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Modern alternatives from $18.
Experts’ Favorite Picks
- Replaces High-Contrast Coffee Books: ‘At Home in the Cotswolds: Secret of English Country House Style’ $34 (was $60)
- Swap Your Old Olive Tree for: Juinte 2-Piece Artificial Fall Stems, $30
- Timeless, Not Trendy: Leewadee Set of 2 Gold Vases, $47
- Biggest Impact: Studio Living 80.3-Inch Harrington Sofa, $354 (was $373)
- Retire Tired Scallops with: Jonathan Y 19.5-Inch Chinoiserie Ceramic Table Lamp, $79 (was $89)
It’s time to bring your home into the 2020s, according to interior designers. If that sends an inexplicable chill through your spine, don’t worry—our expert designers will gladly leave your vintage doorknobs and timeless built-ins untouched. It’s fad-friendly, outdated home decor that designers have their eyes on.
Why? Overdone trends are actually aging your home, and if you don’t want your home decor to feel like a time warp—and a cheap, tacky one at that—then listen up. Two of our favorite home stylists are on a crusade to update your home with modern pieces worth every penny.
Interior Designer-Approved Decor Picks That Update Aging Decor
- ‘Martha Stewart’s Gardening Handbook’ $22 (was $40)
- ‘At Home in the Cotswolds: Secret of English Country House Style’ $34 (was $60)
- ‘1000 Record Covers’ $18 (was $24)
- Melorca & Guilla 2-Piece Artificial Green Nandina Faux Branches, $22
- Leewadee Set of 2 Gold Vases, $47
- Juinte 2-Piece Artificial Fall Stems, $30
- HofferRuffer Set of 2 Travertine Candlestick Holders, $35
- Minupwell 100% Pure Linen Throw Blanket, $54 (was $60)
- Studio Living 80.3-Inch Harrington Sofa, $354 (was $373)
- Safavieh Paris 27.5-Inch Ceramic Table Lamp, $77 (was $86)
Related: 5 Carpet Colors Designers Say Instantly Age Your Home
Outdated Trend #1: Faux Designer Coffee Table Books
You know the ones, according to Andrea Morris, Owner and Principal Designer at Lancaster Place Interiors.
“Decorating with the same Chanel, Tom Ford, etc. black and white ‘books’ at one time were considered glam, polished and easy, but now scream predictability and overuse,” Morris explains to Better Homes & Gardens. “Thank goodness interiors are becoming more real and incorporating coffee table books that speak to homeowners’ actual interests of architecture, film, [and] gardening.”
What should you do instead? Make it your Personal Library Style, Morris recommends.
“It is creating rooms that are truer to the people who live there. When designed with a collection of books that actually reflect resident passions, coffee tables become more layered, conversation-sparking, and timeless,” Morris says.
‘Martha Stewart’s Gardening Handbook’
“This newer book from the do-it-all guru is one of the most comprehensive I’ve seen for the beginning, intermediate, and expert gardener,” Morris says. “It has a beautiful, relaxing green cover with wonderful pictures, quips, and knowledge.”
‘At Home in the Cotswolds: Secret of English Country House Style’
“Many people these days, including myself, are in love with this area of England,” Morris says. “So many of our favorite shows and movies are set in these cozy, yet elegant villages and homes, and this book dives into both the exteriors and interiors of these inspiring spots.”
‘1000 Record Covers’
“This great book covers the collection of a music aficionado, and has great pictures of covers from the 1960s-1990s,” Morris explains. “Everyone can appreciate the nostalgia of these vinyls, and this will be at home on any coffee table, in any design style.”
Outdated Trend #2: Fake Olive Trees
“Wow, have these become the automatic filler in an empty corner, and while I love greenery in every room, these have undeservedly been in many homes despite style or location,” Morris says. “In the right setting (the Mediterranean), they can work, but I am encouraging the embrace of actual greenery from [your] yard or even faux branches and leaves that are more authentic to the home’s design and geography.”
“Displaying collected botanicals—whether the new sophisticated fauxs or natural—flowy, tall branches in a dramatic floor vase or atop a small table is so much more appropriate and timeless to every space than a predictable ficus or olive tree,” Morris adds.
Leewadee Set of 2 Gold Vases
“These vases are a classic style that fit into any style decor and will hold dramatic greenery— and how great [is it] that they are a set of two for under $50?” Morris says. “They are made of metal, so no worries about breakage, and they work on both the floor and tabletop.”
