Rated: the 25 WORST décor trends of all time

These decorating ideas were disastrous

Looking back over your past decorating choices do you cringe and shudder? Over the years there have been some standout home trends that at the time were so hip that there wasn't a household that didn't display the look in some way or another. But, in hindsight were these looks actually a complete décor disaster?

If you've made some décor faux pas, don't worry we've all been there and got swept up with trends, from upcycling furniture to chancing a brave colour scheme, but if you've ever experimented with the following makeover mistakes you might not want to admit it! From avocado bathroom suites to glittery wallpaper feature walls, we've ranked the worst interior decorating trends of all time.

Read through and let's take a step back in time...

25: Decorative words

From ‘Live Laugh Love’ to ‘There’s No Place Like Home’, ornamental house sayings have been a popular addition to many homes. But, according to interior designer Temi Johnson ‘house lingo’ quote choices are making your home look dated as they are one of the worst home trends that will go out of fashion. Speaking to Ruggable, Temi explains: “The quote itself makes a huge impact in making your home feel outdated. Whilst we all loved the ‘This Kitchen is for Dancing’ trend’, seeing that quote in yet another kitchen will make your space feel outdated in time."

To incorporate your own words into your decor without it looking dated Temi says: “There are some ‘simple’ options that you can get away with because of their appeal and make sense in the area that it is in. A neon sign is always going to look right in a cocktail bar. It's never going to look outdated and always feels modern because of where it's placed and most importantly, has context.”

24. Laminate and veneer finishes

During the 70s and 80s laminate and veneer-covered kitchens became very popular due to their low-budget price points. But, the retro trend was succeeded by glamourous 90s styles which were slightly more minimalist and slightly less garish.

TikTok's top interior designer Bilal Rehman @bilalrehmanstudio who has 554.7k followers is not a fan of laminate surfaces either: "The worst worktop for your kitchen is laminate. Not only is it cheap….but it’s ugly. There are plenty of alternatives that cost just about the same that look way better", explains Bilal in one of his TikTok clips.

23. Beaded curtains

Dating back to ancient times beaded curtains have been a feature in people's homes all over the globe. Used as insect repellents, room dividers and embellishments, the curtains became super hip in Western interiors during the 70s when bohemia and psychedelic trends were admired. 

Today beaded curtains have somewhat of a cult following. Some love them for the way they move and how they provide privacy without restricting light. While others feel they are dated, dusty and tacky. Which side are you on?

22. Futon beds

The traditional Japanese-style bed consisting of a thin mattress and a low wooden bed frame rolled into the Western world as a hero feature in the bedroom during the 1980s due to its budget-friendly and compact nature.

You'll still find plenty of futons on sale today, but unless they are saving space in a college dorm or made with craftmanship in native Japan then we hope novelty futons never make a mainstream comeback.

21. Twee ornaments

Remember your parent's cabinets full of collectable houses? Or, bedroom shelves lined with clowns? Maximalism is having a moment but cluttered shelves full of dust-magnet ornaments must never return.

If you want to hone in on the maximal trend to style your shelves, choose bold colours, mix and match various objects like statement vases and group your possessions aesthetically allowing them space to breathe. Learn from the past and never overload the look with just one theme.

20. Shabby chic

Before we start on why shabby chic needs to go for good, let's re-educate ourselves on what it is. Shabby chic is a decorating look that is rustic and romantic with plenty of distressed furniture and aged metal thrown in. Think pale tones, faded florals and lots of sanded and lime-washed wood.

Popular in the 90s to the 00s, the shabby chic country look has become associated with decorating schemes preferred by older generations. White antique furniture combined with pale, frilly feminine fabrics is so far removed from the trends in style today that it now looks dated.

19. Tiled kitchen worktops

According to a recent survey by British kitchen retailer Magnet, tiled worktops have been named as the worst kitchen look of the last 100 years.

That being said, over half of homeowners surveyed (51%) would still choose a country farmhouse or traditional style kitchen rather than a more modern and sleek design. Practical and nostalgic kitchen elements such as walk-in larders and service hatches are being sought-after which may be why impractical tiled worktops are being ditched in preference for easy-to-clean surfaces.

18. Flock wallpaper

According to the Victoria & Albert Museum flock wallpaper was originally invented to imitate expensive cut-velvet hangings. Traditionally it was created by adding 'flock' – a waste product of the woollen cloth industry, which came in powdered form – to an adhesive-coated cloth to create a raised velvet-like textured pattern or design.

