25 Dated Design Trends + Solutions

As design trends come and go, there are some that we wish would never come back around. Check out these dated design trends and their solutions.

By: Lauren Fansler

Related To:

Shop This Look

Photo By: Jared Kuzia

Photo By: Tomas Espinoza/Flynnside Out Productions

Photo By: Joseph Bradshaw

Photo By: Jackson Design and Remodeling

Photo By: Smith & Associates Real Estate, a member of Luxury Portfolio International

Photo By: First Team Estates, a member of Luxury Portfolio International

Photo By: Jenn Verrier, Interior Design: W Design Collective, Builder: Brush Arbor Homes

Photo By: Laure Joliet Photography

Photo By: Melissa Mitchell

Photo By: Jared Kuzia Photography

Photo By: Sarai Reed

Photo By: Robert Peterson, Rustic White Photography

Photo By: Arturo + Lauren

Photo By: Bess McKinney

Photo By: Todd Goodman/LA Light Photo

Photo By: StudiObuell | Garett Buell

Photo By: Nicole Cohen, Monmouth Custom Builders

Photo By: Christian J Anderson Photography

Photo By: Jared Kuzia, Sean William Donovan

Photo By: LifeCreated, Weber Construction

Photo By: Robert Radifera, Charlotte Safavi, Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens, Dave Costopolous of Dynamic Renovations, Gretchen Everett of Everett Design

Photo By: Alli Pozeznik

Photo By: Michael J. Lee Photography, Architecture: Patrick Ahearn Architect, Builder: E.J. Jaxtimer Builder Jaxtimer

Photo By: Vivian Johnson, Stylist: Rachel Wanty

Photo By: LCo Design

Photo By: Vivian Johnson, Stylist: Rachel Wanty

Photo By: Matti Gresham Photography

Photo By: Avery Nicole Photo

Photo By: Mark Boisclair Photography

Photo By: David Patterson, Woodley Architectural Group, Keim Construction

Photo By: Miranda Estes Photography

Photo By: Amy Bartlam

Photo By: Steve Freihon

Photo By: David Patterson, Elaine St. Louis

Dated Design Trends + Solutions

As each year passes, new home design trends rise and fall. We have gathered up 15 dated trends that should be left in the past and their solutions that will leave your home with a timeless look.

See More Ideas: 35 Biggest Decorating Mistakes and Solutions

From: Casagrande Studio

Dated Trend: Popcorn Ceiling

This trend was popular in the 1950s through the 1980s but now is considered a faux pas. Most homeowners today are looking for ways to remove this ceiling detail from their older home, rather than implement it.

See More: How to Remove a Popcorn Ceiling in 7 Simple Steps

Solution: Smooth Ceiling

Instead of popcorn ceilings, opt for a smooth, clean look.

Dated Trend: Block Tile

While block windows in showers or over a bathtub provides privacy, it is not the most attractive design element.

From: Barbara Gilbert Interiors

Solution: Opaque Window

An opaque window is a sleek and modern way to provide privacy in a bathroom with a window over the shower or tub.

From: Jackson Design and Remodeling

Dated Trend: Carpeted Bathrooms

Not only do carpeted bathrooms hold onto stains and bacteria, but they are also just plain unattractive. Let's make a vow to never let this trend grace our homes again.

From: Etch Design Group

Solution: Luxurious Stone or Tile

Stone or tile flooring is a sanitary, easy-to-clean and beautiful option for any size bathroom.

See More: Our Fave Bathroom Tile Design Ideas

From: Smith & Associates Real Estate and Luxury Portfolio International®

Dated Trend: Sunken Living Room

Sunken living rooms were all the rage in the 1960s and 1970s, but now we are looking for one-level, open-concept homes with fewer unnecessary steps.

From: First Team Estates

Solution: All One Level

Part of what helps this open-concept living room and kitchen feel so bright and big is the one level that gives the space an unobstructed flow.

See More Ideas: Our 100+ Fave Designer Living Rooms

From: Purple Cherry Architects

Dated Trend: Clunky Sliding Glass Shower Door

Not only are these sliding glass shower doors not the most aesthetically pleasing elements, but they also harbor mold and mildew in all their intricate parts.

From: Kristina Crestin

Solution: Make it Seamless

Large glass panels make this shower look seamless, clean and airy. A more functional option, this glass door not only looks good, but it also opens up the small bathroom space.

See More Ideas: 75 Walk-In Shower Designs for a Luxurious, Spa-Like Bathroom

Dated Trend: Pass-Through Window

This small pass-through window may have seemed like a good idea a few years ago, but now it just looks puny and incomplete.

From: Susannah Watts

Solution: Open it Up

Open-plan kitchens are all the rage now, and for good reason. Not only is an open-concept kitchen and living room a good design choice from an aesthetic point of view, it is also a great way to entertain or hang out with the family while preparing a meal.

From: Kristina Crestin

Dated Trend: Small Closets

Older homes tend to have small closets, but in this era, everyone is looking for maximum closet space.

