Top Design Trends Experts Recommend You Avoid
Avoid Animal Print Carpets and Rugs
Today, it probably won’t be a shocker to most people, but if there are animal prints on it, just don’t wear it. It’s not only not trendy, but it is just very difficult to pair it with most styles of home décor. Rugs featuring animal prints, and the like, had their day in the sun two decades ago; and they’re not going to be eclipse the latter any time soon.
Considering the designs are by nature non-uniform and stand out so starkly in opposition to the rest of the decor, they can even just turn the eye away the moment you walk inside the room.
All-White Kitchens Can Look Too Sterile
And here’s yet another design trend that many get just a bit wrong. White kitchens have their charm but they can become a bit too clinical without a bit of contrast and some warmth in the form of organic materials. On top of that, they need to be super clean or your kitchen will look filthy. Instead include some natural stuff to lighten it up like wooden stuff or plants.
Pairing the bright white with timber cabinets, chairs or an island can tone down the brightness and assist in maintaining that cosy vibe we all try to create in white kitchens.
Watch Out for Off-Colored Spots
When you are preparing for staining things such as floors or furniture, staircases and such there are a million different things to take into consideration. For starters, is the color of the stain complementing the other elements of your home? How will it look like after a decade from now? And, is the stain color going to clash with the natural wood colour you intend staining? Pine, for example, usually accepts lighter colors far better than darker ones.
And sometimes the wood may simply complement the remainder of your interior without a stain significantly better, like if you’ve got a white-in-white kitchen and also you choose a lighter shade wood cupboards or furniture.
Tile Countertops Don’t Make Sense for Most
Tile countertops have a few different properties that do not create a great case for a kitchen. Well, first off, they just look super dated, and not in the good way. They’re also a little more jarring and open, which can make it look like your kitchen was part of a time capsule from 30 years ago of a diner. Second, they aren’t exactly the most practical. The presence of all of those grooves makes them less easy to clean than virtually any other surface (like wood or granite).
However, if you want something more colourful in your kitchen, there are much better ways of bringing a splash of colour, that are softer and will always look great in the long term.
Giant garage doors can be distracting.
This only works if your garage is massive to begin with but just remember that ginormous garage doors can mess with the proportions of your house. In other cases, most large garages can have the larger door swapped out for smaller doors (two or more smaller doors as needed) with little issue. One big door is a problematic solution, mind you, because it leaves a door large enough to be really awkward-sized when closed.
It may not always happen, but if the garage door you have is huge, you should try to take a long look around your garage for which the door is providing access to take a good look at it.
Faux Wall Paneling Sometimes Looks Out of Place
There are many, many types of wood paneling, but it’s worth it to pause and think if the style you are getting would complement other areas of your house. You want your home to be as real as possible, taking advantage of what makes it unique naturally. That is already doing one of these violations inherently by the very nature of being fake paneling so you just have to ask yourself if the style you want truly feels available to the rest of the apartment or home.
For instance, adding ultra-luxe wood paneling would make no sense in a farmhouse or apartment because they wouldn’t have been designed for that sort of thing in the first place.
Homes With Way Too Many Corners and Gables
Now, this one really is more applicable to newer homes rather than the older ones, as they sometimes work to feature corners and gables, etc. However, the next time you design or contemplate a new(er) home with all manner of varied angles, I would submit the question: do all of those varied lines do anything, or are they primarily decorative? And for the discerning eye a wealth of different corners that complicate complexity for complexity’s sake looks bad; form should follow function after all.
And, as if that were not enough, they can easily double, or triple–or more–the cost of what should be a straightforward task like a roof re-do or some work in the attic.
Barn Doors Are a Big “No” for Some Places
There is no issue with a barn-style door in your house, inherently speaking. Now, you have to consider where you stay. If you live in an apartment or a more contemporary style home, having a barn door really doesn’t make any sense stylistically. You know, farmhouses that are actual farms, so these doors are just more appropriate. They simply do not provide the same level of sound isolation as normal doors — and barn doors are no exception; they are likely worse, with all that exposed space between the sliding door and the parallel wall.
