Design Trends the Professionals Say to Avoid

Avoid Animal Print Carpets and Rugs

Animal prints have definitely had their moment, but today they’re best left in the past. Not only are they no longer in style, but they’re also notoriously difficult to blend with most modern design aesthetics. While animal print rugs and décor were trendy a couple of decades ago, it’s unlikely we’ll see them making a comeback anytime soon.

They can also disrupt the visual flow of a room, as their bold, irregular patterns often clash sharply with the rest of the décor.

All-White Kitchens Can Look Too Sterile

All white kitchens can look stunning, but many people miss the mark with this trend. Without contrast or natural elements, the space can easily feel cold and sterile. Plus, even the slightest mess stands out, making it hard to maintain that spotless look. Adding touches of warmth like wood accents, textured décor, or a few plants helps bring balance and makes the kitchen feel more inviting.

Incorporating wood elements whether through cabinets, chairs, or a kitchen island adds warmth to an all white space. These natural textures soften the brightness and create the cozy, welcoming feel most people want from their white kitchens.

Beware of Off-Colored Stains

There are many factors to consider when you’re preparing to stain flooring, furniture, or staircases. First, think about whether the stain color complements the rest of your home. Then consider how it will age what will it look like in 10 years? It’s also important to make sure the stain won’t clash with the wood’s natural tone. For instance, pine generally absorbs lighter stains more beautifully, while darker colors can appear uneven or muddy on its surface.

There are also many cases where the natural wood tone works perfectly with your décor without needing any stain at all. For example, in an all white kitchen, pairing the space with light colored wood cabinets or furniture can create a beautiful, clean contrast while keeping everything warm and cohesive.

Tile Countertops Don’t Make Sense for Most

Tile countertops come with a few drawbacks that make them a poor choice for modern kitchens. For one, they tend to look dated more retro in a distracting, old school diner kind of way rather than stylish. On top of that, they’re not very practical. The grout lines between tiles collect dirt and grime, making them much harder to clean than smoother surfaces like wood, quartz, or granite.

If you want to add a pop of personality to your kitchen, there are far better options that will stand the test of time and still look amazing for years to come.

Humongous Garage Doors Can Look Off

This tip mainly applies if you have a large garage, but it’s worth considering. Oversized garage doors can throw off the visual proportions of your home. In many cases, you can easily replace one massive door with two or more smaller ones. The issue with a single large door is that, when closed, it creates a long, uninterrupted surface that often looks out of place and disrupts your home’s overall balance.

It might not always be feasible, but if you have a massive garage door, it’s worth taking a close look and carefully assessing how it affects the overall balance of your home.

Faux Wall Paneling Sometimes Looks Out of Place

There are countless options when it comes to wood paneling, but it’s important to take a step back and consider whether it truly fits with the rest of your home. You want your space to feel authentic and highlight what naturally makes it unique. Faux paneling, by its nature, goes against this principle, so it’s crucial to think carefully about whether the style you’re considering actually complements your apartment or house.

For instance, adding highly elegant wood paneling to a farmhouse or an apartment often feels out of place, since these spaces are typically designed with a different style and purpose in mind.

Homes With Way Too Many Corners and Gables

This tip is more relevant for new homes than older ones, which often use corners and gables as intentional architectural features. When designing or evaluating a newer home with numerous corners, it’s worth asking whether each one serves a practical purpose or if it’s simply there for visual effect. Good design follows function, and extra corners that exist solely to add complexity tend to look awkward to a trained eye.

On top of that, they can easily add thousands of dollars to what would otherwise be a straightforward project, like redoing your roof or making improvements in the attic.

Barn Doors Are a Big “No” for Some Places

There’s nothing inherently wrong with incorporating a barn style door into your home, but context matters. In an apartment or a modern style house, a barn door often feels out of place. These doors are generally better suited to actual farmhouses. Plus, traditional doors usually provide better insulation, making them a more practical choice in most other settings.

While barn doors can add a unique touch, you don’t want them to feel out of place. They should blend seamlessly with the overall design of your home, both inside and out.

Open Shelving Has a Couple of Drawbacks

Open shelving can look beautiful, but it comes with its drawbacks. For one, you’ll need to dust and wash plates or dishes more frequently, since there’s no cabinet to keep out dust. On top of that, other debris like hair or small insects can also make its way onto your dishes, making regular upkeep unavoidable.

If you opt for open shelving, consider using it to display items like attractive pots or pans. These don’t need to be taken down as often, helping you avoid the constant cleaning that comes with storing everyday dishes on open shelves.

