Outdated Home Trends and What to Do Instead

There are some design trends from the past decades that are still desirable today, or have come in and out of style over the years. Many people consider mid-century retro design details to be quirky and charming again. However, there are other design features that haven’t quite stood the test of time. In fact, just having them in your home lets everyone know that you haven’t updated your home in decades. Now, I understand that not everyone cares if their home is on trend or up to date, and if you love it, then by all means keep it.But, if you’re thinking about selling in the near future, or have plans to do some renovating, then consider updating or replacing these 6 outdated home trends.

#1 – Carpet in Every Room

Wall-to-wall carpet in every room used to be considered a luxury…but not anymore. In fact, if you’ve had the same carpet in your home for more than 10 years, it could actually be considered unhealthy, and it’s time for a replacement.

Today’s trend is all about hardwood flooring or luxury vinyl flooring, which are both more durable and more hygienic than carpet. Then, place area rugs on top of your hardwood or vinyl floors to add pattern and color to your room, absorb noise, and give your feet a soft place to land.

If you absolutely can’t imagine your bedroom without the softness of carpet, then by all means keep it in your bedrooms, but consider moving to hardwood or luxury vinyl for the main areas of your home.

#2 – Tile or Laminate Countertops

Tile and laminate countertops were a popular and durable option for many years, all the way up until around the late 1980’s. So, if you’re doing the math, tile and laminate countertops went out of fashion about 40 years ago. If you have these countertops in your home, it’s a sure sign that your kitchen and bathroom(s) need an update.

Now, I will say that laminate remains a popular low-budget option today, with much better colors and patterns that its early predecessors. However, the leading countertop choice for kitchens in this decade is solid surfaces, like quartz or granite.

Quartz is the surface I recommend, due to its toughness and the fact that it doesn’t require any maintenance (like granite or marble). So if your kitchen is looking a little dated, and you have tile or laminate countertops, consider replacing them with quartz…you won’t be disappointed!

#3 – Wallpaper Borders

Wallpaper borders were widely popular during the 1980s and 1990s, and were often used as a trim for the middle or tops of walls. Even though wallpaper has come back in style in recent years, wallpaper borders have NOT, and I don’t expect them to return anytime soon.

Here’s some tough love for you…if you have a wallpaper border of florals or ducks still hanging around on your walls, it’s time to ditch that border into the dumpster. Instead, opt for a full wall of wallpaper or just an accent wall. There are tons of great patterns and colors to choose from today, and even temporary wallpaper options (perfect for renters).

Source: Serena & Lily

Or, add some crown moulding, or a chair rail, or even some timeless wainscoting to dress up your walls.

#4 – Faux Plants on Top of Cabinets

Do you have a collection of fake plants on top of your kitchen cabinets? If so, I need you to do something for me right now…TAKE THEM DOWN! That fake trailing ivy is seriously dating your kitchen, and catching dust. I know that area above the cabinets is tempting (yet awkward) to decorate, but cramming that space full of faux greenery is not the answer. Today’s trend is to run cabinets all the way to the ceiling, but if you have space between your cabinets and your ceiling, what should you do?

Here’s the thing…By adding decor to the tops of your cabinets, you are intentionally drawing the eye up to that space. And what’s up there that we need to look at? Nothing. You’re much better off adding a beautiful backsplash or plants or decor that keeps the eyes at eye level.

So, either remove everything from the tops of your cabinets (because you don’t actually need anything up there), or if the urge to decorate up there is strong, freshen up that space with baskets or simple pottery for a more updated look.

Source: Kith Kitchens

#5 – Shiny Gold Hardware

Shiny brass faucets, light fixtures and doorknobs were popular in the late 80’s and early1990s because they looked flashy and expensive. Then they went out of style for about 20 years.

And, even though brass hardware has made its way back into style, the new versions are much more muted and streamlined, and less…yellow.

So, if you’re holding on to your flashy gold fixtures thinking they’ve come back into style, I’m here to tell you, you’re likely doing your home a disservice because those shiny fixtures could actually be making your home look outdated rather than updated. If you still love the gold look, instead look for brushed or aged brass hardware and light fixtures, and do away with the shiny 80’s and 90s version.

#6 – Popcorn Ceilings

Nobody is putting popcorn ceilings into their homes these days…nobody. And if you have plans to sell your house, homebuyers consider popcorn ceilings a highly undesirable and unsightly “feature” for a house.

The problem is that it’s both messy and potentially unsafe to remove popcorn ceilings, because some of them contain asbestos. Here’s my advice…if you have the means and opportunity to remove your popcorn ceilings, do it! But, be sure to consult with a professional to make sure it’s done safely.

To bring your home into this decade, and brighten up the room while you’re at it, refinish your ceilings with a smoother texture, such as a knockdown texture (shown below in the rectangle in the upper left). A nice, smooth, unnoticeable ceiling texture is just what you need to bring your home into the modern age.

Do you have one of these dated design “features” in your home? Remember, you should always keep the features in your house that you love, no matter what the trends say. But, if you’re looking to keep your home looking fresh and current, then it’s time to find alternatives to these six outdated home trends.

Need some more ideas for how to modernize your outdated home? Check out my post on How to Update a Dated Home Without Remodeling.

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