The Worst Home Decor Trends, According To Young Brits
Are you guilty? These are the worst home decor trends, according to young Brits
By Chere Di Boscio
As with fashion, home decor trends change over time. Though it happens more slowly for interior design than with fashion, the fact remains that your style can date. And the result? Well, your home can look shabby.
According to a recent poll done by Terry’s Fabrics, 62 percent of Brits are guilty of judging the interiors of other people’s homes. And fully half of us (50 percent) have based an opinion of someone based on their interior design choices. Yipes! And of course poor home decor can also reduce the chances of your home selling or renting.
In the UK regionally, the worst interior designers are in Glasgow. And no wonder! No less than 78 percent admit they have no eye for it.
While traditionally it may have been the preserve of women, nowadays 78 percent of men say that they are interested in interiors. Overall, 85 percent of Brits enjoy interior design and 64 percent proactively keep up with trends.
In fact, on average, Brits spend 69 days a year wondering about how they can update their homes, spending an average of £1,508 on interiors every year.
All this being said, home decor is ultimately a question of personal taste – not trends. I myself am guilty of at least two of the worst home decor trends below, I admit it! And if you are, too, never fear. There’s still hope! Almost 90% percent of those surveyed believe ALL interior trends come back in fashion again eventually.
The Worst Home Decor Trends To Avoid
Coloured bathroom suites
These were smoking hot back in the 70s. But the 70s were a long time ago….
So no wonder almost 80% of young Brits said this was the most heinous home decor crime ever.
2. Plastic flowers/plants/astroturf
Seriously, though? If you love the look of plants and grass, maybe you should just get, you know…plants and grass. Better for your health, better for the environment, and way, way easier on the eye!
3. Leopard print rugs
Almost 35% of those surveyed said they hated leopard print rugs. And unless you’re a member of the Versace family, you probably should, too.
5. A “Live, Laugh, Love” sign
I don’t care where it is: the bathroom, the bedroom, the hallway. But if you have one of these signs, well what can I say? It’s basic bitchery at its most basic.
6. Taxidermy
Are you a serial killer? A heartless murderer of innocent animals? Yes? Well then, perhaps this is a home decor trend that actually is ok for you. Otherwise, avoid like the plague (of fleas, that probably comes with this trend!)
Image: Museum of Idaho
7. Artex ceilings
What even is this? Aren’t regular ceilings good enough? Apparently they are, because Artex ceilings are one important reason why some older houses don’t sell.
8. Fluffy loo seats
I don’t care how cold your butt gets. Honestly, there’s really no excuse for this whatsoever. In fact, I think there’s a special place in hell for whoever invented this. One of the worst home decor trends now and forever!
9. Floral pattern carpets
According to young Brits, this is one of the worst home decor trends ever. Mainly because it’s the interiors equivalent of a Christmas jumper on your floor.
10. Imperial furniture
Yes, we all know that Louis XIV sparked a trend for all things over the top: heels and wigs for men, gilded furniture, and frilly cuffs, for example. But unless you’re actual royalty, or perhaps a Russian oligarch, avoid this look!
11. Linoleum flooring
This one is the same as plastic plants. Love the look of wood flooring? Get wood flooring. Think ceramic tiles are nice? Get some ceramic tiles, then. Rather than, say, a digital print of ceramics on plastic. Yipes!
12. A “Welcome” door mat
Hey, thanks for actually spelling it out! But if I weren’t welcome, I wouldn’t likely be here. Or so believe the young Brits who voted this as one of the worst home decor trends ever.
13. Lace curtains
“Hi granny! Thanks for decorating my flat, it looks amazing!” Said no one ever.
14. Pillow overload
I’m not gonna lie: this is one of the worst home decor trends that I am actually guilty of myself. But I will also admit the cushions on my bed live on the floor half the time. Because they’re not needed. Or practical.
15. Shag pile rugs
And yes, this is another of the worst home decor trends that graces my house. Because shag is warm and comfortable! Plus, my rug is 100% pure wool. So…fine. I’m willing to be untrendy with this!
16. La-Z-Boy chairs
America has brought us so much good stuff. Roller skates. Rock and roll. Grunge. The drive in movie. But the La-Z-Boy? Um, hard pass. These look like business class airline seats in your living room. And is it just me, but do you imagine they smell of farts?
15. Seasonal fireplace décor
Ok, we get it. It’s Christmas, or Thanksgiving, or whatever. Just calm down, dear.
16. Kitchen sink in kitchen island
Sure, that kitchen island sink looked really cool on Pinterest. But you know when it didn’t look cool? When it was full of dirty dishes. For days. Yuck.
17. No entry hall or muck room
You get home from a long day at work, and kick of your muddy shoes in the…living room? The last of our worst design trends for the home is more of an architectural issue, sure. But we thought it was worth putting here anyway. Every home needs an entry hall so you can dump your stuff off, and transition from outdoors to indoors. And no, a few hooks and a shoe rack won’t cut it.
What are the worst home decor trends in your opinion? Let us know in the comments, below!
A note on the research: 1508 x 19.4 million households in the UK were surveyed (ONS 2022)
Research of 2,000 Brits was commissioned by Terrys Fabrics and was conducted by Perspectus Global in October 2024.
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