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The Cringiest Home Decor Trends of All Time

Home decor trends come and go, but there are some that we wish wouldn't show up in the first place! Reaching far back to the depths of history, the most questionable interior decorating trends tend to emerge into mainstream TV, magazines, and blogs every few years. Right now, '70s decor is making a comeback—much to the dismay of minimalists and monochrome lovers. 

From fuchsia shag carpeting to "Live, Laugh, Love" signs, we've seen some decor that is just plain...wrong. Some of these tacky trends have been around for decades, while others are relatively new. And even if some of these trends were invented recently, they still have the tendency to look outdated, which is the opposite of what most homeowners want to see. When you have your own home, you want to take pride in it; not age it beyond repair. So please, take our advice and consider the taste level of your interior decorating. (Just a hint: if there are roosters all over your kitchen, it's probably time for a new hobby.) 

We know everyone has their own opinions on what decor is suitable for their houses, and we're not trying to change that. All we're saying is that you won't see these 50 tacky trends in our homes!

Linoleum

Linoleum

Linoleum looks just like tile...assuming that you’re standing at least 1,000 feet away and have underlying eye problems. This cheap flooring material has been around since the 1800s, and back then it was probably the tops. Now, materials are much better (and cheaper), so can it finally be time to say goodbye once and for all? 

Even when you get high-quality linoleum, it still looks shiny and cheap. And if you go with the low-quality stuff, you can expect plenty of wear, tear, and warping. There's no fixing a linoleum tear no matter how hard you try. You just have to replace the whole thing. That's hardly worth it. 

Carpeted Bathrooms

Carpeted Bathrooms

Carpeted bathrooms look gross, but that’s not even the main reason to be against them. Let’s just say that I hope everyone’s aim is accurate in the bathroom or you’re gonna have a mess on your hands pretty soon. Then there's the whole "your toilet spews everywhere when you flush" situation. 

Nothing about carpet in the bathroom is sanitary, and it isn't like you can just clean it right up with a mop. No, you have to physically steam clean it with a shampooer! Save the carpet for literally any other room in the house. When it goes in the bathroom, you’re just inviting chaos in. 

(Image via Reddit)

Fluorescent Lights

Fluorescent Lights

If you’ve got fluorescent lights in your kitchen, you may as well throw a dead body in the freezer because your kitchen looks more like a morgue. Fluorescent lights aren't great in any setting (except maybe a morgue like we've said). These sterile, industrial-looking lights leave everything bathed piercing and depressing white light. 

It’s time to say goodbye to those sad alien-looking lights and get some real fixtures. Oh, and did we mention fluorescent lights explode? Yeah, for safety's sake it's time to move on. Regular lights also offer more styles to choose from that will accent your home instead of flush everything out. 

(Image via Imgur)

Industrial Kitchens

Industrial Kitchens

The industrial kitchen aesthetic is confusing. I understand why commercial kitchens need a ton of stainless steel,. It's easier to clean, and it isn't like customers are walking into the back to judge their ambiance and atmosphere. They just want their food. Because of that, I’m not sure why people think it looks good in their home kitchen. 

Sure, clean-up might be a breeze with stainless steel, but all that metal is just an eyesore. You want your home to look inviting, not utilitarian. You want people to want to enter your kitchen. It's officially time for the industrial kitchen trend in residential homes to go away (and never come back). 

Oak Cabinets

Oak Cabinets

Oak cabinets used to be all the rage, but those days are long gone. They’re no longer a fresh look--they’re a blast from the past. Because everyone wanted them, now they look more like "Builder's Grade" even if they were pretty expensive. No home should say "I was pieced together overnight with cheap materials."

Going retro with your decor is not always bad, but you should definitely avoid the oak cabinets. You may as well just store your stuff in plywood boxes. If you have old oak cabinets, you could always paint them! It's much cheaper and easier than replacing them. don't forget to add some new hardware while you're at it.

Mason Jar Decor

Mason Jar Decor

Mason jars are a staple of canning, and unfortunately, they’ve become a staple in kitchen decor as well. They're supposed to say "shabby chic," but nowadays, they just say "shabby." Instead of using them to provide food for our families, we shove some Christmas lights in them and call them decor. 

