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Interior Designers Share What Modern Home Trends They Find Annoying, And Here Are 45 Of The Worst Ones
For as long we've had great design, there have been bad ones, too. Loose boulders on staircases, see-through toilets, windowless curtains—the list goes on.
So in an attempt to figure out which of them have become the most popular, Reddit user u/uwfan893 made a post the platform, asking, "Interior designers, what will this generation's version of shag carpeting be?" And they happily obliged, sharing all the trends they would love to see gone.
Of course, it doesn't mean that if your place has anything they mentioned, it automatically becomes tasteless—a lot depends on the execution. Plus, your home is your castle. You can make it whatever you want it to be. It's just a take on the general landscape.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Open concept bathrooms.
I don’t need to see you taking a dump from my bed.
RELATED:
#2
Sh***y bathtubs. I grew up in a 100 year old house. It had a nice bathtub with a sloping back so you could comfortably lounge in the bath. Modern tubs are pretty nearly straight up on the back so there's no comfortable way to soak, smoke a joint, and read a book.
We contacted u/uwfan893 to ask more about what inspired their post and the Redditor was kind enough to reply. "I saw a Zillow listing where the kitchen was obviously done in the '80s and it got me thinking about what would make a future Zillow-er say 'This house was remodeled in the late 2010s," u/uwfan893 told Bored Panda.
"There's an aspect of keeping up with the Joneses, but also sometimes trends actually do look good. That doesn’t mean they won’t be obviously of a period later," they added.
#3
Removing stair banisters for a crisp look. Like your drunk friend Brooks is going to fall of the side and die one day. There are building codes for reasons
whodunnitfan2013 2 years ago
When I build my house, I will have railings with every set of stairs in my house for this very reason, except mainly because I have neurological problems and can fall easily.
#4
Total lack of solar panels/windmills. I think its criminal that new builds don't have any form of energy generator built in.
Even though beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it's important to live in a place that reflects you, there are some universal guidelines to ensure the space will feel good even after the fads pass.
"The most common mistake we see is fun, interesting pieces of furniture being the wrong scale or functionality," interior designer Emilie Munroe told Lonny. "Finding furnishings with an aesthetic you love is way less tricky than making sure the piece is a physical and lifestyle fit."
Before you add anything new to your space, simply take out the tape measure and write down the dimensions of both your room and the furniture you already own. See if they go together.
#5
I don't know if it's new new, but it drives me crazy when people replace cabinetry with open shelves.
Don't people understand dust? Bugs ring a bell? Pet hair? Speaking of pets, how do you keep your cats from messing around with that setup?
#6
Beating minimalism to death with a sledgehammer. Everything being grey/white, even painting over gorgeous natural wood, practically zero color anywhere. Just breaks my heart when they take beautiful vintage homes and renovate them to shit by making everything look so sterile.
#7
might be an unpopular opinion but i don't need my home to be smart...I just need things to happen when they are supposed to happen and not completely shut off when some douche thought it was a good idea to play who can touch the powerline
But even if the numbers look good, you might want to avoid buying into boxed rooms. Picking out matching furniture might seem like a good idea for anyone who wants to save time but, in reality, it's often anything but swoon-worthy.
"Walking into a home that is a carbon copy of the store where everything was purchased is just weird," Abbe Fenimore, founder and principal of Studio Ten 25, explained to the same publisher. "Plus, the space will have no personality and most of the pieces will most likely be the wrong scale."
"Take the time to find pieces that you love, and be open to mixing and matching trendy and classic elements in the room."
#8
Live laugh love.
ChariotLee 2 years ago
Also "Thankful Grateful Blessed." It's everywhere. It's on everything. Always in that stupid cursive font.
#9
By-laws against clotheslines. I'm going to pay for electricity/gas when the sun and wind are free? In this day and age, who can be against solar and wind?
#10
I really don’t like the fireplace design where you are intended to put your TV over it. A TV is way too high when over the fireplace.
Also, when it comes to decorating your space, slow and steady wins the race over spontaneous and quirky.
"One of the worst mistakes people make in their interiors is buying impulse pieces without a game plan for the room's layout and function," interior designer Dana Wolter added. "We also always need to consider if the scale is right, and whether or not it's a quality item that you will want to keep long-term."
Whatever you're eyeing, take a moment to really consider it. If you're perusing an antique or consignment store, for example, ask a sales associate if you can hold the item in question. Get to know it. Feel it out.
#11
Small laundry rooms, small pantries, no linen closets, but here’s a 20x20 media room to watch TV. My next house will either be laid out by me or made in the 70s/80s when they designed homes to be lived in.
#12
Hollow interior doors that don't keep sound out from within the house and hallways - especially hollow bedroom doors when you're trying to sleep.
#13
No broom closets. Where the hell do people put their mops and vacuum cleaners? Or do the people who buy those McMansions just not do any of their own cleaning?
Anna Banana 2 years ago
In the regular clothes closet. I don't have the room in my appartment to have one full closet dedicated only to cleaning supplies!
