While some home items might look classic, there are others that drag down the look of your room and make it seem like it hasn’t been touched in years.
The wall saying
We’ve all been to a home that talks back. They have writing on the walls, like ‘Gather’ or ‘Family.’ There’s also the overused, ‘Live, Laugh, Love.’ The trend was popular between 2010 and 2020, although some people still have their signs up. It’s time to take them down.
The signs are outdated because of how popular they were. They were too popular. Nowadays, word art comes off as mass-produced. You should try telling a better story. Use some old photos. Use some real artwork. It’s a lot more interesting.
The big wall piece
A giant entertainment center is pretty bad. You know the kind. It’s got huge wooden sides and glass doors. It also has random cubbies. There’s a giant hole in the middle that used to be perfect for older, box televisions. Those aren’t really a thing anymore.
Nowadays, TVs are flat. DVD players are gone. The shelves tend to hold things nobody actually uses. You’re better off going for a lower, cleaner media console. Why? Because it lets the room breathe.
The heavy fabric moment
Some curtains kind of take over the whole room. They’re called formal drapes. The heavy ones, with the thick folds and tassels, are the worst offenders. Their fabric spills onto the floor. It makes the whole room look a lot older. However, that’s not all.
These drapes also collect dust, and that makes the whole space seem dirty, too. You should try using lighter panels or simple shades. Cleaner linen curtains are good, too. You’re not trying to strip the room bare. No, you’re just stopping the room from looking so medieval.Â
The full showroom look
Sure, matching bedroom sets feel like a smart choice. Everything comes together. Nobody has to think too hard. But that’s the issue. A bed frame, dresser, mirror, chest, and nightstand with the same finish looks like a furniture store display.
Go for a more collected look instead. You can keep the dresser. But try swapping out the nightstands. Add a different headboard, too. Including some mismatch is a good thing because it’ll make the room seem more personal. You know, like a real home.
The dusty corner filler
Faux flowers usually appear in a room for one reason only. They’re there to add some color. Yet they somehow stay in the same place for fifteen years. You could have silk roses in a tall vase. You could have plastic ivy on top of a cabinet.
All of them look stale after a while, especially when they start gathering dust. Stick to real plants. They’re much nicer. You could also use a simple branch. Perhaps an empty vase is your thing. Anything’s better than a flower arrangement that looks like it’s from the early 2000s.
The ceiling giveaway
Nobody usually stares at the ceiling. Maybe they should. Builder-grade light fixtures are everywhere, usually in hallways and bedrooms. They’re not terrible exactly. But they sure are basic, and basic lighting really drags down a nice room.
You don’t need anything over-the-top. Try replacing it with a simple globe or drum shade. You could also use a lantern. Anything low-profile will keep your room looking current, but without you having to change too much.
The fuzzy floor
Shag rugs had their time. They only look good in a retro room nowadays. Unfortunately, in a regular living room, they just look tired and dated. Let’s not forget about the dirt. Crumbs get stuck inside. Pet hair tends to settle, too.
Vacuuming? Good luck. A shag rug makes people immediately think of the 1970s or early 2000s. It really depends on the style. But most designers recommend getting rid of them all. Stick to a flatter rug for some warmth.
The farmhouse leftover
Barn doors used to be really popular. So popular that they began appearing in homes that had nothing barn-y about them. They gave entrances a kind of rustic feel. Sure, today, not every sliding door is an issue, and some of them are quite practical.
The problem’s with the decorative farmhouse version. They’re usually added only for style. It’s a style that’s out of date now. You should try getting a pocket door or a plain sliding door. Even a regular hinged door looks better. It’ll blend in way more nicely.Â
The coffee table extras
You buy decorative beads once. You never question them again. Some people like draping them across a stack of books, and others prefer using them as filler pieces for empty spaces. They seem fine at first. But then it starts to look staged.
Most designers recommend going away from these sorts of random objects because they’re dust magnets. Try using something more purposeful. For example, maybe a tray you use or your favorite candle. Something personal works, too.Â
The extra fancy piece
A lot of homes picked up the same fancy pieces. They’ve got that one lamp or one table. They’ve got that one mirror that looks like it came from a hotel lobby in 1998. It might have gold trim. It might have tassels for no reason.
However, designers have been pulling away from Tuscan and Old World decor. These styles were popular in the early 2000s. But they don’t look so good now. They seem generic. When you have several pieces with scrollwork or bronze details, the room starts feeling exhausting.
The cold color habit
Gray was everywhere for over a decade. Gray walls and gray floors, gray sofas and gray rugs, sometimes all in the same room. It was a safe color. It matched everything. But these days, the same all-gray look feels flat. It makes a home look outdated.
It also looks like nobody ever moved in. You should try going for warmer tones like cream and clay. Perhaps soft brown, too. These shades don’t make your home look so frozen in time. It’s almost like people live there.
The loud fabric choice
Some homes have a sofa that stands out. But not in a good way. We’re talking about the ones with giant floral prints from 2004, which make the entire room look way too busy. A single pattern on a pillow is fine. A patterned ottoman is passable, at best.
However, the biggest piece in your room shouldn’t be covered in swirling leaves or damask prints. It takes over the whole space. Use the pattern if you want. But stick to smaller doses instead of across seven feet of seating.Â
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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