Put those jars to good use or get rid of them once and for all! We all know you don’t know how to can, anyways. There's a way to do "shabby chic" without buying into the overdone, Pinterest decor that every Susan saw before going to bed. While we're on the topic, painted mason jars look even worse and should be tossed immediately. 

Chevron

Chevron

There’s nothing objectively bad about chevron. Rather, it’s tacky because it shows up literally anywhere and everywhere. For a while there, everyone embraced the chevron trend in the form of curtains, paint, blankets, throw pillows, and even dishes. It was a plague we couldn't get away from even if we tried. 

We’re not sure why this geometric design caught on like wildfire, but hopefully, someone extinguishes the flames soon. There are a million other designs out there. When done in moderation, chevron can look pretty good. For now, though, let's just let it disappear so we can rest our eyes finally. 

Fake Plants

Fake Plants

Fake plants tell the world that you can’t care for another living thing and you have no desire to try. No plants at all are preferable to fake plants. Most of them look really fake, too. You can see the plastic sticking out, jagged and rough. By the time you've bought good fake plants, you've spent a fortune. What's the point? 

Why not giving real ones a try? Even if you’re terrible at taking care of them, plants don’t have to be that expensive--just replace them and no one will be the wiser! Start with plants that are basically "unkillable." Succulents can be watered literally once a month, and they won't die. Just set it and forget it. Pothos is another great option, but it requires more attention. 

Futons

Futons

Futons are the worst for a couple reasons. Number one, they just look cheap. Even if you invest in a fancy one, you’re still going to make your living room look like a college dorm. No matter how many throw pillows are tossed on it, the ugly frame and fold-out cushion says what's really going on. 

Number two, they are generally not comfy at all. The bars are designed to hold it in place, but the cushion or "mattress" - it feels unjust even calling it that - has so little padding it can barely stand up to a regular couch cushion. Whether you’re using it to sit or sleep, the floor is probably preferable to a futon. 

(Image via Reddit)

Plastic Storage Containers

Plastic Storage Containers

There’s nothing wrong with investing in some cheap, plastic storage. We all need to store our seasonal decor in something easy, clear, and cheap. Otherwise, we'll forget the items even existed! Things only get tacky when you start treating it like actual furniture. That's when things go too far, and friends should intervene. 

Prominently displaying your plastic bins may as well be an act of aggression in the decor world. At the very least, throw a tablecloth or quilt over them. Nothing says "this is my first apartment and I just moved in!" like using plastic rolling storage bins. Even IKEA has better options than that plastic crap. 

Furniture Covers

Furniture Covers

Let’s be real -- most of us can’t afford furniture that’s worth keeping in mint condition. And if you can afford the fancy stuff, what’s the point of buying it if you’re not going to use it? Furniture covers turn the family sofa into a relic that must not be desecrated.

Who wants to live in a house like that? Plus, not to mention, cleaning solutions exist. They make vacuums and shampooers that are designed to take care of the furniture. If you have pets, then train them not to get on the furniture.  If that's impossible, why buy super expensive furniture to begin with? 

Beer Bottle Collections

Beer Bottle Collections

Unless you’re still in college, no one is impressed by your beer bottle collection. Heck, even if you are in college we’re not impressed. It looks super tacky and screams "I have a problem!" It doesn't matter if they're local IPAs or foreign beers from Germany - it's a bad look. 

It’s time to say goodbye to your binge drinking days and invest in some real decor. Your liver will thank you. There are ways to embrace your personality without displaying all the booze you've had in your life. Use glasses, brewing equipment, or anything other than the ugly, brown glass bottles. 

(Image via Pinterest)

Wood Paneling

Wood Paneling

If I want to see wood paneling, I’ll build a time machine and go visit the '70s. That’s just a roundabout way of saying that wood paneling is the worst. Way back when, wood paneling may have been the hot new thing, but this trend has been dated for decades. And it just won’t seem to die!

Fixing wood paneling is just as much of a pain as looking at it. The best you can do is fill in the cracks and paint over it, but even that sometimes doesn't turn outright. To make matters worse, wood paneling's older cousin shiplap came back for a while. Now we have to deal with that. Ugh. 