However, when you're developing your vision, remember that you don't have to push all of your furniture against the walls. There are more viable layouts to arrange your sofa, coffee table, and media center.
"It might be fine for a smaller room, but like Kool and The Gang used to say, 'Get your back up off the wall,'" interior designer Taniya Nayak said. "In a large space, pull the furniture closer together to be more conversational. If you can't reach the coffee table or if you need to text your guests from across the room, move in a little."
#14
Gray. Everything gray.
It’s the orange and brown of the 60s, 70s, and 80.
It’s the beige of the 90s and 00s
#15
All of the flat white and concrete is just going to make the houses look dated in about 5 years.
Big concrete squares don't look good people!
#16
I hate the design of homes that have a massive garage in the front; “welcome to my garage, the home is in the back.”
Earl Grey 2 years ago (edited)
In all fairness, that is not a design trend in housing so much as it is an artifact of lot size. You need a significantly larger lot to accommodate a wide concrete drive that swings around to the side or back. The front-facing garage is more economical, convenient, and cheaper to landscape.
When you know the principles and what your decisions lead to, it's easier to achieve the look you're going for. Even if it means breaking convention. "I personally like warm cozy spaces, and don't like a lot of the open floor plan stuff going on now," u/uwfan893 said. "If I'm relaxing on the couch, I don't want to be doing it in the room that also is my kitchen."
But to each their own. And that's the beauty of design. It can serve us all.
#17
Why is everything so damn bland? Why is white and grey the popular colors? Whatever happened to color? Why can't we have living rooms wallpapered with big bright flowers, long suede couches in deep fuchsia? And, mile-high blue carpets that you sink into when you walk? Whatever happened to walnut paneling and colored subway tile in the bathroom? Whatever happened to delicate stenciled flowers on the inside of the bowl of the bathroom sink?
When did we lose our personalities? I just want a house that looks like a manic-depressive toddler version of myself was set lose in a JoAnn's with a limitless credit card.
UpupaEpops 2 years ago
Let me tell you about those "mile-high" carpets and the amount of work it takes to vacuum them...
#18
No door between the master bedroom and master bathroom. It’s so annoying.
The last 3 houses I’ve lived in have had this issue. I like to be able to close the door when I take a bath or shower.
Pillowarmidiloroku 2 years ago
I’ve never seen that we always have a door welp I agree you do need a door for your bathroom
#21
Bedrooms that are only juuuuust big enough for a double or queen bed and a nightstand.
#22
The grotesque housing developments of the same like 4 models and 3 colors with no trees. Not to mention the houses are built like shit. The terribly inefficient road layout with a million cul de sacs.
#23
Weird fixation perhaps, but I cannot stand kitchen cupboards that don't go all the way up to the ceiling. No cabinet storage + a big gap on top for my husband to pile all kinds of crap = no thanks.
Stoopham McFernybabes 2 years ago
Totally agree with you on that one. Hate it. It looks weird, sends off my “omg, someone has to clean that” nerve and such a waste of space.
#24
Lack of storage space. Just bought a new home and didn’t realize how little space there was. We have one storage closet upstairs. That’s it.
Sinkvenice 2 years ago
Surely that's something you absolutely make sure about if you're buying a property?
#25
Shiplap.
I don't even know what it is, but HGTV won't shut up about it so clearly there's going to be far too much of it in a few years.
Milady Blue 2 years ago
Yet these same HGTV "experts" retch when they see wood paneling in a home.
#26
Cabinetmaker here: grey stained EVERYTHING dominated the early 2000s. White oak was most common. It’s also a huge pain in the rear, greys and whites are the hardest stain colour to work with. Trend’s not done either, I just did a consult with another cabinetmaker a couple months ago because he couldn’t get the damn grey stain to work.
Oh, and sandblasting is only slightly less common and actually makes it even harder to apply. Not to mention to clean.
Insert Generic Username 2 years ago
I adore the original hardwood flooring in my house. The previous owner had installed garish mauve carpeting over it and didn't mention the beautiful, untouched hard wood below. When we tore out the carpeting to put in laminate flooring, we were beyond delighted to find we only needed to give the existing wood a good waxing. It's given the house a large upgrade in the charm department.
#27
The cookie cutter houses with no personality and no room, where the windows look directly into your neighbor’s bedroom. Ugh!
#28
Homes built on the cheap with so many corners cut in their construction that they end up being horrible places to live in, plagued by mold, damp, noise and plumbing issues and more.
#29
All white kitchens is going to seriously date houses in a decade or so. You know the ones I mean - white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash
#30
Not really a "new trend", but I've never understood mounting TVs high on a wall or above a fireplace. Not only is it a bad look to have a TV displayed like it's a piece of art, it's also very uncomfortable to watch TVs that are above you. TVs should be at eye level when you're sitting. I think the trend is finally dying, but it keeps cropping up in houses I visit.
Henry Crank 2 years ago
I have no choice in my place because of the way the living room is designed. Either that or have window shining directly on the TV.
