If a homeowner’s living space doesn’t look quite right, it’s time for them to say goodbye to outdated home design trends and rethink how they decorate. What makes a house feel like home? What modern home design trends can people incorporate without sacrificing personal style? Before eager DIY-ers start ripping off wallpaper, here are some things they should consider.
Decorating Styles Throughout History
The concept of beauty is unique to each culture and time period. Here are some prominent home design trends from ages past:
- Ancient Egyptians decorated their homes with animal skins, textiles, sculptures, painted urns and murals.
- Romans preferred wood, marble, bronze or stone furniture, with cushions and tapestries added for comfort. Mosaic tile floors, shrines to different gods, frescoes and wall paintings reigned supreme in Roman houses.
- Medieval Europeans favored dark wood paneling, stone slab floors and minimalist furniture. Even tapestries and stonework were neutral in color.
- 15th- and 16th-century French architects embraced their creative, artistic side. They preferred inlaid woodwork, bright marble floors, finely crafted furniture and paintings.
It’s hard to decide what counts as outdated home design trends because styles are always changing. One thing’s for certain: Whatever designers consider beautiful will look very different 100 years from now.
Home Design Trends to Try in 2023
Home design trends come and go, but there are a few things people can do to make a house feel timeless.
Out: Cheaply Made Pieces
Before splurging on a buy-one-get-one-free deal, homeowners should consider why those plush rugs are so cheap in the first place. Are they machine washable? Will they fall apart under muddy boots or a few rowdy games of fetch with the dog? Maybe they’re inexpensive because the people who made them don’t earn a fair wage. It’s important to scrutinize anything that seems too good to be true.
In: Long-Lasting Decor
When designing a living space, opting for a few high-quality pieces that will stand the test of time is wise. As home design trends wax and wane, it’s easy to repaint tables or throw a couch cover over the sofa to suit changing tastes. Replacing furniture because it crumbles at the slightest touch can add up financially over the years.
Out: Meaningless Clutter
If there’s one style that takes center stage in 2023, it’s minimalism. This doesn’t mean living in a sterile white box with modern art on the walls — although some people like that approach. However, filling a house floor-to-ceiling with decor is an outdated home design trend that should be retired since it makes a living space harder to clean and move around in. Minimalism embraces the concept that less is more.
In: Personal Touches
Instead of buying a pile of soulless, mass-produced decor at the nearest retail store, people can incorporate just a few pieces that really speak to them. They can look for paintings that remind them of a favorite vacation, or add their grandma’s throw pillow to the couch because it makes them feel peaceful and nostalgic. Family heirlooms may not have widespread stylistic appeal, but a home is not a Pinterest-inspired showroom — it’s a collection of memories.
Out: Keeping up With the Joneses
People sometimes make stylistic choices based on what they think other, more successful people are doing. This behavior often stems from the embarrassment of failing to keep up with trends. For example, homeowners might add a new kitchen backsplash because they read that wood paneling is outdated, leading to an impulse decision to renovate. While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying modern styles, homeowners should only change their decor because it appeals to them on a personal level.
In: Embracing the Unique
The odds are that in a few years, outdated home design trends people want to change will be the next big thing in decorating. If a homeowner loves their green carpet and sunken seating area, so does somebody else — after all, a designer made those items on purpose. People should identify features that make their homes unique and highlight them. Glass doorknobs and coffered ceilings can add charm to a house.
Out: Plastic and Other Unsustainable Choices
People should look carefully at what materials they buy when revamping their homes. Polyester, nylon and acrylic are all plastic in disguise. It’s also best to avoid unsustainably harvested wood such as Brazilian mahogany, Burmese teak, wenge and merbau.
In: Eco-Friendly Pieces
Choose wood from trees like elm, tulip, black cherry, willow and soft maple to get long-lasting furniture without sacrificing the rainforest. People can also opt for bamboo furniture, upcycled pieces made of recycled wood or family heirlooms. Steel is durable and endlessly recyclable. Marble and natural stone building materials are also durable, sustainable choices.
Out: Spending Just to Spend
It can be tempting to redo the bathroom after getting a work bonus or tax refund, but resist the urge to spend all that hard-earned cash on new flooring. Homeowners should consider repurposing items they already own or simply redecorating. For example, a copper mug or flower vase makes a great toothbrush holder, and it’s easy to liven up a tired washroom with little more than a fresh coat of paint.
In: Decorating With Intention
Homeowners should look around each room and decide what would transform it. Something as simple as a new faucet, shower curtain or toilet tank topper can refresh a bathroom. A matching china set and reusable soap dispenser can pull a kitchen design together. Sometimes, rearranging furniture or adding a well-placed mirror is enough to make a room look more modern.
Out: Ditching Old Furniture
Is that kitchen table really on its last legs, or can a person breathe new life into it by sanding it and staining it a new shade? Sometimes the only difference between outdated and contemporary styles is color, and that’s well within most people’s control.
In: Replacing Things That Break
If something is truly broken beyond repair, let it go. Fixing broken furniture should always be the first choice, but if sitting on those wobbly kitchen chairs feels like navigating a minefield, it’s time for an upgrade. Duct tape can only take a person so far.
Retiring Outdated Home Design Trends
A person’s living space should be their own relaxing, comfortable sanctuary. In 2023, the most outdated home design trends are overbuying, not considering sustainability and making purchases simply because an influencer suggested it. It’s time to embrace a new mindset regarding interior design: enjoying the unique, quirky character that makes a house feel like a home.
Emily Newton is the Editor-in-Chief of Revolutionized, an online magazine discussing the latest industry innovations and trends.
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