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30 Outdated Home Trends That We Hope Never Come Back

Please and thank you.

Headshot of Kelsey KlossBy Kelsey Kloss
Bedroom, Furniture, Bed, Bed sheet, Room, Bedding, Bed frame, Property, Interior design, Mattress,

They made a splash in the 70s to 2000s, but that's exactly where these trends can stay.

1

Fast Furniture

Furniture, Living room, Interior design, Room, Coffee table, Table, Floor, Wall, House, Couch,

You've probably heard of "fast fashion", which refers to clothing that is a factory-made, much cheaper version of what's currently on the runway. The equivalent in home decor is "fast furniture", which is an inexpensive design that you essentially buy knowing that you'll toss it in a few seasons...or the next time you move. These easy-to-assemble (and even easier to afford) designs really blew up in the mid-1980s and have been going strong since.

Although it can be a great way to save money, there's a reason that antiquing and repurposing old furniture has been having a major moment. Recycling and reusing existing decor allows you to reduce waste and also collect pieces that are special and have their own story.

2

Nautical Motifs

Room, Furniture, White, Interior design, Property, Blue, Living room, Wood flooring, Yellow, Floor,

Anchors, sailor's rope, and seashells belong on the actual beach, not in your living room. Even if you own an oceanside home, ditch the cheesy nautical decor — you can achieve beachy vibes without being too obvious. Pick a color palette inspired by your beautiful surroundings, or include subtle decor elements like coral and driftwood.

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3

Edison Bulbs

Lighting, Light fixture, Incandescent light bulb, Light, Yellow, Lighting accessory, Chandelier, Light bulb, Glass, Ceiling,

Every hip coffee shop from Brooklyn to Portland has these antique-style lights hanging from the ceiling, and we're over it. The "exposed" lighting look belongs, well, back when Thomas Edison came up with the original design.

Thankfully, glitzy statement lighting is having a major comeback, and honestly, we'd choose a chandelier over one of these dinky little bulbs any day. Harsh lighting is officially out.

4

Tufted Headboards

Room, Furniture, Bedroom, Interior design, Wall, Property, Nightstand, Bed, Chest of drawers, Curtain,

Tufted furniture is centuries old, but it no longer has the glam feel it once did. Now, it just looks a little stuffy — and if you want a statement headboard, why not commit to something that actually makes a statement (instead of blending in with your mattress)?

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5

Tuscan Kitchens

Countertop, Room, Furniture, Property, Yellow, Kitchen, Interior design, Lighting, Ceiling, Light fixture,

This style was everywhere in the early 2000s, and we can certainly see its appeal. Today's kitchens, however, focus on creating a light, airy place to cook, rather than emulating a dark Italian villa.

6

Damask

Pink, Pattern, Magenta, Textile, Design, Wrapping paper, Wallpaper, Visual arts, Motif, Pattern,

Is it a floral? Is it chintz? No, it's damask, which was a pattern found on everything from wallpaper to curtains in the 90s. If you still have this in your home, try an update of large, statement blooms instead.

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7

Wallpaper Borders

Furniture, Room, Product, Bed, Hostel, Changing table, Floor, Bedroom, Infant bed, Bed frame,
Flickr/Ted Johnson

Whether it runs through the middle of a nursery as it does here, or trims the top of your wall, this trend should stop short anytime after the 90s. Try one of these fashionable (and super fun) wallpaper trends instead.

8

Avocado Green And Harvest Gold

Bedroom, Furniture, Bed, Bed sheet, Room, Bedding, Bed frame, Property, Interior design, Mattress,

These two calm colors were staples of the 70s as the country recovered from the Vietnam War. Now, however, the color combo can come off as drab and, naturally, outdated.

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9

Granite Overload

Countertop, Room, Property, Cabinetry, Kitchen, Furniture, Tile, Interior design, Lighting, Building,

In the early 2000s, we witnessed a single-material overload, often appearing in the mass application of dark granite in kitchens. Today, accents tend to be more effective, and a minimalist modern aesthetic with lighter materials is often preferred.

10

Mason Jar Mania

Light, Transparent material, Sky, Yellow, Lighting, Glass, Water, Room, Window, Mason jar,

Admittedly, this may still be a trend. Since the 90s, mason jars have been heralded as the answer to all home needs: candle holders, salad containers, soap dispensers — the list goes on. Now, however, a new appreciation is blossoming for artisan goods like hand-crafted vases, meaning mason jars can go back to their original job of canning preserves.

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11

Pine Furniture

Shelf, Furniture, China cabinet, Cupboard, Shelving, Room, Hutch, Cabinetry, Antique, Collection,

Don't get us wrong, an occasional pine accent is fine and dandy. But in the 80s and 90s, it was just about everywhere, from bookshelves to dressers to chests.

12

Bean Bag Chairs

Red, Bean bag, Furniture, Bean bag chair,

Oh, hello 90s. Though this may have been a handy chair to eat a slice of pizza in between college courses, it should never leave a dorm room. Still, that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice comfort: Try one of these cozy reading chairs instead.

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13

Giant Silk Plants

Red, Branch, Flower, Room, Pink, Houseplant, Plant, Twig, Tree, Blossom,

Many a fond pastime was formed in Michael's aisles, picking out silk flowers and branches when this 90s trend was in full force. But now, there's a much higher appreciation placed on real bouquet flowers — besides, they have so many health benefits!

14

Hollywood Mirror Lights

Light, Lighting, Rectangle, Mirror, Square,

Yes, you're a star. But that doesn't mean you need to be blinded by this 90s trend every morning. Bathroom lighting today is softer and more delicate than these harsh bulbs.

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15

Sponge Walls

Wallpaper, Pattern,

Homeowners in the 90s started getting crafty, but unfortunately, that often meant swapping carefully painted walls for, er, sponge painting. Though it created "texture," we can't help but appreciate today's chic, bold and sponge-free look instead.

16

Avocado Fridge

Refrigerator, Major appliance, Home appliance, Kitchen appliance, Machine,

Continuing the avocado green and harvest gold theme, refrigerators in the 1970s seemingly reflected what was inside them — avocados. It's a fun concept, but its charm is preserved in that decade.

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17

Glass Blocks

Window, Wall, Architecture, Sash window, Glass, Daylighting, Metal,

In years past, glass blocks were used to let light shine into a shower area without sacrificing privacy. Now, however, they may come off as dated. Homes today are more likely to use creative glass designs or a skylight to offer privacy.

18

Popcorn Ceiling

Beige, Wall, Grey, Material property, Plaster, Sand, Ceiling, Concrete, Flooring, Silver,
Flickr/Brent Schmidt

Oh, popcorn ceilings. Shall we agree that the only place popcorn belongs is buttered and in the movie theatre? Instead, consider painting your ceiling in a striking hue.

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19

Vertical Blinds

Room, Window treatment, Interior design, Furniture, Curtain, Window covering, Living room, Property, Wall, House,

Not only are these, well, annoying to open and close, but they're also a relic of the past. Invest in beautiful curtains for an eye-catching element in the room.

20

Ruffled Bedskirts

Bedroom, Room, Bed, Furniture, White, Product, Interior design, Bed frame, Pink, Property,

Granted, just about everything in the 80s was ruffled, from curtains to skirts. But the ruffled bedskirts? That's true turn-of-the-century fashion. Now, beds tend to opt for minimalist, chic bedskirts — or none at all.

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