Marble Doesn’t Belong Everywhere

Marble is a fantastic material to incorporate into your design it’s both functional and adds a touch of elegance. However, moderation is key. Covering an entire home in marble can make a space feel cold and impersonal. There’s a reason government buildings and some museums feel so formal: floors made entirely of marble often sacrifice warmth and intimacy.

There are a few situations where marble works well, but for most homes, it’s best used sparingly limited to just a few key rooms or surfaces.

Wall Signs With Lettering

Wall signs are quickly falling out of style, and for good reason. They’re similar to the endless stream of inspirational quotes on social media you wouldn’t want your feed cluttered with them, so why fill your home with them? Plus, there are times when you simply aren’t in the mood to read a motivational message. A thoughtfully decorated space can have a much greater impact on your mood and well being.

If you have a blank wall that feels empty, look for inspiration online and choose décor that will remain timeless something that will still look great long after this trend fades.

Stairs Without Banisters Are a Bad Idea

A recent trend in modern homes is to build stairs without banisters. However, that’s no reason to skip them. Banisters are timeless and serve an important safety function. Plus, with countless styles available, they can easily be designed to look sleek and complement even the most contemporary interiors.

Eliminating banisters entirely not only creates safety concerns, but many design professionals agree that a staircase without them simply looks incomplete or off balance.

Fake Balconies Aren’t Fooling Anybody

This one is a bit of a pet peeve for us and many design professionals alike. Fake balconies, even with updated ironwork, often feel out of place. They serve no real purpose, and good design should always prioritize function over form. Essentially, they’re just decorative additions to a window that shout, Look at me, without adding any real value to the home.

That said, real balconies are fantastic not just for their aesthetic appeal, though they do look beautiful, but because they provide a functional outdoor space to relax or entertain a few friends.

TVs Placed Right Above Fireplaces Completely Take Away From the Charm

At first, placing a TV above a fireplace might seem like an obvious choice it often looks like the perfect spot for one. However, there are a few drawbacks. For one, smoke and heat from the fireplace can reach your screen over time. Plus, it’s difficult to enjoy both the TV and the fireplace simultaneously.

Instead, it’s often better to place an elegant mirror or another decorative piece above the fireplace to help tie the room together. And if you need inspiration, there are plenty of design ideas available online.

No Color or Warmth Is a Big No-No

Trends in design and style are always shifting. The bold pops of color that once defined interior design have largely given way to the neutral palettes popular in recent years. While there’s nothing wrong with decorating in whites or greys, relying on a single shade throughout a space can make it feel flat and uninspired.

Adding natural elements like wood accents or a variety of plants can breathe life into a room that’s otherwise decorated entirely in white or grey.

Not Enough Cabinet Space

If you’ve ever dealt with limited cabinet space, you know how frustrating it can be. Yet, it’s often overlooked when buying a new home or remodeling an existing kitchen. From a design perspective, cabinets that don’t extend to the ceiling tend to look less polished than those that reach all the way up the wall.

On top of that, the gap creates extra space that requires cleaning and maintenance otherwise, it can quickly collect dust and even become a haven for insects.

Too Many Lights Can Do More Harm Than Good

There’s nothing wrong with having plenty of lighting in your home, but once you start installing five or more spotlights or recessed lights, it can become overwhelming. Too many fixtures can be visually distracting, and maintaining them is a hassle since each bulb needs to be replaced individually. Using lamps is often a better solution if you want to add more light to a room.

It’s also important to consider the color of your lighting and how it complements your décor, as warm lights often create a more inviting atmosphere in certain spaces than cooler tones.

Vinyl Flooring Has A Lot Of Drawbacks

Vinyl flooring is often the most affordable option for updating floors, but it comes with several drawbacks. The material is quite thin, and if it’s not installed correctly, it can peel or separate after just a few washes or spills. Additionally, vinyl isn’t the most eco-friendly choice, as it’s made with various chemicals that can be harmful to the environment.

Fortunately, there are several alternatives to vinyl that don’t rely entirely on wood. These options are often more durable and only slightly more expensive, making them a practical upgrade.

Huge Kitchen Islands Can Occupy Too Much Space

There’s no denying that large kitchen islands can be both beautiful and highly functional. However, sometimes smaller is better especially if your kitchen is already limited in space. Maximizing room should be a top priority, since the kitchen is where you’ll be cooking and often navigating around others at the same time.

Keep this in mind when considering a home with a large island or planning your own kitchen remodel you’ll want to make sure the island fits comfortably within the space.

