From the latest DIY hashtag on social media to style themes prepackaged as “core” design, home design fads tend to die fast. But until trends like “Yeehaw Coremeet their final death, we are here to wish them dead.
The blog Styled Staged & Sold does an annual countdown of the worst home design trends of the year. Last year, trends that earned a spot on our list included ill-fitting furniture with drips, blindingly glossy surfaces and awkward dining room benches. So what new fears have emerged this year?
Here are some of the most exciting home styles of the year. Be sure to hit below with the styles the creeps give you!
10. Open shelves in the kitchen
Photo: Brizmaker/Getty Images
By now, some homeowners are undoubtedly missing their upper kitchen cabinets. The stress associated with open shelving has probably worn off: keeping dishes perfectly displayed and organized—and the constant dusting! Sure, open shelving instead of upper cabinets can work in small kitchens if you need to trick the eye to make the space appear larger. But in most kitchens, cabinets are loved by homeowners for their organizational logic. It’s just a bonus when they look good, too.
9. Black lamps in all-white interiors
Photo: Joe Hendrickson/Getty Images
Matte black finishes can be too distracting, especially in an otherwise all-white room. Black faucets and knobs can end up stealing the limelight, but is that really what you want visitors to focus on? Faucets don’t sell houses.
8. Narrow garages
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Large houses with small garages are impractical. Vehicles have gotten bigger and households have accumulated more and more stuff. However, garage space is shrinking. From the 1960s to the 2000s, the average standard two-car garage grew to 24×24 feet. Lately, builders are building houses with 20×20 foot garages. That can make for a tight squeeze, considering the average truck is more than 19 feet long and a minivan can stretch to 18 feet. With smaller lots to contend with, builders prefer larger indoor spaces over garage space. But narrow garages mean homeowners get out of their parked car or even park in the driveway or driveway.
7. All-green interiors
Photo: NelleG/Getty Images
Shades of gray have covered our homes, from walls and floors to furniture, carpets, rugs, paints, accessories and more. Everything is starting to feel cold and dreary. Even Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz” finally woke up with some color – and it’s about time we did too! The latest trend is clear: Color brightens our spaces. Lately, contrasting colors and patterns have become a way to beat gray.
6. The oversized, oversized shower
Photo: Melissa Tracey
Seriously, how big is too big for a shower? We may have reached the tipping point. Even bathtubs are now added inside these oversized showers, known as “wetrooms.” And some homeowners even add plants inside their shower for added decoration. (A shower greenhouse—why not?) With large showers comes the need for more faucets and sprays that surround all sides, which can make it seem more like a powerful car wash than a relaxing spa. Maybe it’s finally time to bring your shower renovations back to a more practical size. You’ll save money too!
5. Top paint with white
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White siding, white painted brick houses and white doors. We all subscribe to the same design book: When in doubt, paint white! More homeowners are beginning to question this logic. Colored trim is “in” and so are brightly colored doors. The wood tones start to shine again. Don’t assume that old red or brown brick exteriors or fireplaces always have to be painted white to feel fresh or modern. Once you paint it, you can never go back! White can be difficult to keep clean and often requires a lot of maintenance. Some regret about the white paint is likely brewing.
4. Mosaic accent tiles
Photo: Joe Hendrickson/Getty Images
Colorful rectangular or square glass tiles were once a popular backsplash trend in the early 2000s, but designers are now calling it outdated. Accent strips in tile often include a mix of different colors and can look too busy and limited. Instead, the splashes become large, with larger shaped tiles or stone slabs falling on the wall. Fewer grout lines can provide a more modern, clean finish.
3. Stainless steel kitchens
Photo: Scott Van Dyke/Getty Images
This trend took off as quickly as it appeared and most of us saw it coming. It is quite difficult to keep a stainless steel refrigerator waterproof. imagine having to keep both shiny metal shelves and stainless steel splashbacks spotless! Popular cooking shows like “Boiling Point” and “The Bear” may have helped promote this kitchen design trend, but we’ll happily leave that to the chefs.
2. TikTok DIY home trends
Photo: SB Arts Media
“I found this great idea for the house on TikTok!” That statement alone should sound the alarm bells of an incoming design faux pas. Consider some of these once popular ideas:
- Paint your old granite countertops with epoxy to mimic the look of marble.
- Spruce up your fridge by decorating it with lights, mirrors and frames.
- Add a battery-operated lamp to your shower shelves for softer light.
- Sofa Fabric Painting (Yikes!)
TikTok has become a popular place to view home DIY videos meant to inspire us. But sometimes, these so-called great ideas can border on being disastrous, if not dangerous, for your home.
1. Design-cores
Photo: Stocknroll/Getty Images
Cluttercore, Cottagecore, Grandpacore, Fantasycore, Yeehaw Core—and yes, Barbiecore. Probably the most fun of them all, Barbiecore had the longest rein of these basic styles, but being inspired by a plastic doll would never last childhood. Design trends labeled as “core” design tend to be an overly thematic style that will likely fade as quickly as an Instagram story. Embed these crazes into a Pinterest folder if needed. We’ll all be laughing with them later for sure! Over-the-top design themes that try to emulate Barbie, Grandpa, or the Wild West can look off-putting in real life. Instead, style your home to your own tastes and keep grandpa out of it. Besides, just like an apple core, these cores tend to rot quickly. Don’t let a design core stink up your home.
What do you think? What are the scariest design trends you’ve spotted in 2024 that you hope will fade into the new year?
Check out our previous countdown of spooky home trends over the years—where drips, the “cloffice,” moss walls, and more really freaked us out.