Fast forward approximately 300 years and the once wealthy statement favoured by royals is now made by man-made fibres such as polyester, nylon or rayon and is arguably thought of as too busy and gaudy for modern décor looks, but it did have its place in the 90s.

17. Large family portraits

Tasteful or tacky, self-indulgent or sentimental? The debate about the placement of family photos in homes is one that divides many. It's not exactly classic and more traditional displays of humble family photos mounted on hallway walls or placed on living room sideboards that we take offence to. Instead, it's the boastful oversized portraits that take up entire walls.

Rather than choosing self-worshipping exhibitions that overwhelm a space, add artful interest by carefully choosing family photos of special memories and events and blend them in with other pieces of wall art or shelf displays.

16. Chintz

During the 70s and 80s, chintz reigned supreme, evolving as a series of floral patterns associated with popular fabric houses. But after a decade or so chintz was dumped for more minimalist looks. In 1996 Swedish furniture brand IKEA even coined the advertising slogan: 'Chuck out your chintz'.

The most recent chintz style twist has been cottagecore, but will that last? Perhaps we can tolerate a little moderation. Interior design expert Ryan McDonough at MyJobQuote says: "Chintz drifts in and out of fashion regularly but with most subsequent trends, it’s been used in a much more measured way. That’s why botanical, cottagecore and modern farmhouse trends are far better. Mixing bold florals with plain furnishings and other complementary patterns such as stripes is a better way to incorporate chintz into interior design."

15. Sparkly surfaces

Unless you are a magpie or princess, shiny wallpaper or paint with glitter is (thankfully) no longer the way to add glamour to your home.

Anyone who did partake in adding a touch of 'bling' to their home when sparkly wallpaper and glitter paint were dazzling home trends are now regretting it for more than one reason. Glitter is a headache to remove and may need sanding down before less glitzy alternatives are put in place.

14. Wallpaper borders

During the 80s and 90s, there wasn't a dado rail or coving edge that wasn't framed by a decident wallpaper frieze. The long narrow band was used to enhance a room scheme and tie in a coordinating pattern. But, as wall paint colour choice exploded and painting techniques became more experimental, wallpaper borders fell out of favour, for more minimalist looks. A wallpaper frieze or border is now seen as one of the top tired homewares that are making your home look old-fashioned.

Recently, brands have attempted to reinvent the wallpaper border with more contemporary looks but the chintzy versions are unlikely to ever return.

13. Media units

During the 80s domestic use technology took off. As well as boxy television sets, homes needed storage space for VCRs, video game consoles and stacked stereo systems complete with turntables, cassette machines and CD players. Enter oversized and chunky media units that usually took over a whole wall!

Thank goodness technology has become more streamlined thanks to Wi-Fi and streaming services making huge pieces of encroaching furniture redundant and unnecessary.

12. LED strip lights

There's no denying that LED strip lights have changed how we illuminate our homes. Cost-effective and creative the possibilities with them are quite endless. But should these lighting solutions, particularly the multicoloured versions, stay where they belong, lighting up teenage bedrooms? It seems the experts agree.

When The National Design Academy asked Creative Director Marianne Shillingford which design trends she would lock away in Room 101 her answer was minimalism and cold LED lighting. Quite rightly so!

11. Brown kitchens

Beige and brown kitchens were high on kitchen wish lists during the 2000s but looking back the cabinets now seem bland. If you've moved into a property with a dated pine kitchen, perhaps it needs to meet a paintbrush!

While beige is back again it has had a transformation. Interior design expert Ryan McDonough explains: The big difference is that newer beige colours have less of a yellowy-orange hue, so they have a more sophisticated tone." So, it's goodbye wishy-washy tones and hello warming hues.

10. Inflatable furniture

Unless you've just moved home or are a teenager, inflatable furniture is a design trend that should stay in the past.

Impractical, uncomfortable and pretty unsightly, it has no place in modern living spaces. While this moveable and temporary furniture was popular in the 90s, thankfully things have moved on since then!

9. Rag-rolled and stencilled walls

Thanks in part to TV makeover shows rag-rolled and stencilled walls were a hot 90s trend that took over our interiors. No wall stood a chance from the paintbrush or paint-dipped rag.