Live, Laugh, Love Decor

Live, Laugh, Love Decor

Listen, if you want to live, laugh, and love in the privacy of your own home, that’s your business. But you don’t have to telegraph it to the world. It's to the point where live, laugh, love signs are even being made fun of in commercials -- the "don't become your parents" commercial. 

“Live, Laugh, Love” decor is about as basic and meaningless as it gets. You may as well just nail a welcome mat to your wall -- it will have the same artistic impact. Find a meaningful quote that actually applies to you. Not one that means nothing and is in every suburban mom's house. 

Tile Counters

Tile Counters

The tile in your brand new kitchen may look as gorgeous as anything, but just give it time. You’ll grow to hate it eventually. It might start out looking nice, but as the grout between the tiles starts to stain and get dirty, things will get tacky quick enough. 

Is it even possible to really sanitize the grout? All these questions lead to a resounding, "don't do it!" The only option you'd have is to powerwash your kitchen, and that would just lead to additional issues. A nice, smooth surface is what you want to work on when you're cutting things up. 

Shag Carpet

Shag Carpet

If you love the feel of shag carpet, you may as well just let the grass grow inside your house. It might look weird, but it won’t look as tacky as your furry carpet! Plus, can we talk about vacuuming a shag carpet? Modern brands aren't made to clean these long strands. 

Shag carpeting brings up images of the 1970s, and let’s just say that what we’ve seen is terrifying. Slay the beast that’s living on your floor and pull that shag carpet up! If it's been around since the '70s, it's probably dirty, dingy, and flat, anyways! Nothing like new carpet to show you the old stuff was awful. 

(Image via Crate and Barrel)

Waterbeds

Waterbeds

Nothing good ever happened on a waterbed, and don’t you ever forget it. These retro relics are retrofuturistic in the worst way possible. They provide zero support, which is probably why everyone that used them has such bad back pain now. Sleeping on these mushy things didn't do anyone any favors. 

Thankfully, the age of technology has limited the spread of waterbeds. We’ve just got too many electronics in our homes these days that we can’t be bringing hundreds of gallons of water into the house. To be honest, having that much water on a carpeted surface is unwise - we both know it was on carpet.

Bean Bags

Bean Bags

Bean bags are fine for kids, but at some point, you’ve got to grow up and sit in a real chair. When you get to age 30 or 40, getting out of a bean bag chair is less than graceful and will probably hurt. Not to sound super old, but a chaise is better than a bean bag will ever be. 

Sure, bean bags may have been all the rage at one point, but who’s actively seeking them out these days? Kids. Literal children. That's the reason all the bean bags in the store are tiny. Instead of buying one your size, just get yourself a good, modern chaise lounger. You can thank us later. 

Animal Print Wallpaper

Animal Print Wallpaper

Can we talk about the animal print trend that went nuts in the late '90s and early 2000s? It was terrible, and we all had to pay for it in one way or another. Many of us had to painstakingly remove the ugly wallpaper from the walls because painting over it was a no-go. 

We’re not sure why you’d want to go on a safari every time you step in the living room in the first place, to be honest. This is one of those trends that shouldn't ever come back under any circumstances. Animal print accents (like a pillow) can look good with a lot of effort, but not on the wall. 

(Image via Overstock)

Nautical Decor

Nautical Decor

Did everyone get together and just decide to do something nautical in their bathroom? That memo must have gotten lost because we sure didn't get it. Still, everyone decided to do it. There is just no scenario where nautical decor is gonna work and look good. Let’s walk through the process together. 

If you live near the ocean, then nautical decor makes a little sense at least, but you can still just look out your window! If you aren’t near an ocean, then nautical decor makes even less sense. No one actually believes they’re on the high seas when they step into your bathroom. 

Fuzzy Toilet Covers

Fuzzy Toilet Covers

There’s no denying that fuzzy toilet covers are tacky. It's an old callback to carpeted bathrooms, which pretty much everyone hates now. Anything leftover from this trend should be thrown in a bonfire. We're not going to stop there because there's something even worse about carpeted toilets. More importantly, they’re a vector for disease. 

I’m not sure if you’re aware of what people do in a toilet, but let’s just say it’s not pretty. "Stuff" in the toilet goes up after every flush and - ahm - lands all over surfaces around. That's why we have to clean the bathroom so often. It’s definitely not a time when you want a giant piece of fabric right there to catch all the bacteria and germs. 

