.
Their oversized footprints and disconnected formal spaces no longer align with contemporary lifestyles or sustainability concerns.
Modern California architecture embraces cleaner lines, thoughtful indoor-outdoor connections, and more efficient use of space. New homes and renovations increasingly feature mid-century modern influences or contemporary designs that prioritize natural light and connection to the landscape.
14. Cherry Wood Finishes
The rich, reddish-brown wood finishes that dominated California homes in the early 2000s are rapidly fading from the scene. The heavy, formal look of cherry wood feels increasingly out of place in California’s casual, light-filled interiors.
Lighter wood tones like natural oak, ash, and walnut have taken center stage. These finishes better complement the indoor-outdoor lifestyle California is known for.
If you’re stuck with cherry cabinets or furniture, consider refinishing or painting to bring them into this decade.
15. Separate Tubs And Showers
Master bathrooms with both a standalone shower stall and a separate soaking tub are becoming less common in California renovations. This double-feature setup consumes valuable square footage that many homeowners would rather allocate differently.
Unless you’re a dedicated bath enthusiast, combining functions into one spacious shower area makes more sense.
Contemporary California bathrooms are all about walk-in showers with a luxurious twist. Think multiple spray options, built-in seating, and zero-threshold entries that bring both spa vibes and easy accessibility.
16. Beige-On-Beige Color Schemes
Safe, neutral interiors where everything from walls to carpet to furniture blended in various shades of beige are disappearing from California homes. This once-popular “builder beige” approach creates spaces that feel flat and lifeless rather than warm and inviting.
Today’s California interiors embrace more personality through color, even when keeping a neutral base. Layered textures, contrasting tones, and thoughtful pops of color create more dynamic spaces. Even all-neutral rooms now incorporate varied materials and finishes for visual interest.
17. Fluorescent Kitchen Lighting
Harsh fluorescent box lights in California kitchens? Yeah, those are finally flickering into the past. They make your food look sad and your guests look jet-lagged, not exactly dinner party lighting.
Now, California kitchens shine with energy-efficient lighting that sets the mood, boosts function, and actually flatters both your cooking and your face. Layered options like recessed LEDs, pendant fixtures, and under-cabinet lighting create a space that’s both beautiful and practical, with adjustable settings for every activity and vibe.
18. Wall-To-Wall Carpeting
Wall-to-wall carpeting is rapidly being rolled out of California homes. Once considered luxurious, these expanses of carpet now raise concerns about allergens, cleaning challenges, and outdated aesthetics – especially in a state where indoor-outdoor living is the norm.
Hard surface flooring like engineered hardwood, luxury vinyl, and tile dominate new installations and renovations. Area rugs provide warmth and comfort where needed while allowing for more flexibility and easier maintenance.
This shift reflects both health consciousness and design preferences among California homeowners.
19. Minimal Outdoor Living Spaces
Basic concrete patios with plastic furniture are becoming extinct in California’s outdoor-centric culture. With the state’s amazing climate, treating outdoor spaces as an afterthought no longer makes sense for homeowners or buyers.
Fully equipped outdoor kitchens, covered living areas with weather-resistant furniture, and fire features extend living space beyond the home’s walls.
California’s indoor-outdoor lifestyle demands thoughtfully designed exterior spaces. These areas should function as true extensions of the home, not just a spot to park the grill.
