The tacky touches making your home look cheap: Designers torch unforgivable millennial cringe, boomer relics… and a Gen-Z trend that’s already dated

While a quirky blanket, comfy couch or gallery wall might be a favorite feature in your home, these are just a few of the trends interior designers say could give away your age.

Whether you are covering your walls in ‘millennial gray’ or bold prints and motifs like the bows that Gen Z can’t get enough of, certain design choices can look dated over time – or even instantly. 

These glaring mistakes might seem chic in a furniture showroom or on Instagram, but when overdone, they are quickly overtaken by the next trend.

Celebrities and influencers might have the money to try all the trends at high prices and replace them seasonally, but regular folks can end up stuck with these aesthetic choices for years. 

So if you’re decorating on a budget, your selections may become worn out if you bought them on the cheap from brands you found on social media.

The Daily Mail spoke to two interior design experts to name the cheap-looking items you should toss immediately, because they are secretly making your house look tasteless.

Interior designer Jennifer Stephan told the Daily Mail about some of the issues that plague millennials in particular. 

Stephan explained that ‘millennials are responsible for the over-curated, Pinterest-perfect sameness,’ which consists of much-maligned favorites like a sterile gallery wall, barn doors in suburban homes and all gray interiors.

Interior designer Jennifer Stephan told the Daily Mail that ‘millennials are responsible for the over-curated Pinterest-perfect sameness,’ which includes all gray interiors

Gallery walls were all the rage when millennials graduated and moved into their own apartments. But these days, it is time to ditch the plethora of pictures 

‘Gen Z is guilty of ironic maximalism without editing,’ Stephan, based in Brooklyn, explained, naming some of their favorites like cherries, bows and checkerboard prints

Gen Z mercilessly mocked millennials for their home decor decisions, even nicknaming the somber interior decoration ‘millennial gray.’ But the younger generation has been making their own mistakes when it comes to home décor.

Interior designer Jennifer Stephan creates lived-in, expressive interiors for the elevated everyday in Brooklyn 

‘Gen Z is guilty of ironic maximalism without editing,’ Stephan, who is based in Brooklyn, New York, explained. She named some of their favorites, like cherries, bows and checkerboard prints. 

They are also fans of using novelty ‘dopamine decor’ objects as the main focus of their interiors, whether it is over-the-top kitschy items like giant lip mirrors or inflatable furniture. 

Dopamine decor is a trend that started in direct contradiction to millennial gray, and it involves buying interior pieces that bring people pleasure. Think neon signs, feather boas and multiple patterns in one place.

While having one splashy item in a room can make it feel on trend, piling on multiple can become instantly overwhelming. 

Of course, some kitschy items can add personality to a home when exhibited tastefully.

Stephan explained that ‘kitsch isn’t the problem – execution is.’ 

‘When it looks intentional and elevated, kitsch becomes charming,’ she said.

She advised that decorators ‘allow one novelty piece per room – let it be the punchline, not the theme.’

While it might be tempting to buy every big trend at once, especially when they are all over social media, Stephan warned that ‘some trends already read fast-fashion décor, especially when they’re bought from big-box retailers and used without thoughtful styling.’ 

Stephan said fast-fashion type interior offenders include bubble furniture in cheap materials, acrylic everywhere and overdone mix and match. 

Stephan said fast fashion interior offenders include bubble furniture in cheap materials

One design trend to toss? Fake boucle, which can look cheap. Instead, splash out on the real thing

While gallery walls might be a dated trend, there is still a way to make it look chic. Experts call it a salon wall – featuring beautiful frames and real art, not just posters from your college years

Colleen Bennett, lead designer of CBB Design firm, said it is not just millennials and Gen Z who make these design faux pas. 

‘Baby boomers put linoleum in their houses that Gen X bought and left there, which makes the house look cheap and outdated,’ Bennet said. 

Another design dud according to Bennett? Renters trying to make their apartments feel more homey by using stick on tile that they found on inexpensive websites like Amazon, Wayfair or Etsy.

Unfortunately, those cheap DIY décor hacks can fall down easily, which looks even worse than a boring backsplash. Instead of the tiling, Bennett suggested wallpaper, as well as hiring someone to professionally install it evenly. 

Another massive design trend that has the ability to look less than tasteful is faux boucle. However, if you are ready to invest in real boucle, it will make any room look luxe.

‘Fake or faux boucle is a textured, curly synthetic fabric that is often polyester, which is designed to mimic the looped, cozy appearance of traditional wool boucle at a lower cost,’ said Bennett, who has more than 20 years of experience in the industry.

‘Real boucle that is inspired by Coco Chanel never looks cheap,’ Bennett added, explaining that ‘a real boucle would be something that can be pulled apart’ and is a natural fiber, while the fake version is synthetic. 

When it comes to gallery walls, the design pro recommended an upgraded and modern salon wall, instead.

‘Take funky accessories, posters and paintings and make them look more tasteful when you use beautiful frames,’ the interiors expert urged.

‘A gallery wall is going to be compromised of [same-style] art,’ Bennett clarified, explaining a ‘salon wall is a mixture of photographs, art and posters that are much more eclectic.’ 

It is high time to swap old college posters for high-end art in funky frames to give your home the affluent upgrade of your dreams.