Few things are worse than budgeting for something expensive – something that has been lingering in your imaginary shopping basket for months, if not years – only to finally pull the trigger on a purchase and realise it wasn’t worth the splurge.
Maybe it's a gorgeous sofa that turns out to be uncomfortable, a statement light fixture that becomes an eyesore, or even an entire room, like a home bar or library, that you discover you rarely use – whatever the regret, the sting is the same.
With that in mind, we asked designers to 'de-influence' us from the overrated home features that simply aren’t worth the investment.
Below, you’ll find 15 decorating decisions that may sound luxurious but, according to designers, aren’t worth the time, money, or hassle they require. In fact, some might even make your home look cheaper. The irony hurts.
1. Oversized statement lighting
One of the most overrated luxurious features is an oversized statement light fixture. 'A dramatic fixture can be beautiful, but it shouldn't be doing all the work,' says designer Vanessa Katzen.
Statement lighting isn't inherently problematic, of course, but when scale becomes the whole story, it can quickly overwhelm a room rather than enhance it, says designer Jen Dean of Jede Interiors. A fixture with beautiful details or an interesting silhouette doesn't need to dominate the ceiling – or the entire room – to make an impact.
'Lighting should enhance architecture, not become the architecture,' adds designer Mark Schubert of M2 Design Lab. Your lighting shouldn’t obstruct any sight lines or distract from the rest of the room. Though statement lights are all the rage right now, scale and proportion should not be forgotten about.
2. Technology for technology’s sake
Smart-home automation promises effortless living, but the reality often falls short. 'When operating the lighting, window coverings, or temperature requires several apps or constant technical support, the technology is no longer serving the homeowner,' says Dvira Ovadia of Dvira Interiors.
The whole point of smart appliances is to make everyday home life run more smoothly, but when it complicates a routine task – because of an outdated app, an internet outage, or even a dead phone battery – it takes away from the experience, says Danielle Chiprut of Danielle Rose Design Co.
'My vote would be to stick with more traditional switches, speakers, and appliances that are easy to use and troubleshoot,' designer Sarah Moore suggests. 'Plus, lamps create great mood lighting. You don't need a million integrated ones, even if they are on dimmers.'
So with home tech, the old saying holds true: less is more. 'The most luxurious technology is intuitive, discreet, and nearly invisible; it enhances daily life without becoming the focus of it,' Dvira adds.
3. A white 'cloud' sofa
When a specific style of furniture is trending for too long, it becomes 'overdone'. Case in point: the white cloud sofa. For designer Amber Guyton of Blessed Little Bungalow, the style is an attempt at making a space feel expensive that falls short.
Just because a sofa is white doesn’t mean it looks 'rich,' as she puts it – not to mention the fact that ultra-light shades are highly impractical on furniture that sees a lot of traffic. 'Replace it with a sofa that has a pop of color to elevate the space with richness and attitude,' Guyton suggests.
4. Tasting rooms
'Extravagant tasting rooms for wine and bourbon have become all the rage,' says designer Autumn Pochiro, and while they're a cool idea, they take up square feet upon square feet of room that could probably be put to better use.
'Creating a multipurpose analog lounge library area could be a better use of space, maybe in the dining room that you rarely use,' she says. A multifunctional space allows you not just to host tastings, but also any other niche activity.
5. Enormous rooms
Though expansive formal dining rooms, double-height living spaces and large primary suites may appear impressive, they're not guaranteed to make a home feel luxurious simply by existing.
'When a room is disproportionately large, it can feel cold, create awkward furniture arrangements and become expensive to furnish, heat and maintain,' Dvira says. 'A beautifully proportioned room with thoughtful architectural detailing often feels far more elevated than one designed around square footage alone.'
Don't prioritise square footage just because you can. Instead, invest in thoughtful proportions, architectural moldings, custom millwork, layered lighting and strong furniture planning. An intimate room that's well-balanced and beautifully finished will feel much more luxurious than one that's simply large.
6. Excessive use of marble
Marble is stunning and timeless, but when it's covering every surface in a home, it loses its impact. Because it's porous and stains easily, it also requires a lot of maintenance that might not be suitable for every household.
Dvira likes to use the natural stone selectively so it remains a focal point of a room, and then balance it with other warmer materials like wood, metal, plaster or textured fabrics.
'Marble can still be used, but with greater restraint,' she says. 'I would pair a feature stone with warm woods, hand-applied plaster, aged metals, natural textiles, or beautifully crafted tile.'
