8 Home Decor Trends Designers Secretly Hate—And Some Might Surprise You

Trends, by nature, come and go. Some linger for years, gradually becoming part of our design vernacular, while others fade just as quickly—whether due to dated silhouettes, uninspired materiality, or compositions that feel cluttered and incohesive. While trends certainly have their place, knowing when to embrace them—and when to let them pass—can make all the difference in creating a home that feels both timeless and thoughtful.

We spoke with Southern designers to uncover the home decor trends they consider overrated. From ultra-minimalist interiors to the ever-present farmhouse door, here’s what they say is on its way out.

Shiplap

For Florida designer Tracy Eisnaugle of Lee Wetherington Homes, shiplap only works in a specific setting.

While shiplap can be beautiful and appropriate in the right setting—say a 1930s bungalow or coastal retreat—utilizing it in your entire home can feel overwhelming. “Texture is still in, and shiplap can be used, but changing the direction of it by painting it a deeper color can make all the difference,” she says.

White on White

Airy and neutral has its place, but Florida native designer Kaitlyn Loos is tired of “white on white on white,” she says. “We get it! We like the light vibes of sunshine here in the South.” She compares an all-white room to that of a set design, lacking personality and a point of view. Also, an all-white room is not practical, especially with kids or animals. “Color and print aren’t just cool again, they’re practical and can create the same happiness kick that light and bright design brings.”

Charleston-based Andrea Dussault, founder and principal designer of Striped Lemon Design, believes that interiors should feel as good as they look. Today, many of the trends that are falling out of favor are those “that feel overly literal or one-dimensional,” she says. Homeowners are moving away from stripped-down spaces in favor of layered, warm, and timeless ones. “One trend we’re seeing fade is the use of stark, ultra-bright whites as a wall color. Crisp whites had a long moment, but they can sometimes feel a bit flat or sterile.”

Gallery Walls

The gallery wall used to be the go-to solution for a large, blank wall, but is it a trend designers are ready to part with? Florida-based designer Piper Skillman says yes. “They’ve become more formulaic than personal and less like a reflection of the homeowner and more like a tired decorating trend,” she says. The gallery wall can work, but only when “they truly grow out of someone’s personal collection,” she says. That is what makes a wall look meaningful and expressive and less like a random collection. What does she prefer instead? The clarity of a single large-scale artwork that can anchor a room with confidence and become an international and elegant statement.

Matching Furniture Sets

Matching sets, whether matching bedroom sets or a matching part of end tables, are overrated, shares Brooke Sabia of Phase 4 Design Group. “Instead, there’s a renewed appreciation for collecting pieces that are more interesting, have stories, and even introduce a bit of friction into a space.”

Rustic Decor

Too much rusticity in a newly constructed home is an immediate no. “Every room should have one antique piece incorporated, but having a blank box of drywall loaded up with antiques, rustic textures, wagon wheels, faux old barn world and ‘gather’ words signs is part of the modern farmhouse that died years ago,” Loos says.

Eisnaugle shares that sentiment. “A hint of farmhouse can be great, but distressed wood, vintage signs, and all-gray furniture has run its course.”

Hollywood Glam

The over-the-top look of Hollywood Glam, a trend which designer Ann Yancy says rose in response to “Covid’s wild renovation craze where everyone was building their dream home and creating spaces that felt new, new, new” isn’t built to last. The trend was exciting while it lasted, but that time has passed. Instead, look to inviting interiors with “linen, alabaster, and aged brass.”

Decorating for the Holidays

Texas designer Ali Burgoon Nolan finds decorating for holidays and seasons to be a bit overrated. “It prioritizes a fleeting moment over longevity and integrity of a home’s design,” she says. When a space is thoughtfully done with personal and rooted pieces, it shouldn’t have to be redone for a season to feel special. “Holiday decor can be meaningful when it’s subtle and integrated, but when it starts to feel performative or excessive, it tends to detract from the overall story of a home rather than enhance it.”

Anything Too Perfect

Designers love an organized home, but one that feels like it’s always ready for its close-up can read as stiff and ingenuine, notes Libby Baker Speight of Baker Design Co. “There is this new Instagram performative-type look that keeps surfacing,” she says. “The most amazing spaces are warm and feel lived in even with wrinkles on the sofa and bedding.”

Read the original article on Southern Living