Melorca & Guilla 2-Piece Artificial Green Nandina Faux Branches
“I love these tall, simple, leafy branches that look at home anywhere,” Morris says. “They are extremely realistic, and whether used in groups of a few or many, so dramatic.”
Juinte 2-Piece Artificial Fall Stems
“These are the fall cousin of the green branches linked above, and I suggest them because, just as an olive tree isn’t geographically correct in every home, bright green branches displayed in the cooler months aren’t nearly as glorious or believable as these tones,” Morris explains.
Outdated Trend #3: Modern Farmhouse Overload
Been there, done that.
“Once everywhere, this look now often feels formulaic or builder-grade to many designers,” Lisa Quinn, of Lisa Quinn Home, tells BHG. “It’s being phased out for more character-driven spaces that actually reflect the homeowner’s personal lifestyle and sense of style.”
Hang up your modern farmhouse hat, and opt for Quinn’s fresher alternative: Modern Heritage/Collected Organic style, which features warmer woods, mixed metals (aged brass/bronze), subtle vintage touches, and personal collections that create timeless character—without a strict theme.
HofferRuffer Set of 2 Travertine Candlestick Holders
“These natural stone candle holders add organic texture and earthy warmth to mantels or dining tables,” Quinn explains. “Their substantial weight and unique veining bring a collected, heritage feel without any farmhouse heaviness.”
Minupwell 100% Pure Linen Throw Blanket
“This soft linen throw is ideal for effortless layering over sofas or chairs,” Quinn says. “It drapes beautifully, gets softer with use, and instantly warms up a room while supporting the ‘modern heritage’ direction.”
Studio Living 80.3-Inch Harrington Sofa
“Style-wise, I like that this sofa’s clean transitional lines and neutral microfiber finish make it the perfect anchor that mixes seamlessly with vintage accents and warmer textures,” Quinn explains. “Personally, I like its affordability, and it has pocket-coils for long-lasting comfort.”
Outdated Trend #4: Playing It Too Safe with Color
“For too long, consumers have been afraid to introduce much color into their homes and were drawn to little pillows and small accessories to add a ‘pop,’” Morris says. “Neutrals are always a welcome element in any home, but thank goodness design is trending toward more personal, timeless, and confident use of color.”
Morris adds, “Color has always been an important element for centuries, [and] the intentional color commitment trend is a welcome spark replacing the boring grays, beiges, and whites of the past few years.”
Morris, and plenty of other designers, encourage “the use of painted furniture, colorful lamps, and colorful paints and fabrics to bring centuries-popular character back to homes.”
Safavieh Paris 27.5-Inch Ceramic Table Lamp
“This lamp is shown in green, but comes in so many great colors,” Morris says. “It’s a classic shape, but the colors available make it a wonderful light source for a home ready to introduce more color into their environment.”
Zesthouse Flower Pouf Ottoman
“A great footrest is always needed, and this one, again available in a variety of colors, has an interesting shape too,” Morris says. “I use it often in my designs, and have it in my own home.”
Primrose 72-Inch Velvet Curtains
“These velvet curtain panels are a go-to for me and can be adorned with more expensive trim for a custom look,” Morris explains. “They come in a wide variety of colors and lengths and are a great way to add dramatic color in any room.”
Outdated Trend #5: Whimsical Scallops and Curves
“For the past couple of years, all the furniture curves brought softness and whimsy to what were becoming stark and modern interiors, but now it’s been overdone and can lean into theatrical, themed, and juvenile,” Morris explains. “I was excited to see at High Point Furniture Market this past April, that this is transitioning into more traditional, tailored, classic lines with soft curves here or there.”
Morris adds, “Tailored shapes with character are replacing this look, and designers are using the curved accents in carefully selected, smaller accessories. This is giving a more sophisticated look, and thoughtfully brings attention to architectural details and craftsmanship in the more timeless pieces.”
Jonathan Y 19.5-Inch Chinoiserie Ceramic Table Lamp
“I adore that this lamp has both a traditional pleated shade and a centuries-old Chinoiserie look, which makes it a perfect replacement for the tired scalloped vibe,” Morris says.
Brritle Solid Wood Coffee Table
“With its oval shape, wood tone, and tailored legs, this coffee table is never going out of style,” Morris says. “It’s an excellent piece that lends itself to personalized books and a vase of fresh greenery.”
Ferytange 18x24-Inch Gold Mirror
“This mirror is a perfect example of having a little soft curve without going overboard,” Morris explains. “The classic golden straight lines meeting in the rounded detail at the top are never going out of style, and any style interior would welcome this piece.”
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Read the original article on Better Homes & Gardens