Solution: Ample Storage

A walk-in closet with ample storage means you can rest easy at the end of the day knowing there is more than enough room for everything from professional workwear to weekend adventure gear.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Dated Trend: Short Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets that don't extend up to the ceiling aren't bringing your kitchen to its full potential.

From: Natalie Myers

Solution: Take Them to the Ceiling

When cabinets extend to the ceiling, your kitchen space will feel larger, and you will gain more storage. Win-win!

From: Laurie March

Dated Trend: Strip Lighting

The mirrored strip lighting is an '80s eyesore that should be left in that decade.

From: Natalie Myers

Solution: Stunning Sconces

Today there are so many options for different sconce styles and finishes that blow the former '80s strip lighting out of the water. Opt for a light fixture that will elevate your style, like this traditional, brass sconce.

From: Caroline Levenson Design

Dated Trend: Heavy & Short Drapery

Heavy drapery weighs down and darkens this space, making this dining room look like a cave. Not only is the dark drapery weighing down the space, but the low hung curtains also make the ceilings look shorter than they actually are.

From: Natalie Myers

Solution: Lighten it Up & Take Them to the Ceiling

Light, airy curtains make this living space inviting and full of energy, elevating the design in this space. Take your curtains and curtain rod up to the ceiling, even if your window doesn't. This design hack will make your ceilings look taller.

Dated Trend: Square Tile Countertops

Not only are tile countertops an unattractive design element, but the grout is also a breeding ground for bacteria.

From: Amy Carman Design

Solution: Sensational Stone

Stone countertops are the way to go and a trend that will likely not be going away anytime soon. Selecting the right countertop for your kitchen will make your space.

Dated Trend: Unnecessary Columns

A major design trend from the 2000s was non-essential architectural details, like columns. If they are unnecessary to the structure of the home, this element adds needless detail.

From: Haus Interior Design

Solution: Try an Archway

A large, arched doorway creates an architectural feature that structurally supports the home and provides a beautiful, timeless detail.

From: Nicole Cohen Art + Design

Dated Trend: Rooster + Red Decor

A kitchen with dark red walls and rooster decor elements was all the rage in the early 2000s, but today this trend totally dates your home. Not only does dark red make your space feel smaller and darker, the rooster decorations should be reserved for true farmhouses only.

From: Sheila Mayden

Solution: Modern Colors + Red Accents

Jewel tones, in moderation, will always be timeless. This kitchen features emerald lower cabinets mixed with a touch of ruby red in the rugs.

From: Casagrande Studio

Dated Trend: Fluorescent Lights

Lighting will make or break your space, and fluorescent lights are never a good choice for any room of the home.

From: Dorianne Passman & Thea Segal

Solution: Modern Chandelier

Not only is a gorgeous light fixture an eye-catching element in any space, it also casts good lighting that doesn't wash you out, unlike fluorescent lights.

From: Kirsten Holmstedt

Dated Trend: Unnecessary Curtains

These gorgeous windows are overshadowed by these small, unnecessary shades.

From: Haus Interior Design

Solution: Let the Natural Light Shine

These large windows can stand alone without a valance, making their impact on the space much more dramatic.

From: Haus Interior Design

Dated Trend: Wood Paneling

Wood paneling was popular starting in the 1950s through the 1970s because it was inexpensive and easy to install.

See More Ideas: Wood Paneling Makeover Ideas

Solution: Shiplap

Shiplap has taken over the design world, and it's easy to see why. It's a lighter, brighter option to wood paneling, and it's easy to install and maintain.

See More Ideas: 15 Unexpected Shiplap Ideas

From: Robin Gannon

Dated Trend: Boring Beige

Beige was all the rage in the early 2000s, but this boring color makes this space look dark and depressing.

From: Carmit Oron Interior Design

Solution: Light and Airy Color Palette

This living room now feels bright and welcoming. Not only does a lighter color palette make a space feel more welcoming, but it also opens a room up, making it feel larger.

See More Ideas: Trend Forecast: 2023 Colors and Palettes of the Year

From: Carmit Oron Interior Design

Dated Trend: Ceiling Decals

Adding a ceiling accent, specifically glow-in-the-dark ones, was all the rage several decades ago. Now, we have more sophisticated and aesthetic ceiling accent options.

From: THELIFESTYLEDCO

Solution: Wallpapered Ceilings

Instead of the more traditional use of wallpaper on the walls, this bedroom puts it on the ceiling. It's a fun visual twist that helps the space feel fresh.

See More Ideas: 8 Reasons Designers Are Painting Ceilings

From: PureWest Real Estate

Dated Trend: Boring Block Floor Tile

Beige block flooring tile was installed in almost every newly built home in the early 2000s, but it lacks personality or pizzaz.

From: Carmit Oron Interior Design

Solution: Timeless and Exciting Tile

This updated floor tile is not too dramatic, and it will not be outdated in 10 years. The brown-and-white lattice pattern adds just enough flair to make this space feel like one-of-a-kind.