So you want them to be able to stand out, but not to look completely different. They ought to just sort of flow with whatever else the outline of your home is, even the outside.
Open Shelving Has a Couple of Drawbacks
Open shelving can definitely be pretty, but it has its downsides like anything else. First of all, it is not uncommon for you to have to dust or wash a plate or dish every.single.time you take the piece from the shelf. Because there is no cabinet to prevent the dust from getting in so its just unavoidable. And that’s not counting other things that may find their way into your food, like hair or insects.
If you do have open shelving, perhaps try and solely use it to store nice pots or pans which likely won’t need come down as often and will save you from having to wash the dishes so often.
Marble Doesn’t Belong Everywhere
When making plans or arrangements, it is an ideal instrument for marble. It works, and adds a little bit of flair to a room. But moderation is everything though. The whole marble palette generally doesn’t look good when applied inside an entire house. It can create distance in a room. This is also why spaces — like government buildings and some museums — can feel cold and uninviting when a floor comprised entirely of marble.
Marble can be quite stunning in certain situations, but it really belongs in just a couple of different rooms in the home and even then it should be used sparingly for most of us.
Wall Signs With Lettering
Well, wall signs are becoming a thing of the past and rightly so. They’re somewhat similar to all the uplifting quotes that circulate on social media. You’d be loath to clutter your feed with those, so why clutter your house with them? And to add to it, when does one actually feel like reading a motivational quote? When a space is beautifully decorated, it will do a lot more for your sanity.
Instagram/keepinghealthy_and_oils
If you have a blank space on a wall somewhere, and feel like it needs something – this one is a bit dangerous, because you will google some things, and probably find some very nice things that are going to still look good long after this trend is dead.
Stairs Without Banisters Are a Bad Idea
One relatively new trend in stair design does, in fact, omit a component of stair design altogether: banisters. Most of this is done in homes that are constructed to feel a little bit more contemporary, however that does not make it excusable to eliminate handrails. Banisters in and of themselves are evergreen, and fulfill a purpose. Then again, there are so many types of banister and they can very well be made to look more streamlined in order to fit in with more modern designs.
Getting rid of them entirely just opens a can of safety concerns, and many professionals believe that it does something that looks a little strange to have a staircase devoid of banisters.
Fake Balconies Aren’t Fooling Anybody
This one is a relatively of a pet peeve of ours and by default of many professionals. Even faux-balconies with newer ironwork simply look wrong. They’re just not useful, so there’s no reason to have them, and design should always be form following function. They are essentially a garnish for a home window and one that says “Fuck me, I need attention”.
In the end, real balconies are amazing, and they are not amazing because they are Instagrammable (but they are), they are amazing because they allow you to sit outside, or maybe have a couple of friends over.
TVs Placed Right Above Fireplaces Completely Take Away From the Charm
You might think, at first, that simply putting a TV above the fireplace is a no brainer. Seriously, though, that spot always makes it look like there was a place built there for a television. However, there are two issues in this, including, with our fireplace, some smoke is obviously going to escape and find its way into your screen. And you also can’t enjoy both at once.
Instead, a simple and beautiful mirror or some other ornament to unify will fit much better. There are also a great many designs out there on the web if you need to seek some work for inspiration.
No Color or Warmth Is a Big No-No
What can I say, the pendulum always swings if you’re talking about just about anything, but especially about design/style. We used to have all that pop of color that basically dictated the realm of interior design back in the decades, and now it has been homogenized through the boring color schemes of last decades. As a rule, I think there is nothing wrong with doing in whites or greys, you can add interest using texture but if all of your white/grey items are the same shade it will become really boring.
Another trick to revive a room, one informed only in white or grey, is to add more natural materials, such as wood or a bunch of plants.