Empty Space That Serves No Purpose

This one can be a bit nuanced. When professionals advise against wasting space, they don’t mean that empty areas are inherently bad. Rather, it’s about avoiding space that serves no purpose and goes unused. For example, an uncluttered area is perfectly fine as long as it contributes to something whether it’s providing room to entertain guests or simply enhancing the overall style and comfort of your home.

However, if you have a large, awkwardly placed area that isn’t used for anything, it will likely feel empty and out of place.

Hollow Doors Feel – And Are – Really Cheap

Hollow doors can be a budget friendly option, but they come with several drawbacks. For one, it’s usually easy to tell a door is hollow just by touching it. Made from inexpensive materials, they provide poor insulation both for sound and temperature. They’re also very lightweight, and when you open one, it often feels noticeably flimsy or off compared to a solid door.

Solid wood or alternative material doors may cost more upfront, but investing in higher quality doors is usually worth it in the long run. Hollow doors are also more susceptible to damage bumping them with furniture or other objects can leave dents or holes easily.

Open Plan Office Spaces Can Be Distracting

Whether at home or in the workplace, open offices can be a major productivity drain. They make it difficult to focus one reason many people working from home convert a spare room into a dedicated office. At a traditional workplace, there’s often little you can do except politely ask your boss to consider rearranging the space.

If you’re considering an open office setup at home, it may be worth converting a spare bedroom into a dedicated workspace instead.

Design That Takes Minimalism Overboard

Minimalism can create stunning interior spaces, but there’s a right way and a wrong way to approach it. Simply removing everything except the bare essentials can make a room feel incomplete and unfinished. True minimalism should enhance clean lines and highlight natural materials, rather than stripping things away for the sake of emptiness. It’s a style that requires careful balance.

A bare, overly stripped down approach also leaves little room for personalization, whereas true minimalism allows for tasteful decoration and the addition of personal touches without compromising the style.

Shiplap Is a Bit Overused

Shiplap can be a great design choice for many homes, but it needs to fit the style of your space. It doesn’t always work well in modern houses or suburban developments, as it carries a distinctly countryside or farmhouse vibe. In newer homes, shiplap can sometimes feel out of place rather than enhancing the overall design.

On top of aesthetics, there are practical considerations shiplap can be harder to clean because of the gaps between the boards, so it’s worth thinking carefully before choosing it.

Nautical-Themed Decor Looks Out of Place in Most Homes

This applies to both typical homes and those near the beach. Nautical-themed décor often feels out of place, regardless of your proximity to water. While it can be done tastefully, success depends on the home’s style, history, and regional context. For most people, items like a captain’s wheel or fish models on the wall simply don’t complement the space.

There are far better ways to decorate a beach house or waterfront home that incorporate coastal elements without relying on tacky, over the top decorations.

Industrial Can Look Cold When Done Wrong

When we talk about industrial design, we mean features like exposed brick walls or visible pipes often found in older apartments. Done well, this style can look fantastic. However, it can easily go too far especially when combined with grey accents that already feel cold and bland. A better approach is to balance industrial elements with warmer tones and natural wood to create a more inviting space.

Overdoing the industrial style with furniture and accents can make a space feel cold and unwelcoming something no one wants in their home.

Built-In Anything Can Present Problems

While built in appliances and wardrobes aren’t necessarily trends to avoid, it’s worth considering whether they’re truly worth the investment. Built in appliances, in particular, will likely need to be replaced eventually and doing so can be costly. They may look sleek and stylish, but it’s important to remember that they won’t last forever.

With built in furniture like wardrobes, keep in mind that they can limit your options if you ever want to remodel the space or bring in new pieces.

Small and Underutilized Backyards

While small backyards are often less desirable, they’re not always avoidable. Even a compact outdoor space can be transformed into a charming oasis. With the right design, a small backyard can be both functional and visually appealing, boosting your property’s value after all, an empty backyard, no matter the size, is far less inviting.

The same principle applies to larger backyards that are left empty and lack character. Even adding a few plants, a garden, or some seating can completely transform the space.

Not Making a Place Your Own

For most people, landing the perfect, dream home isn’t always possible at least not right away. But that doesn’t mean you should neglect how you decorate or personalize your space. There’s always something you can do to make your home feel more personal, cozy, and reflective of the qualities you value most.

The worst thing you can do is leave your space plain and uninspired. If you’re looking for ideas, there are plenty of blogs and websites full of inspiration to help you get started.

