You’ve likely seen those “Live, Laugh, Love” decals adorning countless living room walls or mason jars repurposed as everything from soap dispensers to wine glasses.
While these trendy decor choices might seem charming at first glance, they’re actually making professional designers wince.
Whether you’re planning a home makeover or simply curious about what makes good design, understanding these common decorating faux pas can help you avoid turning your space into a collection of outdated clichés.
Let’s explore why these popular elements might be holding your home back from reaching its full potential.
Word Art Wall Decals
Those ubiquitous “Live, Laugh, Love” decals and similar mass-produced word art have become the ultimate design cliché in home décor.
You’ll find these vinyl statements plastered across kitchen walls, entryways, and master bedrooms, often accompanied by generic scrollwork or flourishes that lack any real artistic merit.
While you might think these ready-made phrases add personality to your space, they actually strip away authenticity and replace it with cookie-cutter sentiments.
Instead of letting mass-market decals speak for you, consider expressing yourself through original artwork, vintage signs, or meaningful photographs.
If you’re drawn to typography, invest in handcrafted letterpress prints or commission a local artist to create custom pieces.
Your walls deserve better than generic mantras that have lost their impact through endless repetition.
Matching Furniture Sets
Walking through furniture showrooms packed with perfectly matched bedroom and living room sets, you’ll notice how these coordinated pieces promise instant cohesion but deliver visual monotony instead.
While it’s tempting to purchase an entire matching set, you’re fundamentally creating a space that lacks personality and resembles a furniture store display.
Instead, try mixing complementary pieces that share common elements but aren’t carbon copies of each other.
You’ll create more visual interest by pairing a vintage leather armchair with a modern sofa, or combining nightstands in different styles but similar wood tones.
The key is to maintain a consistent thread – whether it’s color, material, or scale – while allowing each piece to stand on its own.
This approach creates a curated, lived-in feel that reflects your personal style rather than a manufacturer’s catalog.
All-White Everything
The ubiquitous all-white interior trend has dominated Pinterest boards and Instagram feeds for years, creating sterile, gallery-like spaces that lack warmth and dimension.
While you might think an all-white palette creates a clean, sophisticated look, it’s actually making your space feel flat and uninviting.
You’re missing opportunities to add depth through textural elements, subtle color variations, and tonal contrasts.
Without these layers, your rooms can feel more like a medical facility than a livable home.
Instead of defaulting to pure white everything, you’ll create more visual interest by incorporating warm whites, soft creams, and light grays.
Add natural elements like wood, woven textiles, and varied textures to break up the monotony.
Remember, even art galleries don’t display their pieces against stark white walls anymore – they’ve discovered that subtle color variations enhance their collections.
Mason Jar Overload
Mason jars have overstayed their welcome in home decor, transforming from charming farmhouse accents into an exhausting design cliché.
You’ll spot them everywhere: hanging from rustic wooden boards as light fixtures, crowding windowsills as flower vases, and cluttering bathroom counters as toothbrush holders.
While these glass vessels serve perfectly well for their intended purpose of food preservation, you don’t need to turn every surface of your home into a Pinterest board circa 2012.
Instead, try incorporating more sophisticated storage solutions and lighting options that won’t date your space.
Consider sleek ceramic containers, modern pendant lights, or elegant glass vases that don’t scream “I just raided my grandmother’s canning supplies.”
Let’s move past this overdone trend and explore decor choices that feel more intentional and current.
Fake Plants
Artificial greenery lurks in countless homes, betraying its plastic nature with dusty leaves and an unnaturally perfect appearance that instantly catches a designer’s trained eye.
While you might think you’re adding life to your space, these faux botanicals often achieve the opposite effect, creating a sense of stagnation and artificiality that cheapens your decor.
If you’re worried about maintaining real plants, you’ve got options that don’t involve settling for synthetic substitutes.
Consider low-maintenance varieties like snake plants, pothos, or ZZ plants that thrive even in challenging conditions.
You’ll find that living plants not only purify your air but also evolve with your space, creating dynamic shadows and bringing authentic seasonal changes that no plastic imitation can replicate.
Don’t let the fear of plant care push you toward artificial alternatives.
Too Many Throw Pillows
Overstuffed sofas drowning in a sea of decorative pillows have become an all-too-common sight in living rooms across the country.