Not Enough Cabinet Space
If you have ever put up with a lack of cabinet space you know how frustrating it can be. But generally, it is not something which consideration by most of the people when they look for new home or remodel for the old kitchen. When it comes to aesthetics, cabinets that don’t go to the ceiling are often less appealing than those that go to the top of the wall.
And not only do they do that, they also are just that little patch of dust that needs to be cleaned otherwise, well, it just gets dusty, but dusty with the possibility of being a house of all kinds of insects.
Too Many Lights Can Do More Harm Than Good
Having a lot of lights in your home is not bad, but having five or more recessed lights or lights is where it can be too much. While all those fixtures are somewhat of a distraction, they also require that much more maintaining as when one burns out you need to replace the light in each fixture. If you need to increase lighting in a room, it is best to stick to lamps.
You might also note what color light looks best in your home or styled with your decor, as in some cases warm lights like those from incandescent bulbs are superior to other types of light coloration.
Vinyl Flooring Has A Lot Of Drawbacks
Vinyl is a cheap type of flooring to replace with, but a flooring with a lot of disadvantages too. The material is especially thin, so if installed poorly it will actually come off the floor relatively easy within a few washes or spills. Not so great for the environment either, because of the many types of chemicals that are used during the production process which can be quite toxic in nature.
Fortunately, these days there’s a couple of different options that are not entirely wood. Indeed, these alternatives are typically much more durable and only slightly pricier than vinyl.
Huge Kitchen Islands Can Occupy Too Much Space
We do love a big island for a kitchen — they’re obviously fabulous and functional, no questions asked. But sometimes smaller is better. That is even worse, especially if you don’t really have room for the kitchen to begin with. When it comes to your kitchen, space should be at the forefront because that’s where you’re going to be primarily cooking, frequently with other individuals passing through.
Keep that in mind if you’re considering a house with a big island or if you’re redoing your own kitchen and thinking of putting the same thing in.
Empty Space That Serves No Purpose
This ones a little tricky — So it comes back to the pros saying not to just fill the space, they aren’t wrong in this, empty space isn’t a bad thing per se but unused empty space should be avoided. For instance, a room that is devoid of things is fine as long as that room serves a function such as, entertaining company or simply generates a general feeling of aesthetic or comfort.
But if you simply have empty space in a weird corner of the room that just goes to waste, it’s going to look like a misplaced untouched land.
Hollow Doors Feel – And Are – Really Cheap
Hollow doors are nice if you’re tapped for cash, but they are expensive in other ways. To begin with, it is very simple to know that a door is hollow desde que from touch. They are made of cheap materials and these do not really provide proper room insulation. That is catering outside of sound and covering. They feel really light, so when you go to open one, you just kind of know that something is a bit off.
Wood or other doors are going to be a little more expensive, but it is generally worth spending the extra money on better quality doors in the long run. If you bump into a hollow door with furniture, it is easily damaged.
Open-plan workplaces can be irritating.
Open offices can be a serious productivity killer where you live or work. And they just create such a difficult atmosphere to concentrate that it’s no wonder that most people working from home turn at least one of their spare rooms into an office. And at work, well, there’s not a lot that can be done aside from asking your boss to spice things up.
However, if you were going to do an open office space in your home then you may want to think about converting that spare bedroom into an office.
Design That Takes Minimalism Overboard
It can be called maximalism or minimalism but whatever the style, it needs to be in a confined space with good design otherwise its going to make it a mess(std) at home. Only removing everything except the essentials leaves a space looking incomplete and unfinished. Minimalism should cleanse or complement clean lines and natural materials, and is by no means taking away just to take away. This type of design has a really fine line to walk.
That also doesn’t really allow for livable spaces to really feel lived in (actual minimalism can also always be well decorated, too. There’s nothing wrong with decorative touches that make a space yours, right?).
