Our homes are part of many parts of our lives where we can express our unique tastes. Within the walls where we eat, laugh, cry, work, nurture, grow, and sleep is a space we create. Move furniture from one place to another. The color of the walls. Hang wild art and display memorabilia. As I see it, the only mandate when decorating our homes is that we stick to what we really love – even if that means inclined to or Avoid any of the retro home décor trends of 2022.
Yes, there is a crutch: there be Decorative items that pass by the side of the road. Ask any interior designer, “What look are you done with?” And they’ll probably stop and say something like, “I’ll be glad I’ll never see [fill in the blank] In the living room again. “
It makes sense, given that we often transform and calculate what we’re wearing to match the latest Sartorial breeze. Our homes are prone to falling on a dated crutch. But what exactly are those obstacles? I asked three design experts their vision for the best outdated decorating trends to revisit in 2022. While some of their answers surprised me, they all got me excited to change a few things, paint, and even donate a few things.
But like any “rule,” it is meant to be broken. Take from here what speaks to you and leave the rest. It is your home. Heck, I still pair my leggings with all the “wrong” shoes—and I love them.
Main image submitted by Liana Levy.
Old Trend #1: Fast Furniture
Here’s a fact: The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that Americans generated more than 12 million tons of furniture waste in 2018 (the most recent year reported), nearly 10 million tons of which went to landfills. That’s reason enough to live with a little. Interior designer Liz Lipkin believes that rethinking mass-produced poor-quality furniture items is a source of inspiration. We’ll likely be giving up on the quick and snap pieces in a few years, “because they don’t hold up or get old,” she says.
Consider swapping: Vintage
Image courtesy of Hayley Pannekoecke from Kip & Co.
Next time you’re thinking of a super cheap coffee table, take a beat. Lipkin suggests going vintage and antique shopping. “In addition to more personality and more fun to shop for, antique furniture is built to last. Buying vintage saves money in the long run and reduces your impact on the environment.” This is the total win.
Old Trend #2: All-White Kitchens
There is an undeniable freshness to an all-white space. A clean, neutral color palette that complements all decor components. However, washing every wall in this color is safe play these days, say Lindsey Scott and Wendy Robinson, founders and directors at How We Haven. Scott believes that “all-white kitchens can feel very sterile and flat”. “Because there is so little variety and emptiness of character, they lack the ability to evoke inspiring emotion.”
Consider swapping: mixed tones
Photography by Dana Hurst.
predicament? Let the rainbow shine in this room. The same goes for different materials and finishes. “Right now, we’re seeing a lot of mixed-color kitchens,” Robinson told me. “The combination of white and colored cabinetry with wooden islands creates more interest in texture and color.”
Outdated Trend #3: Shiplap
There was a time when I would put a shingle on every wall. The look is textured, attractive and warm. Of course, it still is, but more contemporary options demand today’s look. Shiplap is overrated, Scott and Robinson say. They were too many places and decorated with too many roofs.
Consider swapping: vertical lines
Photography by Nicole Ramsay.
For a fresh, current vibe, Scott and Robinson think you don’t have to completely break with shiplap. Literally flip it over. Install it vertically. Doing so raises the eye upward, making the space appear more spacious. The designer duo also recommends trying a wall of slats as another way to add some depth.
Outdated Trend #4: Signals
I love a good reminder. Something that indicates where I am or makes me feel. (Do you know the mirror lipstick accent? That’s still a winner, in my book.) But hanging a few phrases at home needs a rethink, Scott and Robinson say. “You don’t need a sign that tells you you’re in the kitchen or bathroom,” pleads Scott, who thinks all farmhouse décor fades gently.
Consider swapping: european farmhouse aesthetic
Photo submitted by Las Perelli.
Now, this is not to be confused with the more cosmopolitan rustic look. According to Robinson, European farmhouse style, featuring antique furniture, ornate tables, utilitarian pieces, and plenty of books, is “on-fashion now.”
Outdated Trend #5: Shaping Walls
Is it not binding? Partial repair? A quick dose of décor interest? Whatever wall stands out for you, Lipkin says it’s time to “leave it behind.” This is correct. The designer believes that confining a great color to just one dimension limits its potential and is very old fashioned.
Consider swapping: color every wall
Photo by Molly Winters.
If you have a tendency to wash only one wall in one color, consider all the other walls. “It’s time to raise the bar and give the entire room the attention it deserves,” says Lipkin. Painting an entire room changes the look, feel and feel of the entire space. So does wallpaper, Lipkin continues. “If you like it, shoot it free at the four walls.”
What decorating trends are you ready to leave in the past?