While throw pillows can add personality and comfort to your space, too many will transform your seating into an obstacle course that leaves guests wondering where they can actually sit.
You’ll want to strike a balance between style and function. For a standard three-seat sofa, limit yourself to three to five pillows arranged asymmetrically.
Choose two to three coordinating patterns or textures, and vary their sizes for visual interest.
Remember, your couch isn’t a pillow storage facility – it’s a place for relaxation and conversation.
If you’re constantly rearranging or removing pillows just to sit down, you’ve crossed the line from tasteful accent to decorative excess.
Outdated Accent Walls
Every interior design trend eventually runs its course, and the once-popular accent wall has definitely overstayed its welcome.
While a bold paint color or dramatic wallpaper on a single wall might’ve felt fresh a decade ago, today’s designers are embracing more sophisticated, cohesive approaches to adding visual interest.
Instead of relying on that one statement wall, you’ll create more impact by considering your space holistically.
Think textural elements, architectural details, or strategic use of color throughout the room.
If you’re still drawn to making a statement, try incorporating large-scale art pieces, dimensional wall treatments, or floor-to-ceiling curtains.
These alternatives offer the drama you’re seeking without falling into the dated accent wall trap.
Popcorn Ceilings
While dated accent walls might make designers wince, nothing sends shivers down their spines quite like popcorn ceilings.
This textured nightmare, popular in homes built between the 1950s and 1980s, continues to plague countless spaces with its outdated, dust-collecting surface.
You’ll find that these stippled ceilings not only make rooms feel smaller but also create harsh shadows that disrupt clean sight lines.
If you’re living with popcorn ceilings, you’ve got options.
You can hire professionals to scrape them smooth (especially important if they’re pre-1980s, as they might contain asbestos), install sleek ceiling panels over them, or opt for modern alternatives like smooth plaster.
Don’t let this dated feature hold your space back – today’s design world embraces clean lines and seamless surfaces that open up your rooms.
Boho Overload
In spite of its free-spirited origins, today’s boho trend has morphed into a cluttered collection of mass-produced macramé, generic dreamcatchers, and predictable tapestries.
While authentic bohemian style celebrates individuality and artistic expression, you’ll find that many modern interpretations have become formulaic and overdone.
You’re missing the point if you’re cramming every corner with rattan peacock chairs, pampas grass, and mandala prints simply because they’re “boho.”
Instead, focus on curating meaningful pieces that tell your unique story.
Select just a few standout elements – perhaps a vintage Moroccan rug or handcrafted wall hanging – and let them breathe.
Exposed Kitchen Storage
Open shelving burst onto the design scene as a fresh alternative to traditional cabinets, but designers are increasingly steering clients away from this impractical trend.
While you might love the airy feel and easy access to your favorite dishes, exposed storage quickly becomes a dust magnet and visual clutter trap.
You’ll find yourself constantly rearranging and cleaning items that are perpetually on display.
Those Instagram-worthy shots of perfectly coordinated dishware often mask the reality of mismatched coffee mugs and plastic containers.
Unless you’re willing to curate a collection of aesthetically pleasing essentials and maintain a rigorous cleaning schedule, you’re better off opting for closed storage solutions.
Consider incorporating just one or two open shelves for frequently used items while keeping the majority of your kitchen goods behind cabinet doors.
Staged Coffee Table Books
Moving from kitchen clutter to living room decor, designers have grown weary of the staged coffee table book phenomenon.
You’ll spot these pristine volumes arranged in perfect stacks, often unopened and purely for show.
While books can add personality to your space, the engineered display of status-symbol art books or travel guides you’ve never cracked open feels inauthentic and forced.
Instead, curate a collection that reflects your genuine interests and experiences.
Display books you actually read and love, whether they’re photography collections, classic novels, or science journals.
Let them show signs of use – dog-eared pages and well-worn spines tell your story better than untouched designer editions.
Your coffee table should spark real conversations, not just serve as a calculated style statement.
Carpet in Bathrooms
From a design perspective, wall-to-wall carpeting in bathrooms ranks among the most problematic trends that continue to plague homes.
Beyond the obvious hygiene concerns, carpet traps moisture, creating an ideal environment for mold and mildew growth beneath the surface.
