45 Terrible Modern Home Design Trends That People Just Don't Understand

If you’re not an expert on home design, it can be hard to determine what trends aren’t working anymore or what will be outdated soon. We can all tell that the popcorn ceilings and wood paneling at our grandparents’ home does not look cutting edge anymore, but when it comes to homes that were designed in the last decade or two, it might not be as easy to discern what needs a makeover from what could be featured in Architectural Digest. So if you need a little help from a home and design expert, we consulted this article about “How to Change Home Decor to Avoid Looking Dated” by Sacha Strebe.

Sacha’s first tip before getting down to the nitty gritty of designing your home is figure out your personal style first. “The key is to determine your personal style fundamentals first, then build on them,” she explains. Next, Sacha notes that having a flexible color theme as the base is also important. Many people assume that this means to pick neutral colors, but apparently, it’s actually about having a combination of warm and cool colors. “Once you settle on a preference, sticking to that constant color theme throughout your home should prevent it from looking dated too quickly and ensure it survives the seasonal trends,” Sacha says. “It's the perfect backdrop to feature period pieces, so you can still have fun with timely styles.” 

A fresh paint job can also keep your home from looking outdated. This does not need to be white by any means, but painting your walls is one of the simplest and cheapest ways to update a room. So whether you choose to embark on the project yourself or hire a professional, Sacha notes that you can’t go wrong with a new coat of paint. One thing to avoid to keep your home from becoming dated is a themed room. Sacha warns not to commit an entire room to one particular theme that you may not love in 5 years, but rather, throw in some accents of that theme that can be replaced later down the line if you no longer feel connected to them. 

Next, Sacha recommends utilizing layers in your spaces. “It creates a diverse space that keeps the eye moving,” she writes. So add that rug, that painting, those throw pillows or that cozy blanket on top of a chair! They can always be moved around or changed over time, but they keep your home cozy and more interesting. Sacha also notes that it is wise to declutter the items in each space of your home a few times a year. We tend to accumulate, but it’s important to also purge the things we no longer need or that might be dating our homes.  

If you want to keep your home from becoming outdated, it’s important to be willing to embrace change. You can absolutely cling to the design you chose a decade ago when you first moved in if you still love it, but if you are looking to update your living space, change can be a good thing. “If you're open to change, you can adapt your home quickly to embrace newness as it arrives and find a way to intersperse it,” Sacha writes. “It can be simple things like changing your cushions, giving your living room a lift with some new artwork, or updating the hardware in your bathroom to bring it from drab to fab.” But if you do plan to be making changes often, keep in mind that you may need to have a running budget for these updates. If you set a little aside every now and then, you’ll be prepared to fund a fresher version of your home without breaking the bank.

If you’re wondering what the experts say about which home design trends are reaching the end of their lifetimes in 2022, we’ll fill you in. We consulted an article that Sydney Meister wrote for PureWow noting trends designers are ditching in 2023, so I can pretend like I actually know anything at all about interior design. One trend that’s apparently seen better days is stacked floating shelves. What will be replacing these shelves is long linear shelving, according to interior designer Katelyn Fuller. “While I love a good floating shelf, I think that the stacked shelves in the kitchen are going to be completely out [in 2023],” she said in a TikTok. “[The long linear shelves are] still [kind of a] floating shelf, but instead of doing multiple shelves, [you’re] just doing one shelf all along the wall, which makes the space seem so much bigger.”

According to Katelyn, olive trees in the home are going to be less trendy in 2023 as well. “I have yet to see one well-produced faux olive tree. They all look extremely fake and bare to me,” she explained in a video. “I try to steer clear of oversaturated decorating [trends], and all olive trees have become that way.” On the other hand, Katelyn believes red oak trees will be on the rise. “To me, they're a little bit more unique, and since they're not so widely used, it makes [the piece] feel more interesting,” she explains. “If you're looking for a corner filler or a [textured] tree to add to your house, these [are the way to go].”

Another trend Katelyn believes is reaching the end of its lifespan is the colorful plaster accent wall. Apparently this trend spread rapidly during the onset of the pandemic, as many of us were grasping for any excitement or joy we could possibly find, but their time in the limelight has come to an end. “Something about the texture on the bright plaster walls really shows contrast,” designer Nick Lewis explains in a TikTok. “[The look is] sort of gives a '90s textured wall that I think will look really dated very soon.” To replace this trend, Nick wants to see muted panel mouldings, that are the same color as a wall’s paint, become popular. “[They're a great way to add texture to a wall. Light plays off the panels in really interesting ways and can make your home feel really luxurious.”