Shiplap Is a Bit Overused
Shiplap is great for a lot of folks, but it can also be an out-of-place look, even if it feels like it should be in your home. Shiplap is not going to look good with all homes especially ones that are newer or that sit in a subdivision. It has more of a country, or farmhouse look and is going to look a little odd in a house that was built only a few years ago.
There are more Oh, and there are some other more practical reasons to really consider shiplap prior to committing to it because it can be more difficult to clean because of the spaces in between pieces.reasons to consider shiplap before choosing it because the spaces between the boards make it harder to clean.
Most homes perceive nautical-themed decor as out of place.
This one is for regular houses, and the houses near the beach also. No matter how close you live to water, decor with a nautical theme tends to feel out-of-place. It depends a lot on the home, the history and region where you live but there are tasteful ways to do it. But for many putting a captain’s wheel or figures of fish on the wall simply does not fit into the house.
Focus on decorating with better and more creative ways than using tacky decorations for your beach home or oceanfront home, while still bringing in a little bit of the beach.
Industrial Can Look Cold When Done Wrong
When we say industrial we’re talking about open-faced brick walls or exposed industrial pipes that you sometimes see running through old apartments. This can be great when done correctly. But, like all things, it can be done to an extreme, like paired with grey accent pieces that are bland and cold in and of itself. That’s better than mixing industrial with warm and wooden accents.
Shutterstock/Teeraphan Pensupha
One of the main mistakes people make in styling their homes with too much industrial vintage is that it can quickly create an icy feeling because nobody wants their home to feel cold and uncomfortable even if they like the industrial look.
Built-In Anything Can Present Problems
This is not a trend to avoid per se, but it is something to consider how much you really want that fancy built-in appliance or closet nook. Built-in appliances are nice, but keep in mind that most likely, sooner or later you will have to replace it one day, and that you will have an expense. They’re not going to last forever, so while they can look really decent for a period of time.
With built-in furniture, such as wardrobes, just remember that it may restrict your choices if you eventually wish to redesign a room or bring in your own furnishings.
Small and Underutilized Backyards
Small backyards are definitely a no-go in general, but sometimes you just can’t do anything about it. However, you can still make the best use of your backyard, be it small or huge. There are a myriad of possible ways to spruce up a small backyard in order to turn it into your own private front cardigan. And it’ll do wonders for your house price, as the only thing worse than a small backyard is an empty one.
This applies to bigger, empty backyards—those that also lack some character. Even just adding some plants or a garden and a couple of chairs works a charm.
Not Making a Place Your Own
Getting this type of really special apartment or house that you have always aspired to is going to not be the case for every person each time however, for now. There are no hard and fast rules that say what you need to care about when decorating or filling your home. Whatever you consider to be a home, there is always something you can do with the space you have to make it your more personal, or warmer, or whateverit is that you think your house should be.
The last thing you want to do is leave your area looking bland and lifeless. If you could use a little inspiration, one of the hundreds of one-note blogs and websites out there can no doubt assist.
No Solar Panels on the Roof Is a Missed Opportunity
This won’t apply to everyone, especially if you live somewhere a bit colder/darker. Nonetheless, for people who are in an area that is always sunny and can pay for it, consider the solar panels. They can lower your power bill, but they also don’t look bad on your house’s roof, and they’re only going to get more common as time goes on.
Which is great, because there are plenty of programs in place to help lower the cost and they are getting less expensive over time. There is a real possibility, that eventually the majority of houses will have solar panels on the top.
Very Small Laundry Rooms That Seem Like an Afterthought
The laundry room is the first room that is sacrificed for space when designing a home. It just seems to fit into a lot of things. Still, a good laundry room should be a consideration when searching for a new home or updating an existing one. First off, these are typically warm areas do to the washer and dryer, so they should be large and spacious.
Now it’s also just good to have enough room to tuck your clothes away or immediately fold them when they come out of the dryer. And also, another huge pro is that it becomes more storage for other things.