No Solar Panels on the Roof Is a Missed Opportunity

This isn’t a solution for everyone especially if you live in a colder climate or an area with limited sunlight. But if you’re in a sunny location and can afford it, solar panels are worth considering. They can reduce your electricity bills, often look sleek on your roof, and are only going to become more common over time.

Best of all, there are numerous programs that help lower the upfront cost, and solar panels are becoming more affordable every year. It’s entirely possible that, in the near future, most homes will feature solar panels on their roofs.

Very Small Laundry Rooms That Seem Like an Afterthought

When designing a home, the laundry room is often downsized to make room for other spaces, which makes sense in many situations. However, having a reasonably sized laundry room should still be a key consideration when buying a new home or remodeling an existing one. For one, these rooms tend to get warm from the washer and dryer, so ample space is important for comfort and functionality.

It’s also helpful to have enough space to store clothes or fold them straight out of the dryer. Extra storage for other items is an added bonus that makes the laundry room much more functional and convenient.

Farmhouse Doesn’t Make Sense Everywhere

Farmhouse décor has enjoyed popularity over the past decade, but its appeal seems to be waning. While there are many ways to interpret this style, it often doesn’t make much sense for people living in urban areas or suburban developments. For one, it can feel out of place in these settings.

In a city apartment, farmhouse inspired décor often clashes with the natural style of most modern units. There are plenty of other design choices that look just as appealing without feeling out of place.

Open Space Bathrooms Have Their Own Drawbacks

Open space bathrooms aren’t feasible in every home and tend to work best in smaller spaces, where they can feel airy and modern. However, there are some drawbacks. If not properly maintained, having the bathroom so close to your sleeping area can create hygiene and health concerns.

It’s also important to consider whether you’ll always be comfortable with a bathroom that lacks a door, as privacy could become a bigger concern over time.

Shaker Cabinets Aren’t for Everyone

Shaker style cabinets are characterized by their simple, square design with a recessed panel, and they’ve become extremely popular. However, they don’t always work well with every design or appliance style. For example, shaker cabinets can clash with stainless steel appliances, which have a modern look that contrasts with the slightly traditional feel of shaker cabinetry.

That said, many kitchens look fantastic with shaker style cabinets, but it’s still important to consider this style carefully when evaluating the design of your own kitchen or home.

Packed Out Garages Leave Little Space for Much Else

If you’re fortunate enough to have a garage, you likely understand just how valuable that space can be. Many people only consider garages as a place to park vehicles, but they often serve multiple purposes like a workshop, extra storage, or even a home gym. For this reason, it’s worth planning your garage layout carefully instead of letting it fill up with clutter.

Many people even choose to build onto their garages, adding additional living space above. Garages offer a lot of flexibility and deserve just as much careful planning and attention as the interior of your home.

Smart Home Devices Sometimes Don’t Make A Lot Of Sense

Recently, many homebuilders and architects have rushed to pack as many smart home devices as possible into new builds. However, this approach often doesn’t make much sense, either in the short term or long term. Over time, many of these devices will either wear out or become outdated, turning them into costly upgrades rather than lasting investments.

In many cases, these devices aren’t even necessary especially when it comes to appliances. For example, why would you need a screen on your refrigerator when a simple button or knob often looks better and is far easier to use?

Don’t Forget About Storage Spaces

This is more of a do than a don’t, but if you’re considering a new unfurnished home, try to imagine the rooms filled with all your belongings. Spaces often feel much smaller once furniture and décor are in place. That’s why it’s important to plan for storage whether through baskets, furniture with built in drawers, or crates to keep your home organized and functional.

That said, you don’t want your storage areas to become dust collectors. Make it a habit to reorganize them periodically while cleaning to keep your space feeling fresh and tidy.

Identical and Suburban Homes

We know that avoiding cookie cutter homes isn’t always possible, and mass-produced houses in new or older developments aren’t necessarily bad. Still, it’s worth exploring to see if you can find something a bit more unique. For one, these homes are often built very close together, offering little privacy. Their uniform design also makes it harder to personalize and truly make the space your own.

Additionally, the yard is often lacking in unique features like mature trees that were likely removed to make way for the development.

Extra Small Apartments That Don’t Provide Enough Room

This is another trend that can be hard to escape, especially in major cities. With rents climbing, micro apartments have been popping up everywhere in recent years. While they might seem like the only option if you need to live downtown, it’s important to consider how much space you truly need before signing a lease. And we’re not just talking about room for your belongings.

For example, if you’re quite tall, living in a mini apartment can be far more challenging than it would be for someone who’s shorter.