Vertical Blinds

Vertical Blinds

If this was the early '90s, then I could understand your desire for vertical blinds. But it’s time for everyone else to move on from them. They're painfully tacky and make almost no sense. A small breeze can let the sun shine right back into the room you're blocking the sun from entering. 

In addition to looking tacky, vertical blinds are also a pain to navigate. I’m not sure if you’ve ever tried to make your way through a doorway covered by vertical blinds, but you’ve basically got to punch your way out. 

Beaded Curtains

Beaded Curtains

Beaded curtains were not cool way back when, and they’re even less cool now! The only part of your personality that they illuminate is your lack of originality. Beaded curtains suck they don't really do anything for privacy, and that's what doors are for when you really get down to it - to keep something (or someone) out of the room!

The second reason this trend sucked is that they're awful to walk through. If you can think back to the '90s, we're sure you can remember moving these and getting them stuck on each other. They were a huge pain in the butt, and we're glad it's one that never came back. 

Edison Bulbs

Edison Bulbs

Edison bulbs look kinda cool and retro, but unfortunately, hipster coffee shops have completely overused and ruined them. The same goes for exposed brick. Both of these things really go along with the "industrial" trend that blew up a few years ago. We're not saying that this one is dumb for even existing. If anything, it sucks hipsters ruined it. 

The only issue is that they weren't really that bright, and that's not what you want in a light. The reason they weren't bright? Because they'd blind you! If you really want a visual treat, buy an interesting lamp to put a lightbulb into. That’s a lot cheaper than buying a decor piece that has a limited lifespan. 

Wicker Furniture

Wicker Furniture

If you have wicker furniture inside your house, you’ve done something wrong. We’re not in the 1980s anymore, Rip Van Winkle. It's time to ditch this Pier 1 Imports furniture and get something that actually lasts longer than a few years without getting wildly uncomfortable. Even Pier 1 Imports couldn't keep it going - they went bankrupt! 

That being said, poolside wicker furniture is still acceptable. It's the ideal type of furniture to plop down into when you're soaking wet or trying to soak up some sun. If any area of your house should look like a cabana, it should be the pool. You don't grab your floppy sunhat to sit in your living room. 

TV Cabinets

TV Cabinets

If you’re ashamed of having a TV to the point where you buy furniture to hide it, why do you have a TV in the first place? TV cabinets just take one problem and turn it into a bigger problem. If you thought that television was an eyesore, just wait until you see the even bigger box that you’ve entombed it in! 

Your best bet? Make your TV a photo album or something! They have TVs and shows that are specifically designed to turn your TV into something else. Anyone else remember the Netflix original - fire in the fireplace? Sure, we all made fun of it when it first came out, but it isn't so bad now. 

Wallpaper Borders

Wallpaper Borders

You’ve officially entered a wallpaper-free zone. And don’t think you can sneak any wallpaper borders past us! Wallpaper borders are for people who aren’t willing to commit to papering their entire walls. To which I say, commit even less -- ditch the wallpaper entirely! There's no reason you have to have it at all.  

Wallpaper is a pain in the butt to put up, and it's an even bigger pain to take down. Anyone that's spent hours removing crappy wallpaper will probably beg you to stop. Even putting decals up will cause the paint underneath to pull up, and it's a pain trying to make it look like it was never there in the first place. 

Ruffled Bedskirts

Ruffled Bedskirts

Unless you’re at a B&B, do you really want to wake up to a ruffled bedskirt every morning? I typically don’t want my first waking thought to be, “I’m living in a dollhouse.” Even worse, it looks like you've stolen a little nine-year-old girl's bedroom. That's just monstrous behavior!

All those ruffles might have looked prim and fancy at one point, but those days are long gone. Bed minimalism is the way to go these days. Bedskirts in general just attract dust and dirt from the floor while getting caught in your vacuum any time you get close. Now that really sucks. 

(Image via Wayfair)

Marquee Lights

Marquee Lights

Marquee bathroom lights are tacky. Every girl in the early 2000s decided marquee lights were what they wanted in their bathroom, and it became a permanent eyesore for the rest of us. That's not even all! There’s actually an even bigger problem with them than that. They’re just not practical!