You’re fundamentally installing a breeding ground for bacteria in one of your home’s most moisture-prone spaces.
Instead, opt for materials that can handle water exposure while maintaining style.
Porcelain tiles, luxury vinyl, or natural stone offer durability and endless design possibilities.
If you’re craving softness underfoot, try washable bath mats that you can easily clean or replace.
They’ll give you the comfort you desire without compromising your bathroom’s functionality or your health.
Plus, hard-surface flooring materials can dramatically increase your home’s resale value, making them a smarter long-term investment.
Vertical Blinds
While bathroom flooring choices can make designers wince, vertical blinds stand as another dated design element that continues to haunt contemporary spaces.
You’ll often find these plastic strips clicking and clacking in apartments and older homes, serving as a constant reminder of their 1980s heyday.
They’re notorious for breaking, yellowing with age, and collecting dust in hard-to-clean crevices.
Instead, you’ll find more sophisticated options that better suit today’s aesthetic standards.
Consider sleek roller shades, classic Roman blinds, or tailored drapes that frame your windows with intention.
If you’re dealing with sliding doors, try panel tracks or modern curtains that glide smoothly and create clean lines.
These alternatives not only offer better light control but also elevate your space’s overall design, freeing you from the dated look of vertical blinds.
Oversized Furniture
Designers frequently cringe at the sight of oversized furniture that dwarfs living spaces and disrupts natural flow.
You’ll diminish your room’s potential when you squeeze that massive sectional sofa or king-sized bed into a space that can’t accommodate it.
Instead of creating comfort, oversized pieces create awkward traffic patterns and make rooms feel cramped.
To maintain balance, you’ll want to measure your space carefully and leave at least 30 inches for walkways.
Consider choosing furniture that’s proportional to your room’s dimensions – a loveseat might work better than a full-sized sofa, or an apartment-sized dining table instead of a grand one.
You’ll find that appropriately-scaled pieces not only look more sophisticated but also create a more functional, breathable space that lets you move freely and feels intentionally designed.
Inspirational Quote Signs
Those ubiquitous “Live, Laugh, Love” signs and similar mass-produced inspirational quotes have become the ultimate design cliché in modern home decor.
You’ll find them everywhere – from big box stores to social media feeds – proclaiming generic sentiments that have lost their meaning through endless repetition.
While you might feel these signs add personality to your space, they actually do the opposite.
They’re taking up prime wall real estate that could showcase original artwork, vintage photographs, or meaningful personal mementos.
If you’re looking to express your values or create an uplifting atmosphere, consider more subtle and sophisticated alternatives.
Try incorporating actual books with inspiring content, creating a gallery wall of your own photography, or displaying artifacts from your travels.
These authentic touches will tell your unique story far better than any mass-market platitude ever could.
Glass Block Walls
You’ll often spot them in bathrooms, basements, or as room dividers, where they create a distinctly retro aesthetic that’s difficult to incorporate into contemporary design schemes.
Their thick, institutional feel can make your space feel like a commercial building rather than a comfortable home.
If you’re seeking a modern solution for privacy and light, consider alternatives like frosted glass panels, smart glass, or sleek window treatments.
These options deliver the same functional benefits while maintaining clean lines and current design sensibilities that won’t date your space.
Floating Shelves Everywhere
Minimalism’s obsession with floating shelves has led to an oversaturated trend that’s losing its impact.
While these wall-mounted wonders once offered a fresh take on storage and display, you’ll now find them dominating every room in countless homes, creating a repetitive and predictable aesthetic.
You don’t need to mount floating shelves on every available wall space. Instead, consider mixing your storage solutions with traditional bookcases, vintage brackets, or built-in cabinetry.
When you do opt for floating shelves, be strategic about their placement and quantity.
A single, well-styled floating shelf can make a stronger design statement than multiple rows that overwhelm your space.
Tuscan-Style Kitchen Decor
Clinging to the faux-Mediterranean aesthetic of the early 2000s, Tuscan-style kitchen decor has become one of design’s most dated trends.
You’ll recognize it by its heavy wrought iron accents, artificial grape vine motifs, and those ubiquitous “Live, Laugh, Love” signs in mock-Italian typography.
It’s time to break free from the terracotta color palette, faux-distressed cabinets, and ornate corbels that weigh down your space.
