Too Much Southern Charm? 5 Overdone Georgia Decor Ideas, And 6 That Just Don’t Work Anymore

Georgia homes have a special kind of magic, that sweet tea on the porch, magnolia-scented charm we all recognize. But honey, even the most delicious peach pie gets stale if you leave it out too long!

As a designer who’s revamped more Southern homes than I can count, I’ve seen which traditional Georgia decorating tricks still shine… And which ones need to be packed away with last season’s seersucker.

Let’s chat about those overdone decorating ideas and the ones that simply lost their sparkle.

1. Mason Jar Everything

Y’all, I love a good mason jar as much as the next Georgian, but turning every single one into a chandelier, soap dispenser, or vase? That trend has been beaten harder than grandma’s rug on spring cleaning day.

These glass containers belong in your pantry with actual preserves, not hanging from every ceiling with fairy lights stuffed inside. When clients show me their Pinterest boards full of mason jar crafts, I gently steer them toward more sophisticated lighting options.

One tasteful mason jar vase with fresh-cut garden flowers? Charming. Seventeen different mason jar projects in one room? That’s not decor, that’s a collection that’s gotten out of hand!

2. Rooster-Themed Kitchens

Cock-a-doodle-don’t with those rooster collections! There was a time when every self-respecting Georgia kitchen had rooster-patterned curtains, rooster cookie jars, and rooster wall clocks crowing from every corner.

This farmhouse cliché has become the design equivalent of a bad dad joke, predictable and making everyone secretly roll their eyes. Most modern Southern homes aren’t even near actual chickens anymore, making this motif feel disconnected and dated.

Rather than filling your kitchen with an entire barnyard of ceramic roosters, consider subtle nods to rural charm through natural materials and clean lines instead.

3. Monogrammed Everything

Monograms make wonderful personal touches when used sparingly. The keyword here is sparingly, darlings! When your initials are plastered across every towel, pillow, doormat, and dinner plate, it starts feeling less like a home and more like a branded gift shop.

Some Georgia homeowners have gone so far that guests wonder if they’ll be monogrammed themselves before leaving! This tradition stems from a lovely place of family pride, but moderation would serve it well.

Limit yourself to a few special monogrammed pieces. Perhaps heirloom linens or a single statement pillow, and let the rest of your home speak through other design elements.

4. Plantation Shutters Everywhere

Plantation shutters certainly have their place in Georgia homes, but installing them on every single window regardless of architectural style? That’s a design misstep I see too often.

This uniform approach ignores the unique character of different rooms and window types. Though these shutters offer great light control, they’ve become such a default that homeowners install them without considering if they’re actually the best option for their space.

Modern Georgia homes benefit from varied window treatments that respect each room’s function and aesthetic. Try Roman shades in bedrooms, simple panels in living areas, and save those shutters for where they truly enhance the architecture.

5. Shabby Chic Overload

Bless your heart if you’re still drowning in distressed furniture and ruffled everything. The shabby chic trend hit Georgia homes harder than a summer thunderstorm, and some folks never recovered.

Those whitewashed dressers with chipping paint were charming fifteen years ago. Now they just look, well, shabby without the chic. When every piece in your home looks deliberately damaged and covered in lace, you’re not creating Southern charm, you’re creating a time capsule.

Instead, mix in some clean-lined contemporary pieces with one or two genuinely antique items. Your home should tell your story, not just repeat a faded design trend from 2010.

6. Word Art Everywhere

“Live, Laugh, Love” and its many cousins have overstayed their welcome in Georgia homes. Those wooden signs telling us to “Gather” in the dining room or “Wash” in the bathroom state the painfully obvious while adding zero personality.

This trend exploded faster than kudzu on a summer fence, leaving no wall safe from generic sentiments. Your guests already know they should “Bless This Mess”, they don’t need your wall art spelling it out for them!

If you want wall decor with meaning, choose actual art that speaks to you or family photos that tell your unique story. Words should enhance spaces, not state what everyone already knows.

7. Matching Furniture Sets

Those perfectly matched bedroom and living room suites that Georgia furniture stores still peddle? They’re the decorating equivalent of showing up to a party wearing the exact same outfit as the mannequin in the store window.

When everything matches too perfectly, rooms feel flat, uninspired, and lacking personality. The most beautiful Georgia homes I’ve designed feature thoughtfully collected pieces that complement each other without being twins.

Try pairing that traditional cherry wood dining table with modern chairs, or keep the matching nightstands but swap in a statement bed. Your home deserves more character than a furniture showroom floor sample!

8. Fake Magnolia Wreaths

Though I understand the appeal of magnolia’s glossy leaves, those dusty faux magnolia wreaths hanging on every Georgia front door have become more expected than sweet tea at a summer gathering.

These silk imposters gather dust, fade in the sun, and frankly, fool nobody. Georgia’s blessed with incredible seasonal blooms and greenery that can inspire fresh, rotating door decor throughout the year.

Consider wreaths made from real eucalyptus, olive branches, or seasonal elements like cotton stems in fall. Your entrance should offer a genuine welcome, not a plastic one that’s been hanging there since the Bush administration!

9. Overstuffed Rooms

Traditional Georgia homes often fall victim to the “more is more” philosophy, with rooms so crammed with furniture, accessories, and collections that you need a map to navigate from door to window.

This maximalist approach made sense when formal parlors were for entertaining and showing off family treasures. Modern living requires breathing room and functional spaces that serve multiple purposes.

Select fewer, better quality pieces that allow for comfortable movement and conversation. Your grandmother’s entire china collection doesn’t need to be displayed at once. Rotate treasured pieces seasonally to keep your home feeling fresh while honoring traditions.

10. Giant Wall Crosses Collection

Faith is deeply personal and important in many Georgia homes. However, those gallery walls composed entirely of decorative crosses in various materials and sizes have become more about decor than devotion.

When cross collections expand to dozens of ornate versions covering entire walls, they lose their meaningful impact and become overwhelming visual clutter. This trend often creates spaces that feel more like a religious gift shop than a serene, spiritual home.

Honor your faith with one thoughtfully chosen cross in a prominent location rather than turning an entire wall into a themed collection. Simplicity often carries more spiritual weight than excess.

11. Ceiling Fan Chandeliers

Those combination ceiling fan-chandeliers with faux candle lights and ornate scrollwork might seem like practical Southern ingenuity, but they’re the mullet of lighting fixtures. It’s like they’re trying to be business and party simultaneously, and failing at both!

Georgia summers demand good air circulation, but these hybrid monstrosities typically provide weak airflow while also delivering mediocre lighting. The crystal elements collect dust in the fan’s breeze, creating a maintenance nightmare.

Choose either a beautiful chandelier or a sleek modern fan. For rooms needing both, install recessed lighting plus a quality fan with clean lines that doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not.