Depending on what size your “marquee” is, you might be dealing with a ton of lights. And turning them on right next to a nice, reflective mirror is just going to make your bathroom blindingly bright. Plus, if one goes out, you have to go to the store and get a special bulb (or just accept the darkness). 

Sponge Painted Walls

Sponge Painted Walls

Sponge-painted walls were a trend in the late '90s and early 2000s that we wish were just a terrible nightmare. But unfortunately, they did (and do!) exist. We’re not sure why people enjoyed the textured effect that sponge painting provided, but we were not on board. Leave the sponges in the kitchen and the sea! 

When it came time to paint over it all, you had to deal with that little bit of texture, which was a pain. You could add layers upon layers of paint, but paint isn't cheap! That stuff adds up when you have to cover so much square footage. Just looking at it sends shivers down my spine. 

Textured Walls

Textured Walls

Textured walls are a personal pet peeve. They may decrease sound a little, but not enough to make them viable. What was the point of them to begin with? Oh, to make people miserable years down the line when they try to cover it up and make the walls smooth again.

The only way to cover that stuff up is by taking wall putty and filling in every little gap. Then, you have to sand it all to make sure the wall is smooth again! Yeah, that textured wall doesn’t sound so great anymore, does it? Let's put this one in the grave together.  

Wall-to-Wall Carpeting

Wall-to-Wall Carpeting

It took a while for everyone to learn that wall-to-wall carpeting is a very bad decision. Carpet may be soft when you get up in the morning, but it traps all manner of dust, dead skin, and pet hair (and dander, by the way). That makes it awful for anyone with allergies.

Now, wall-to-wall carpeting is so bad that some people consider it a huge negative when they’re looking for a potential house to buy. We don’t blame them. Getting new flooring can be thousands of dollars. Pulling it up yourself can be pretty gross, too. Hardwood flooring is where it’s at!

Round Beds

Round Beds

Round beds originally hit the market in 1968 – you know, the decade known for style! I really hope you can sense the sarcasm in that sentence. The ‘60s and ‘70s may have had a couple of good décor options here and there, but for the most part, it’s the same decade that brought us waterbeds.

What did these decades have against a good night’s sleep? The problem with round beds is that there’s only a small place in the middle where you can rest on it comfortably. The rest, a limb is going to fall off. That’s just space the furniture is taking up in your bedroom at that point.  

Popcorn Ceilings

Popcorn Ceilings

No one likes popcorn ceilings. They became super popular in the ‘50s and ‘60s, and it’s been a pain ever since – literally and figuratively. The first thing most people tackle when they move into a new house is to remove the ugly, dingey, stale popcorn ceiling that’s been up for almost a century.

Sure, it may have been necessary at the time and people liked it. Popcorn and textured ceilings do allow you to hide imperfections, but I think most people can fix minor imperfections that popcorn would cover up. It’s never been easier with stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot around the corner.  

Kitchen Desks

Kitchen Desks

Does anyone need to work in the kitchen? Heck, does anyone WANT to work in the kitchen? Back in the day, kitchen desks were the perfect place to store your phone books and day planners. However, along with many other things, this handy-dandy gadget called the smartphone completely replaced those things. Making the kitchen desk a completely useless waste of space. It's time to ditch this tacky time capsule.  

And admit it--we all know within just a week that useless kitchen desk is only going to be a place to collect your unopened bills and other clutter. Remove that clutter temptation and replace it with some usable storage or even (god-forbid) some extra counter space! Besides, if 2020 has taught anybody anything it’s that your in-home workspace needs to be far removed from the hustle and bustle of common living spaces.  

White Appliances

White Appliances

White appliances look great right out of the box but give them a year and your shiny white appliances will go from pristine to stained and dingy. Those pearly white appliances have also become the calling card for an outdated and low-end kitchen, and nobody wants that! Just don't even think about replacing them with black appliances, because those are really just as bad. If you’re looking for a sign to replace your dingy appliances, this is it. It’s time for them to retire.

Not only do white appliances show every speck of dirt and grime, but they also are prone to stains and discoloration over time. So next time you're in the market for some new appliances spend a few extra bucks and go for the stainless-steel set. There are more cost-effective options these days! Just make sure they're a matching set because that’s just as tacky as the old white appliances.