#31
Rich people putting marble absolutely everywhere. It looks tacky
Raven Sheridan 2 years ago
Depends on the type of marble. There's a huge variety of colours and styles. Also depends on where and how it's used, not too mention the amount that is used. Do it wrong and yes, it's tacky. Do it right, and it's elegant and classy.
#32
Someday people are going to realize that having entirely white walls and exposed concrete isn't very homey.
#33
Garages that fit two medium sized cars with about one inch to spare
#34
As an electrician; putting 600 spotlights in every room of the house. Sure it makes me money but it looks fucking ridiculous having so many lights every 4 feet of every room.
#35
All-white insane asylum paint schemes
Jenny K Anderson 2 years ago
Thank you. I don’t want to have to wear sunglasses INSIDE a damn building!
#36
Open floor plans where the main floor is just like one big room.
Houses that are only 25' wide and have a front double garage.
Master bathrooms with no door separating the bed from the toilet.
Backyard that is only 12' deep
#37
I've seen several homes with appliances integrated into the construction of the kitchen itself. Not just in an alcove but actually built into the wall. Sure, it's convenient that there's a fucking cappuccino machine built into the wall next to the cabinet over the center island countertop. But what happens when (not if, when) it needs maintenance? Do I have to call a goddamn carpenter as well as a cappuccino machine repairman? Do I have to consider if this is a fucking load bearing wall that contains my broken appliance? And something that's just a convenience like that is one thing, but they do it with stuff like fridges too.
Stoopham McFernybabes 2 years ago
They install that with this in mind - there are (or should be if install by someone who knows what they are doing) simple ways of removing the panels for maintenance.
#38
Wasted space. This includes enormous bedrooms with sitting areas, homes with equal number of bed and bathrooms, extravagant foyers that eat half the front of a house, formal living and/dining rooms that never get used. Etc
#39
Humongous kitchen islands. I'm only 5 ft tall and I have to walk around the entire thing to get it clean. It's just too big to be convenient.
Add to that open shelves instead of cabinets. I'm sorry my boxes of pasta and cans of soup are not going to be attractive no matter what I do with them.
I also want separation between the kitchen and the living space.
I guess I just hate modern kitchens...
Milady Blue 2 years ago
Those islands are also a major pain to those of us in wheelchairs. Taking up valuable floor space in the kitchen that we need to get around. If you want a place to eat, go into the dining room and utilize the table dedicated to just that.
#40
I am not an interior designer but I cannot stand the whole “farmhouse chic” trend and can’t wait for it to go away, it’s everywhere. What’s everyone going to do when it becomes dated and they can’t sell their homes bc it looks like an effing farmhouse? Also like someone stated above I don’t think the open floor plan is something that’s going to last forever.
#41
Open concept floor plans are great for smaller homes. Y'all are just classist lol
Pungent Sauce 2 years ago
Small homeowner here, knocked out the wall between the kitchen and living room, installed breakfast bar. Best move ever, kitchen is no longer a dungeon, house feels 2x as big.
#43
I’m still training in kitchen design for a retail store and in my short time in this department I can tell you everyone wants white shaker-style cabinets. EVERYONE. I’m so sick of doing basic, unimaginative kitchens. The white in-stock shaker-style cabinets are also our biggest sellers. In-stock cabinets are complete trash and fall apart if you look at them wrong.
Anna Banana 2 years ago (edited)
Well I'm sorry you're bored at your job, but crazy designs get old pretty quickly so it's no wonder that most people want simple things. Especially since most of us are stuck with those choices for a couple of decades.
#44
Vinyl “hardwood” floors. I’m already tired of seeing them
Anna Banana 2 years ago
I doubt this is a trend that rich people choose over actual hardwood. But as a halfway step to freshen up the place quite cheaply it's not so bad in my opinion.
#45
Definitely barn doors.
What do you think ?
Anna Banana 2 years ago
So about half of those posts are complaining about too plain designs, while the other half are complaining that the current trends will be dated very soon. Great, that cleared things up for me!
BigFish Artwire 2 years ago
Hahaha I thought the same. Also, everything in fashion will look dated once is out of fashion. Seems a bit silly to complain about it
Load More Replies...
Stoopham McFernybabes 2 years ago (edited)
Title: “87 Interior Designers Share What They Think…” Entry in the thumbnail: “In not an interior designer but…” I highly doubt even a 10th of these entries were from anyone with any kind of interior design background.
Chay 2 years ago
Definitely not by the way some of them complained about things.
Load More Replies... Anna Banana 2 years ago
So about half of those posts are complaining about too plain designs, while the other half are complaining that the current trends will be dated very soon. Great, that cleared things up for me!
BigFish Artwire 2 years ago
Hahaha I thought the same. Also, everything in fashion will look dated once is out of fashion. Seems a bit silly to complain about it
Load More Replies... Stoopham McFernybabes 2 years ago (edited)
Title: “87 Interior Designers Share What They Think…” Entry in the thumbnail: “In not an interior designer but…” I highly doubt even a 10th of these entries were from anyone with any kind of interior design background.
Chay 2 years ago
Definitely not by the way some of them complained about things.
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