From: Carmit Oron Interior Design

Dated Trend: Wallpaper Border

Starting in the 1980s, wallpaper borders were all the rage. They were used to define a room or space and often featured patterns, objects or designs that correlated with the design style of the space.

From: Urbanology Designs

Solution: Painted Trim

To update your space, remove the dated wallpaper border and paint the trim a contrasting color that mimics the design style you are going for.

From: Urbanology Designs

Dated Trend: Garden Bathtub

Huge, jetted garden bathtubs were all the rage in the '90s. Now, there are more stylish and sleek options to replace these space-eating tubs.

From: Sarah Stacey Interior Design

Solution: Freestanding Tub

This clawfoot tub replaced the old, clunky garden tub. With its timeless design, a freestanding or clawfoot tub will never go out of style.

See More Ideas: 20 Timeless Clawfoot Bathtubs

From: Sarah Stacey Interior Design

Dated Trend: Saloon Doors

Starting in the 1950s, saloon doors gained popularity as a barrier between the kitchen and dining room.

From: Angelica Henry Design

Solution: Dutch Door

As an alternate to a saloon door, if you don't want an open doorway, a Dutch door is a stylish option. With the ability to close at the top or remain half open, this style door has a plethora of combinations.

From: Unscripted Interior Design

Dated Trend: Drop Ceiling

Drop ceilings are a cheap alternative to sheetrock but make a room feel cramped and unattractive.

From: River Brook Design

Solution: Paneled Ceiling

If sheetrock isn't an option, another idea is a paneled ceiling. Paneling can be inexpensive and adds texture to a room.

See More Ideas: Forget Statement Walls, This Year is All About Ceilings

From: Kimberlee Gorsline

Dated Trend: Fruit-Themed Decor

In the 1970s, fake fruit decor was a popular design choice in many homes.

Solution: Greenery or Houseplants

Bringing a little greenery (real or fake) into a room can go a long way and is a much more stylish option to the former fruity trend.

See More Ideas: 21 Forgiving Houseplants

From: Jenn Feldman Designs

Dated Trend: Sponge Painting

Sponge painting was very popular in the 1990s and was a painstaking design choice that took lots of time and hard work to complete.

From: Forum Phi Architecture

Solution: Textured Wallpaper

Instead of sponge painting try textured wallpaper, a more on-trend accent for your space.

See More Ideas: 20 Trendy + Texture-Rich Grasscloth Wallpaper Looks

From: Rumor Designs

25 Dated Design Trends + Solutions

Related To:

Shop This Look

Dated Design Trends + Solutions

Dated Trend: Popcorn Ceiling

Solution: Smooth Ceiling

Dated Trend: Block Tile

Solution: Opaque Window

Dated Trend: Carpeted Bathrooms

Solution: Luxurious Stone or Tile

Dated Trend: Sunken Living Room

Solution: All One Level

Dated Trend: Clunky Sliding Glass Shower Door

Solution: Make it Seamless

Dated Trend: Pass-Through Window

Solution: Open it Up

Dated Trend: Small Closets

Solution: Ample Storage

Dated Trend: Short Kitchen Cabinets

Solution: Take Them to the Ceiling

Dated Trend: Strip Lighting

Solution: Stunning Sconces

Dated Trend: Heavy & Short Drapery

Solution: Lighten it Up & Take Them to the Ceiling

Dated Trend: Square Tile Countertops

Solution: Sensational Stone

Dated Trend: Unnecessary Columns

Solution: Try an Archway

Dated Trend: Rooster + Red Decor

Solution: Modern Colors + Red Accents

Dated Trend: Fluorescent Lights

Solution: Modern Chandelier

Dated Trend: Unnecessary Curtains

Solution: Let the Natural Light Shine

Dated Trend: Wood Paneling

Solution: Shiplap

Dated Trend: Boring Beige

Solution: Light and Airy Color Palette

Dated Trend: Ceiling Decals

Solution: Wallpapered Ceilings

Dated Trend: Boring Block Floor Tile

Solution: Timeless and Exciting Tile

Dated Trend: Wallpaper Border

Solution: Painted Trim

Dated Trend: Garden Bathtub

Solution: Freestanding Tub

Dated Trend: Saloon Doors

Solution: Dutch Door

Dated Trend: Drop Ceiling

Solution: Paneled Ceiling

Dated Trend: Fruit-Themed Decor

Solution: Greenery or Houseplants

Dated Trend: Sponge Painting

Solution: Textured Wallpaper

50 Small Bathroom Design Ideas & Solutions 51 Photos

35+ Kitchen Design Ideas From Top Designers 36 Photos

27 Pinterest Design and Lifestyle Trends for 2023 28 Photos

2023 Design Trend: Metaworld — Where VR Comes to Life 10 Photos

Top Bathroom Design Trends 46 Photos

11 Splashy Kitchen Trends 11 Photos

Related Pages