Home Interior Design Trends That Should Disappear in 2017

January 7, 2017 by Paul Ausick

There comes a time when a homeowner decides to spruce up a home, either because it’s not been changed in a dozen years and everyone is tired of the look or because the owner is thinking about putting it on the market and wants to give it a currently popular look to attract more buyers.

Unless you are one of those homeowners who keeps track of the latest trends in interior design, however, you might spend time and money on a refresh that has been around for a while and is now tired and overused. While that’s not a crime, you may regret the changes later when something else comes along or when you decide to sell the house.

Over at Realtor.com, Jamie Wiebe lists 10 design trends that “quickly wore out their welcome, inspiring boredom, embarrassment, or even outright anger in no time flat.” In other words, design choices to avoid.

  1. Faux mid-20th century modern. The retro look popularized by “Mad Men” is over, killed by endless knockoffs of class mid-century furniture design. If you have an original, though, hang on to it.
  2. Shiplap. This look was popularized by a home-remodeling TV show. It uses overlapping siding that would normally be on the outside of a house on the interior walls.
  3. Barn-door sliders. While these both save space and may be cuter than pocket doors, they are no longer clever and cute, but “tacky and outdated.”
  4. White-on-white kitchens. Only a good idea if you also own stock in company that makes home cleaning products.
  5. Copper. A little copper — or any other metal — goes a long way. Don’t overdo it with any metal, especially copper.
  6. Gray. This is so 2016. Color is coming back, and design experts anticipate a return to warmer beige tones.
  7. Monochromatic designs. Shades of a single color may have been “bold and calming” once, but are now “boring and overly coordinated.” So there.
  8. Glam looks. Silvery fixtures, deep blacks, stark whites introduced a slick, severe minimalism that is going to be replaced by warmer tones.
  9. Carrara marble. This stuff is remarkably beautiful, but really high-maintenance. And the look is past its sell-by date too.
  10. Heavy industrial themes. Bare wood, pipe shelving and wobbly metal tables are expected in a warehouse. This look may still have some legs, but it will be softer than it has been.

For a complete rundown, see Realtor.com.

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