Room Reminders

Room Reminders

If your home requires labeling each room to know the purposes of each one, you may have bigger problems than tacky décor to worry about. Nobody really needs to be told what the kitchen is for. Hanging the word “EAT” on the wall is an insult to everyone, well except children learning to read. Maybe you’re a person who takes things literally or needs reminders to do basic human functions. If so, maybe spring for a smart home device to remind you of basic tasks.

If you can’t bear the thought of a kitchen without words on the walls, you could always invest in a handy label maker. At least that way they’re harder to see. Remove those unnecessary signs from your walls and spare your loved ones from the obnoxious bombardment of commands. EAT, EAT, EAT! It’s like there’s a perpetual hotdog eating contest being hosted in your kitchen. Gross!

(Image via Amazon)

Marble Counters

Marble Counters

Is your kitchen the extended wing of the Smithsonian? If not, that museum-grade marble probably doesn’t belong in your home! Marble was once an iconic stone that signaled one’s status. Nowadays, the all-marble look is something everyone aspires for even if they must settle for faux marble. Do you know what happens to something exclusive goes mainstream? It turns cheap.

As it turns out, marble is one of those things that cheap people think look really fancy. But at the end of the day, it’s just a dumb piece of rock. Go for something custom, something no one else has seen. Do you want exclusivity? Then you absolutely don’t want marble.

Open Kitchen Shelving

Open Kitchen Shelving

Imagine walking in your friend’s kitchen and they suddenly start screaming, “LOOK AT MY STUFF! LOOK! LOOK AT IT NOW!” We’re not going to tell you how to feel, but we definitely would find ourselves a little confused and overwhelmed. Not to mention, a little judgmental over their mismatched collection of china.

Open shelving is obnoxious – very obnoxious. Also, who’s dusting every individual cup and plate every week? (Yes, you’re actually supposed to dust weekly, not yearly.) Open shelving literally doesn’t solve anything besides letting your friends and family know that you are either freakishly organized or a total slob. It’s probably best to just keep that cookware covered.

Fake Fruit

Fake Fruit

Listen, we’re here to tell you that literally no one has a handle on their daily fruit and vegetable intake. So, don’t feel like you need fake fruit to fake out your friends into thinking you’re getting your vitamins and antioxidants. You’re not fooling anyone. Besides, by day two of sitting on your counter, those faux fruits will be covered in grease and grime.

Instead of turning your countertops into a house of wax, take a multivitamin. Or better yet, eat some REAL fruit. Maybe once your body gets used to eating like a human-being, you can actually justify a real bowl of fruit on your counter. Signaling that you really have your life together.

Window Valances

Window Valances

Window treatments have always been a crucial part of any home, but trends have changed a LOT over the years. Choosing the wrong things can seriously date your home. The wrong choice in every circumstance is those dusty window valances. They're very dated and make any room look dark and dusty. 

Unless you own a Victorian home, those ornate window treatments are seriously going to look out of place. Furthermore, the worst places for these large drooping pieces of fabric is the greasy kitchen! Consider that piece of fabric looming near an open flame a bad omen. Hope you have a fire extinguisher handy!

Barn Doors

Barn Doors

What’s the big idea? Were you raised in a barn? Why in the world would anyone install barn doors in their kitchen? Barn doors are meant to keep all those tasty farm animals in the barn. So, unless your bacon and hamburger are growing legs and running amuck, you probably don’t need these cumbersome doors.

Don’t even think about sliding those doors open smoothly, it just isn’t going to happen. Seriously, those doors slide about as rough as a budget airplane ride during a thunderstorm! It rarely goes smoothly, so don’t get your hopes up. The only time barn doors are the best choice is when someone lives the luxurious lifestyle of a pig.

Pallet Furniture

Pallet Furniture

DIY pallet furniture really blew up over the past few years all thanks to Pinterest. There were a number of different pieces you could make, and all of them were equally bad. Has anyone on Pinterest stopped to ask, “just because I can, should I?” The answer is a clear and resounding no.

We’re all for reusing materials, but pallet furniture looks tacky. Plus, it can be downright dangerous. You never know what’s been on the wood or if it’s been treated with a number of chemicals. At the end of the day, it’s safer for everyone if you just buy something from a furniture store (or wood so you know what’s been on it).  