While stencilling is still popular on walls and floors for creating faux tile effects, we're glad that the often questionable results and finishes of the 90s faded out.

8. Textured ceilings

Textured ceilings with ripples, curved fan shapes or popcorn-style blobs were a popular ceiling style from the 60s to the 90s. But, smooth sleek surfaces began to take over making this three-dimensional look dated and dowdy. Interior design expert Ryan McDonough says: "This one is unlikely to return to popularity. If you’re keen to make more of the fifth wall in your rooms, a better move would be to paint them. The benefit of paint is it’s easy to cover over if you fancy a change or get bored with the colour."

If your home still has a textured ceiling don't attempt to remove it before consulting a professional as many of these ceiling techniques were applied with material that may have contained asbestos, which can become a serious health risk if disturbed.

7. Overdressed windows

Large ruffles, pelmet tops and oversized tie-backs gave rooms a sense of opulence and luxury during the 80s and 90s. However, yards and yards of fabric blocked out sunlight, attracted dust and were not practical when opening and closing. 

Simple thermal curtains or tailored Roman blinds soon took over making frilly, layered drapes look over the top and outrageous and they became a thing of the past.

6. Grey schemes

Colour trends come and go, but one particular hue stayed on top of decorating scheme lists for too long; Millennial grey. But, with the introduction of more cosy and warm neutral tones, the grey-on-grey colour palette in comparison started to look cold and lack personality. Homeowners are looking for a change, and it's about time!

Interior Designer Amy Wilson explains: “It seems that slowly people are moving away from grey or at least they are starting to embrace more colour and find ways to add some pops to their existing schemes. Traditional fans of grey tones who once layered shades of grey from walls to floors and everything in between, are now adding in some contrasting colours and accents with homes all over the land getting a new lease of life.”

5. Bidets

Whether bidets are the norm or not depends on location. Europeans use them frequently, according to World Population Review, While Italians use bidets the most Japan have toilets with all sorts of water cleansers incorporated but in the UK and North America, toilet paper alone is favourable.

However, bidets did make an appearance in English homes when European travel become more accessible but it was short lived and nowadays deemed as an added unnecessary expense.

4. Avocado bathroom suites

Dating back to the 50s, the Western world embraced colourful bathroom suites. Pink, blue and the acclaimed avocado finishes were cherished by interior trend followers. Barrie Cutchie, Design Director at BC Designs explains: “Of course, everyone remembers the ubiquitous avocado suites of the 70s, but peach, turquoise, rich cream and pink were popular, too. But, then by the 90s, minimalist and spa-like looks were preferred. "White returned as the sanitaryware colour of choice, and bathrooms became crisp, minimal spaces once again," continues Barry.

Now, colourful suites are making a return with soothing tones such as sage green and blush pink."Splashes of green create a modern vibe without going the whole hog – after all, the saturated shades of the 70s were pretty overwhelming. Avocado pairs perfectly with wood and natural stone, for a look that’s soft and relaxing," says Barry.

3. Taxidermy

Taxidermy as décor goes back to the Victorian era when pieces were used to display wealth and travel habits. It remained a trend for those who argue stuffed animals displays have artistic and historical value. Whereas others feel the use of taxidermy is vulgar and a little creepy.

Other downsides are that it can promote trophy hunting and is surrounded by legal issues. So, we feel this type of controversial décor has a rightful place on the worst decorating trends of all-time list.

2. Toilet seat covers

Furry toilet seat covers and matching wrap-around toilet rugs. Why? Put simply, it was to create a more warm and inviting environment during the days when we loved everything to match. But, fuzzy fabric sitting in a damp environment like the bathroom is likely to remain moist. So, not only is this trend not much to look at, it's likely to breed plenty of nasties too.

It's not surprising that it made it to the top spot on Samsung's 2018 worst interior design trends of the last 50 years list.

1. Bathroom carpets

And the worst offender... carpeted bathroms. This unsavoury trend become popular during the 50s when carpet was thought of as a luxury. Especially popular in cold climates, carpets made the room seem warmer, more inviting and were less of a trip hazard.

The look gained popularity during the time when bright and colourful bathroom suites were in fashion, but perhaps due to the unhygienic nature of installing such a fibrous material in a damp environment, bathroom carpets are not favoured and rarely seen in bathrooms today.