Interior design trends typically only last around5 years, so it is very easy to find yourself with outdated home decor.
If there is a popular trend in decorating, it will eventually become an out of style decorating trend (excluding the extremely rare high quality items that will remain classic).
The more popular the decor trend is, the more unpopular it will become. One of the main reasons that interior design products become unpopular is that higher quality items get reproduced in lower quality copycats that are mass produced in lower priced stores. These cheap items are sold by the thousands and dilute the quality of the original designer. People then get tired of seeing the same lower quality stuff in everyone's homes, so the item goes out of style.
Many people remember avocado green and harvest gold in the 1970's and shiny gold in the 1980's.
Here are a few common decor trends that have fallen out of favor, along with practical tips for giving your home a modern and updated look.
photo courtesy of sbcustomdesigns flickr.com/photos/sbcustomdesigns/4742153139/Fake Trees, Plants, Flowers, and Ivy
Real trees, plants, and flowers are great decorative accessories for your home, but lesser expensive fake ones are obviously fake - you are not fooling anyone.
This decorating trend is out of style, especially fake ivy on top of kitchen cabinets.
Just get rid of it.
If you must have a faux plant, purchase a very high quality one from someone who specializes in high quality faux plants and flowers, not a generic faux plant from the home decor store or big box store down the street.
You must keep your faux plants and flowers looking their best by dusting them weekly.
Vessel Sinks
Furniture Sets
Matching furniture sets are no longer in style.
If you currently own matching sets, try to mix them up with other sets in your home for a more custom, modern, and one-of-a-kind look.
Consider swapping pieces with friends or neighbors or selling a few items to mix things up.
Another alternative is to paint pieces and make them one-of-a-kind.
Words at Artwork
Every craft store, home decor store, and discount store has sold words as artwork.
They are either wall hung artwork with words (Keep Calm and Carry On, Live Laugh Love, Dream, Eat, etc.), cutout letters, or wall decals.
Their time has come.
They are no longer in fashion and are out of style.
Tuscan & Modern Farmhouse Style
Any time you select a style for your home that references a location and you are not in that location, then it is a trend.
This includes French country, Spanish style, coastal, southwestern, Tuscan, and modern farmhouse.
Tuscan style was all the rage in the years 2000-2010. It references the Tuscan region of Italy.
Tuscan style was known for its earthy red and golden yellow color scheme & its oil rubbed bronze faucets, door knobs, and other metal items.
Consider reupholstering or painting your heavy Tuscan style furniture for a more contemporary look.
Get rid of your cheap mass produced decor items that are not actually found in Tuscany, such as poor quality ceramic rooster statues and decorative bottles of oil that are not food safe.
For more ideas on how to update your Tuscan home, see the article How to Transition Your Home Away From the Tuscan Style.
The modern farmhouse style trend exploded in popularity due to the TV show Fixer Upper that aired between 2013-2018.
Season 5, the final season of Fixer Upper in 2017-2018, featured homes mostly remodeled in styles other than the modern farmhouse style. The decision to remodel homes in styles other than modern farmhouse marked the end of the modern farmhouse trend.
This modern farmhouse trend was so popular that it became so outdated very quickly. As stated before, the more popular the decor trend is, the more unpopular it will become.
If you currently have a modern farmhouse style home and like the overall vibe and feeling but want to update it, consider transitioning to a traditional classic style with authentic vintage and/or antique accents.
Get rid of your cheap, mass produced modern farmhouse decor as well as other decor & furniture that has been artificially distressed in a factory.
Keep your authentic vintage and antique items.
Add more color.
Consider decorating with metal finishes other than black.
Many Others
Here is a list of many other decorative items that were in style in the past few decades but are now out of style.
Craftsy DIY things from Pinterest that can be completed in one weekend (these projects typically use very cheap materials, making your home look cheap), pallet projects, wallpaper borders, DIY faux finishing, mason jars, popcorn ceilings, tile countertops, chalkboard painted items, black and white striped rugs, chevron pattern, and ombre.
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