4 min readDesign trends have a way of showing up everywhere at once. One minute, something feels fresh and clever; the next, it’s a cliché that’s showing up in every real estate listing. So we asked 10 interior designers a simple question: What would you never put in a home again?
Their answers aren’t about strict rules or design “don’ts.” Instead, they focus on what feels overdone. When materials, finishes, and furniture choices stop feeling specific to a home and start feeling like a template, designers tend to move on fast. From once-loved trends that have had a long run to finishes that are suddenly everywhere (hello, matte black hardware), the common thread is pretty simple: people want homes that feel personal again, not like they were pulled from the same mood board.
So, if you’re in the middle of a home redesign, here’s what they recommend steering clear of.
Curved Sofas
“I think we're all a little tired of curved sofas,” says Molly Torres Portnof of DATE Interiors. “While they work in particular spaces and layouts, they've been oversaturating our living rooms for a while now. Let's be honest, they're just not that comfortable.” In other words, the sculptural statement piece may finally be giving way to something a bit more livable.
Overgrouted Stone
“The overgrouted stone trend, especially, is starting to feel forced because it’s often being applied decoratively instead of architecturally,” says Alexis Vitale of Vitale Design Group. “You can tell when a stone was chosen to create authenticity versus when it was chosen because someone saw the same Mediterranean/Tulum/Belgian references online 400 times. A lot of it already feels timestamped.”
She notes that the issue isn’t stone itself, but how quickly a highly referenced look can lose its sense of originality when it’s repeated without real connection to the architecture or space.
Matte Black
“I’m very over matte black hardware and plumbing fixtures,” says Ryann Swan Hackett of Ryann Swan Design. “What once felt modern and fresh now instantly reads builder-grade,” she says, adding that the finish often lacks the warmth homeowners originally loved.
High-Shine Gold Hardware
“I’m really over seeing bright brass finishes everywhere right now,” says designer Brianna Untener of Brianna Scott Interiors. “They can feel stark, overly trendy, and, in many cases, already dated. When every fixture and hardware detail leans into that super-saturated gold tone, it starts to overpower a space rather than complement it.” She prefers antiqued or aged brass for its softer, more timeless quality and is increasingly drawn to silver-toned metals like polished nickel, stainless steel, pewter, and chrome for their versatility and ability to let architecture and furnishings stand out.
Designer Kelsey Matyas of Kelsey Deirdre Designs shares that sentiment and is also stepping away from overly shiny gold hardware that tries to imitate unlacquered brass. “They never develop the depth, warmth, or natural patina that makes authentic brass so beautiful,” she says. “Instead, they tend to feel loud, flat, and artificial over time.”
For Matyas, the appeal of real materials lies in how they age. “The beauty of real materials is that they soften and gain character with use,” she says. “High-shine finishes do the opposite, which is why they often end up dating a space rather than elevating it. People are gravitating toward interiors that feel grounded, timeless, and honest.”
Ball Pillows
“Round ball pillows,” says Hillary Cohen of HCO Interiors. “It’s a small design detail, but they’ve become so ubiquitous that they now feel overly trendy rather than timeless.” Sometimes it’s the smallest accents that date a room the fastest.
Stark “Instagram” Spaces
“One design choice I’m personally moving away from is kitchens that feel overly sterile and perfectly uniform,” says designer Tanya Smith-Shiflett. “For a while, everything was leaning ultra-minimal with bright white cabinetry, flat finishes, no personality, and spaces that felt more like showrooms than homes. Clients are craving warmth again.”
She notes a shift toward layered, lived-in spaces with natural wood tones, painted cabinetry, unlacquered metals, furniture-style details, and more craftsmanship. “The trend of copying the exact same ‘Instagram kitchen’ is overdone,” she says.
Designer Stephanie Wiott shares a similar view. “We’re moving away from overly stark, bright white spaces where everything feels too polished or coordinated,” she says. “People are craving warmer, more personal, layered homes we call ‘Grandma chic.’”
She notes that timeless design comes from mixing natural materials, vintage pieces, and finishes that age well, creating homes that feel lived-in and personal rather than showroom-perfect.
Matching Furniture Suites
“Please, no more matching suites of channel-tufted, rounded-profile chairs and sofas!” says designer Amy Sklar. Admittedly, this look has reigned supreme over the last couple of years.
Overdone Recessed Lighting
“I prefer a quieter ceiling and a more thoughtful, layered lighting plan rather than rooms dominated by rows of recessed can lights,” says designer Emma Corner. She adds that lighting should feel more purposeful and support the architecture of a space and enhance it. Rather than relying solely on overhead fixtures, she advocates for a mix of sconces, lamps, picture lights, and carefully placed recessed lighting that brings warmth and atmosphere into a home.