Big Mouth Billy Bass

Big Mouth Billy Bass

People who still have a Big Mouth Billy Bass hanging in their living room need to be quarantined and studied. They were a blip on America's pop culture radar that should have died out years ago. It wasn’t even just fishermen adding these monstrosities to the wall. Tons of people did, and for what?!

They were annoying to hear, and even the homeowners began to regret their choices. Well, if they were a couple, we can guarantee you that one of them hated that their spouse insisted on this loud garbage. We’re not even going to discuss restaurants that put their whole theme around Big Mouth Billy Bass…

(Image via Amazon)

Tiny Rugs

Tiny Rugs

Rugs that are too small are called floating rugs. They aren’t anchored to anything, which absolutely defeats the purpose of a rug. Rugs should pull a room together – not get in the way every time you open a door. They tell people where to go and where to focus their attention… specifically, at something else on the rug.

Make sure all your furniture has at least two legs on the rug at all times. Otherwise, things just feel as awkward as wearing a too-small shirt. Plus, they get caught up on anything and everything that passes over it. Anyone that has a Roomba or robot vacuum hates floating rugs as much as we do.

Glass Block Bathrooms

Glass Block Bathrooms

This trend was a leftover ‘80s incident, and we’re not going to forgive them for this atrocity. The glass blocks were supposed to add a little pizzazz to your home, but all it did was make your home look dated moments after it was installed. How was this ever a good idea? Maybe it’s because we’re looking back, but it’s hard to imagine a time when this trend was on-point.

Thankfully, after living with them for a few years we finally came to our senses and stopped using awful glass block walls. It’s okay for guests to see around your house without obscuring the view, particularly into the bathroom. Spoiler alert: everyone has one! At least…we hope everyone has a bathroom.

Animal Hide Rugs

Animal Hide Rugs

First of all, the skin of a dead animal on your floor? Disgusting. No one wants to be reminded where their food comes from and that it was once a living, breathing thing with thoughts and emotions. “Oh yeah, this was my best girl Sally. We ate her for dinner with ketchup and a side of fries.” Awful.

Second, it isn’t like it feels good on the feet. No one has ever wanted to rub their feet on a cow. Their fur is coarse and a little prickly. The rugs look pretty tacky, but there’s a number of reasons they shouldn’t exist in a home. Just go with a regular rug like everyone else.

Dark Kitchen Cabinets

Dark Kitchen Cabinets

Dark kitchens had their moment in the ‘90s and early 2000s. Everyone had to have cherry-red cabinets that were as red as they were dark – as if that made sense. Then, it was all about espresso dark! Now, we’re all left wondering how to change up the colors without just painting over the nice wood (if there’s even nice wood underneath).

Dark kitchen cabinets do the same thing dark paint does: it the room smaller. Since many kitchens aren’t that big in the first place, the last thing you should want is to paint or stain it in a way that makes it look smaller. Who really wants a smaller room in the first place?  

Inflatable Furniture

Inflatable Furniture

Honestly, anything you have to blow up with an air hose has no place in your home! Okay, not all inflatable furniture needed an air hose. You could blow it up with your mouth, but you'd probably blow your lungs. Fun times! Also, nothing says comfy like plastic and vinyl. The most popular was the chair, but it didn't stop there.

There were couches, beds, and so many other options that you could fill an entire house with plastic inflatables. Let’s just leave inflatables for the pool and music events, okay? Nothing like this belongs in your home. If it ever comes back, we’re going to riot – and that’s coming from a ‘90s baby!

(Image via Walmart)

Painted Open Brick

Painted Open Brick

Maybe this one hits a little too close for home for me, but painted brick? No, no, no. The main reason painting brick is such an awful decision is because it’s impossible to remove. So, I really hope you like that color because you’re stuck with it for eternity. Even worse, whoever buys your home (if you’re selling it) has to deal with it.

It isn’t like brick looks that bad to begin with as long as its styled correctly. Nowadays, you almost never see good stonework in a house. It’s always someone who bought the house to flip it. Trends will always come and go, even “white and bright” whether it’s the kitchen, bathroom, or living room. Please don’t paint brick.