Today’s kitchens embrace clean lines, natural materials, and authentic character rather than manufactured rusticity.
You don’t need ceramic roosters, wine bottle sculptures, or olive-themed wall art to create warmth.
Instead, consider incorporating actual Italian design elements: sleek marble surfaces, minimalist hardware, and sophisticated neutral tones that won’t feel outdated in another decade.
Mirror Walls
While Tuscan kitchens represent one era’s outdated choices, mirror walls stand as another design relic that continues to haunt modern interiors.
Popularized in the 1970s and ’80s, these floor-to-ceiling reflective surfaces were meant to create the illusion of larger spaces, but they’ve become a dated reminder of disco-era excess.
You’ll find these mirrored expanses particularly jarring in living rooms and dining areas, where they create a fun-house effect that’s both disorienting and visually chaotic.
If you’re dealing with mirror walls in your home, don’t feel stuck with them. Consider replacing them with textured wallpaper, modern paneling, or statement art pieces.
If removal isn’t an option, you can soften their impact by breaking up the reflective surface with strategically placed furniture or installing decorative film overlays that maintain light while reducing the mirror’s overwhelming presence.
Hollywood Vanity Lights
Those iconic rows of exposed bulbs surrounding bathroom mirrors have fallen from grace in contemporary design circles.
While they once evoked the glamour of old Hollywood dressing rooms, today’s designers view them as outdated and harsh on the complexion.
You’ll find that these lights create unflattering shadows and hotspots that distort your appearance rather than enhance it.
Instead, you’re better off choosing modern sconces or LED strips with diffused lighting placed at eye level on both sides of your mirror.
These alternatives provide even illumination that’s both functional and sophisticated.
If you’re committed to achieving that classic Hollywood feel, consider updating the look with dimmable smart bulbs in sleek fixtures or backlit mirrors that offer customizable lighting temperatures.
Your morning routine deserves better than yesteryear’s glaring bulbs.
Farmhouse Everything
The farmhouse trend has overstayed its welcome in contemporary interior design.
While Joanna Gaines popularized this style, you don’t need to transform every surface into a rustic wonderland.
Those “Live, Laugh, Love” signs, sliding barn doors in urban apartments, and distressed everything have become visual noise that cheapens your space.
You’ll find more authenticity by selecting a few cherished vintage pieces rather than filling your home with mass-produced faux-farmhouse items.
Skip the shiplap walls, mason jar light fixtures, and galvanized metal decor from big box stores.
If you’re drawn to rustic charm, incorporate it subtly through natural materials like weathered wood or handmade pottery.
FAQs
How Much Should I Budget for a Complete Home Interior Redesign?
You’ll want to budget $100-200 per square foot for a full interior redesign, factoring in furniture, materials, and professional fees. Your investment should be 10-20% of your home’s value for best results.
Which Design Mistakes Can Actually Lower My Home’s Resale Value?
Like a wilting garden, your home’s value can drop with dated popcorn ceilings, overly personalized paint colors, cheap fixtures, DIY renovations gone wrong, and carpet in bathrooms. These mistakes can cost you thousands at resale.
Are There Alternatives to Replacing Outdated Fixtures on a Budget?
You can revitalize dated fixtures with spray paint designed for metals, update hardware finishes, or add modern lampshades. Consider DIY techniques like chalk paint for cabinets or peel-and-stick solutions for quick transformations.
When Should I Hire a Professional Designer Versus Decorating Myself?
You’ll benefit from a designer’s expertise when tackling major renovations, complex layouts, or full-home transformations. For simple refreshes and personal spaces where you’re confident in your vision, trust your decorating instincts.
How Do Current Design Trends Vary by Geographic Region?
You’ll notice coastal areas embrace airy, beachy vibes, while urban centers favor sleek minimalism. The Southwest celebrates earth tones and textures, and mountain regions lean into rustic-modern designs with natural materials.
Final Thoughts
You’ve likely spotted some of these cringe-worthy design elements in your own space, and that’s okay.
What matters isn’t following every designer’s rule, but creating a home that authentically reflects your evolution.
As you move forward, consider replacing dated decor piece by piece, letting your style naturally unfold.
Remember: true design isn’t about perfection—it’s about curating spaces that tell your unique story, one thoughtful choice at a time.