7. Too many designer pieces
Logomania still hasn’t come back into style for many designers. 'A recognisable name does not automatically make a piece feel luxurious,' Hillary Cohen tells us. 'In fact, furnishings chosen primarily for their brand or status can make an interior feel less personal.'
Choose pieces that make you feel something, that are made well and from interesting materials – don't simply buy an item just because it's popular right now or is from a trendy designer.
8. Too much bookmatched stone
Just because something is expensive doesn’t mean it’s luxurious. For Mark, the trend of wrapping every aspect of a kitchen – the island, countertops, backsplashes, shelving, walls – in the same stone proves just that.
Bookmatched, or mirrored, marble 'can be spectacular when used intentionally, but somewhere along the way it became synonymous with luxury regardless of context,' says Mark. 'When every backsplash, shower, fireplace and feature wall becomes a dramatic mirrored slab, the effect begins to feel performative rather than sophisticated.'
It should be a singular moment in your home, not something you include everywhere you can. You can still create a dramatic effect in your interiors with really beautiful stone as thoughtful detailing around the space or with intricate and unique veining that can’t be replicated.
9. Stone-wrapped kitchens
'While it certainly communicates expense,' he says, 'it often removes the depth and layering that make interiors memorable. Luxury comes from composition, not simply material quantity.'
Don’t hold back on wrapping your walls or the kitchen island in stone if that’s what you desire, but be sure to layer other materials, like woods, aged metals and plaster, to balance it all out.
10. Waterfall countertops
Both Danielle and designer Chanel Sansregret agree that while waterfall countertops used to signify a tasteful, high-end kitchen, they ended up becoming the default for luxury hopefuls, making them all too common in homes that want to look expensive.
'They read more like a developer upgrade than a bespoke one, and without any break at the base, an island can feel cold and one-note,' Chanel explains.
Your island should add to the overall story of your kitchen, not completely own it. 'Treat it like a piece of furniture, not a slab,' she adds. 'Give me architectural legs, a fluted or paneled base, a wood apron, an ogee edge – that’s where the detail lives.'
11. White oak everywhere
White oak is a cornerstone of Chanel's interior designs, so she's more than qualified to say that the material has become the 'default answer for every floor, cabinet and piece of furniture in a home.'
When everything is covered or made from the same tone, no matter what, it loses its depth and lacks dimension. 'I'd rather mix wood tones intentionally, pairing white oak with a deeper walnut on an island or a piece of furniture, or bringing in a darker stained wood on doors or millwork,' she says. This way, the contrast enhances the room.
12. Backlit stone
Backlit onyx or translucent quartzites can be beautiful in a home when used sparingly, but if it's the dominant surface in a room – like a full shower or entire back bar – it looks more like a nightclub, says Chanel.
'I still use stones like Cristallo often, but for large surfaces, I'd rather light them with beautiful pendants and accent lighting than from within, saving the backlighting for a single intentional moment,' she explains. Restraint is key for this type of luxury feature.
13. Too many arches
While many consider archways luxurious and timeless – and they are in the right setting – bringing a curve into every aspect of the home can definitely be overdone.
'A well-placed arch is one of the most beautiful gestures you can bring into a home,' Chanel opines. 'But when every doorway, cabinet edge and mirror is curved, the house stops feeling designed and starts feeling like it's following a trend.'
This type of shape provides the most impact when it has something straight to play against. Opting for only one or two elevated arched moments gives the feature its power back.
14. Pot fillers
Sarah takes the stance that pot fillers are overrated from a functional standpoint. 'I know very few clients who really use them regularly; however, they can be beautiful,' she says.
'My advice is that if you need a little pop of brass over the stove or you just love the way they look, go for it.' However, it's okay to pass on one if you already have enough brass accents in your home.
Sarah adds that there are a lot of different ways to bring luxury into your kitchen. 'I love to style a petite lamp under the cabinets for beautiful ambient mood lighting in the evening. That touch alone can make a kitchen feel more luxe with very little effort.'
15. Huge primary wardrobes
The idea of huge walk-in wardrobes is great and luxurious, but if they're not thoughtfully designed, they can easily end up feeling cavernous and like a place for your clothes to get lost and forgotten about, says Sarah.
'Too often I have seen massive wardrobes that are big just for the sake of being oversized, and the actual storage in them is not well-designed or designed at all.
'I think a smaller wardrobe that has been thoughtfully planned can result in better storage, better organisation, and give you a chance to not only find but also wear and enjoy the pieces that you own.'
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