Farmhouse Doesn’t Make Sense Everywhere
For the last several years, farmhouse decor has had a pretty good run, but for whatever reason, it seems to be waning a bit. This can be done in numerous ways and multiple styles, but farmhouse simply does not make a lot of sense for most people, especially in an urban environments or new subdivisions. Its primary thing is — it just feels unappropriate there.
On the other hand, if you live in a big city apartment (which most of us do) then having a ton of farmhouse-type decor usually clashes because most apartments have a pretty natural vibe anyway. There are far better design choices that are still great to go with.
Open Space Bathrooms Have Their Own Drawbacks
Clearly, open-space bathrooms won’t be right for every kind of space. They tend to do better when you have a smaller space to work with, which is nice, but they also come with their drawbacks. If they are not maintained properly, then the place where you take a bath becomes an issue, being so close to your bed and the place you sleep at night.
Again, consider whether you are always going to be fine about having a doorless bath or whether privacy might become more of an issue later on.
Shaker Cabinets Aren’t for Everyone
Shaker-style cabinets are cabinets featuring a square construction with an inner panel or box design that is very simple. So you are likely quite familiar with them as they are quite popular. However, they do conflict, though, with a couple of different varieties of design styles and some types of appliances. For instance, shaker cabinets can’t have stainless appliances because stainless is more modern and shaker is a little bit dated.
So while there are certainly beautiful kitchens with shaker-style cabinets, it is something to be aware of and consider in your own kitchen or your house as a whole.
Packed Out Garages Leave Little Space for Much Else
If you have one, then you know the value of that garage real estate. Though where you think of garages as a room to park your vehicles in, there are probably many those that end up inside a garage. A garage can be used as a workshop, a storage space, or even a gym. That said, it would be wise to put a little thought into how the garage is organized and not just populate it with junk.
Many people actually opt to build on their garages and construct extra living space above. They’re basically a million different options and they deserve just as much care and consideration as the inside of your house.
Smart Home Devices Sometimes Don’t Make A Lot Of Sense
Recently, seemingly every homebuilder and architect has rushed to throw any smart home device they can into a new build. But there isn’t a whole lot of sense over the long-run and even short-run behind it. They won’t last or, in the case of many devices, they’re going to fall behind the technology curve and become just another expensive object you’ll need to replace in your home before long.
And they aren’t needed in many cases anyway — just appliances for instance. Consider the screen on your fridge: it seems redundant, and a button or knob is way better looking and serves the function just fine.
Don’t Forget About Storage Spaces
It’s not really a don’t so here is more of a do however if you are looking at purchasing or renting a blank canvas then envisage how the spaces are going to be populated with all of your stuff in them. They’re probably going to seem a lot less airy once you fill the place up with your furniture and decor. So many people ask me my tips for living in a small space, and one key thing there is always storage, whether that be baskets, furniture with drawers or crates.
However you don’t want those storage spaces sitting in dust and you should definitely promise yourself to reorganize those every so often whilst you’re cleaning to refresh your space.
Identical and Suburban Homes
This isn’t going to be something you can always avoid, and new or vintage developments often have their share of sleeper hits when it comes to cookie-cutter homes. Still, if you shop around a little bit, you’re going to be able to find something a little more interesting. One, these homes are normally put extremely close to one another, which needs to be less desirable because of no privacy. And that inherent quality of them also makes them difficult to customize or claim for your own.
And, the yard that you do have often lacks any notable features, like trees that were no doubt chopped in order to build these homes.
Extra Small Apartments That Don’t Provide Enough Room
This is another that you might not avoid living in a bigger city, but you can try. With rising rents, in recent years there appeared mini apartments everywhere. And while you may need one to live in the city no matter what you do, you can at least consider how much space you’ll actually use before renting something like this. We don’t just mean what amount of room you need for your things.
This is going to impact mini apartment living—if your really tall, or super short it is going to be much harder for the first option.
