Key takeaways:
- It is suggested to use stronger colors that imitate natural colors instead of neutrals.
- Heavier drapery should be avoided as it can make a room feel smaller and darker.
- Fake flowers are outdated and tacky- try placing potted plants around your home or adding fresh ones.
- Mismatched styles and textures in your home décor are trending now rather than everything matching.
- Pink bathrooms are no longer popular, so if you have one, consider painting over it with a more modern color scheme.
- Shag carpets fell out of popularity because they were difficult to keep clean – update your flooring!
- Gold fixtures look dated – replace them with newer fixtures or paint them with a more modern color, such as bronze or nickel.
We’ve all seen them. Those outdated home design trends that make you cringe. We’re talking cringe-worthy wallpaper, tacky furniture, and garish color schemes. The kind that makes you wonder, “What were they thinking?” Well, we’re here to tell you that some of those trends are not only outdated, but they’re also downright ugly. So, if you’re thinking about giving your home a facelift, avoid these eleven outdated home design trends.
Trend 01: Play It Safe with Neutrals
Sure, white and beige are traditional and safe choices for interior decor schemes and gray and brown living room ideas, but let’s spice things up with some mood-boosting color therapy! What could go wrong? You repaint it! Things aren’t always black and white. We bid goodbye to vanilla and hello to every color under the sun!
You may still use a neutral color palette but consider including stronger colors, particularly those that imitate natural colors. These deeper hues are still neutral but add warmth and liveliness to your space.

Trend 02: Heavy Drapery
Billowy curtains might have been all the rage in grandma’s day, but they don’t have a place in today’s homes. Heavy drapery not only counts as an outdated home design trend, but it can also make a room feel smaller and darker than it is. If you can’t part with your curtains, try hanging them closer to the ceiling to give the illusion of taller ceilings and more light. Otherwise, opt for lighter fabrics like sheers or roman shades that won’t overwhelm the space.
Trend 03: Fake Florals
Nothing says “dated” quite like a bouquet of fake flowers. If you’re still hanging onto that vase of silk roses your aunt gave you ten years ago, it’s time to let them go. Today’s homes are moving away from tacky fake flowers and finding new ways to incorporate nature into their design schemes. Try placing a few potted plants around your home or adding fresh-cut floral arrangements to your kitchen table or mantlepiece. Not only will they add some much-needed color and life to your space, but they’ll also help improve your indoor air quality. Win-win!
Trend 04: Matchy-Matchy Everything
In the past, it was all about matching everything in your home, from your draperies to your carpet to your furniture. But these days, mismatched is in! Mixing and matching different styles and textures can add visual interest to your home and make it feel more collected and personal. So don’t be afraid to mix things up a bit!
Trend 05: Pink Bathrooms
Believe it or not, pink bathrooms were once all the rage. While they may have been popular in the past, nowadays, they tend to look like something out of outdated home design trends. If you have a pink bathroom, consider painting over it with a more modern color scheme. Alternatively, you could tile over any existing pink tiles with new ones. Whatever you do, make sure you get rid of that pink!
Trend 06: Shag Carpets
Shag carpets were all the rage in the 1960s and 1970s, but they quickly fell out of favor once people realized how difficult they were to keep clean. If your home is still decked out in shag carpeting, then it’s time for an update. There are plenty more flooring alternatives to pick from, so you’re bound to discover something that better complements your style and tastes than shag carpeting ever did.
Trend 07: Gold Fixtures
Gold fixtures were once considered the height of luxury, but nowadays, they look dated and tacky. If your home still has this outdated look, it’s time to update. You could either replace the fixtures with newer ones or paint over them with a more modern color, such as bronze or nickel.
Trend 08: Wallpaper Border
Wallpaper borders were popular in the 1980s and 1990s and were frequently utilized as a trim for the center or tops of walls. Wallpaper has returned in popularity in recent years, but wallpaper borders have not. If you still have a wallpaper border with florals or ducks on your walls, it’s time to throw that border away. Instead, go with a whole wallpaper wall or simply an accent wall. There are several amazing designs and colors to pick from and temporary wallpaper solutions. Add crown molding, a chair rail, or even some traditional wainscoting to spice up your walls.
Trend 09: Avocado Green Appliances
Remember when everyone had avocado green stoves and refrigerators in their kitchens? Yeah, we don’t, either. These appliances were all the rage in the 70s, but thank goodness they’ve fallen out of favor. If you’ve still got avocado green appliances in your home, it’s time to upgrade. Not sure what to replace them with? Stainless steel is always a safe bet.
Trend 10: Popcorn Ceilings
Popcorn ceilings were once considered stylish and modern. But now they’re just outdated. If you’ve got popcorn ceilings in your home, you might be able to remove them with a lot of patience and a little elbow grease. Or you can hire a professional to do it for you. Adding subtle paint and design to your ceiling can modernize your home better.
Trend 11: Word Art Wall Decor
Do you need a massive wooden board on your wall? There are lots of general phrases and pieces of word art accessible, ranging from “Family” to “Love” to “Home,” but that doesn’t mean it’s the perfect choice for you. Instead, take the time to select something more important that speaks to your aesthetic. Try playing with paints or hanging photographs that you took on your travels. If you want something more unique, create a gallery wall of all different sizes and shapes. The point is to make it your own, not just follow the trends.
Final Thought:
There are so many amazing home design trends to choose from these days that there’s no need to dwell on the past. If your home is still reflecting the 20th century, don’t despair! With a few simple changes, you can bring it into the 21st century in no time at all.
B.I.G. Painting provides interior and outdoor painting services in Loganville! We are experts in full-home repaints for huge residences. Our artisans will use high-quality Sherwin-Williams paints to make your house seem as good as new. We also provide free onsite color consultations on request.