Whether they’re overdone, look bad, or don’t serve the function everyone imagines, there are so many decor items not worth having in the home. Some belong to tired or tacky decor trends that have come and gone, while others are too commonplace and feel unoriginal or cliché.
Here, we share all the top decor items interior designers wish people would stop buying.
Playful Wall Signage
Cheeky sayings like "live laugh love" and "beach house" that typically appear on wall signage are some of the playful wall decor that many designers wish you’d skip. The problem with them is that sayings are obvious and too on the nose for subtlety.
“Instead of a ‘live laugh love' sign, speak to these things by using performance fabric to be able to ‘live’ in the space, which also alludes to comfortability,” says interior designer Chasity Centeno.
In the place of the beach house sign, use neutral colors with pops of oceanic blues hinting at a beachy vibe without literally spelling out the word “beach.”
Crackled Metallic Candle Holders
While they may work as decoration ideas for a stylish home during Christmas or New Year’s, having these cracked metallic candle holders up year-round isn’t the best option for creating a thoughtfully designed space.
“The gold or silver leaf looks tacky, overly shiny and cheap,” says interior designer Jennifer Jones.
Instead, elevate your home’s decor with vintage, aged brass candlesticks for an elegant look. Add taper candles in warm neutrals such as taupe or grey to complete the aesthetic.
Generic, Mass-Produced Artwork
Homes should feel like a reflection of you, and when you pepper your home full of generic, mass produced items, your personality gets lost in the shuffle. Plus, these prints tend to be low quality and feature very boring, statement-less subject matter.
“If you need to find artwork on a budget, look on Etsy for an art piece that speaks to your specific tastes or peruse your local flea market for interesting and unique vintage finds," Jones suggests.
And if you come across several items that speak to you, no worries—you can always gather your collection into a beautiful, eye-catching gallery wall of vintage, upcycled, or original artwork.
Shiny Fake Greenery
For many designers, faux isn’t the way to go.
“High gloss faux plants flatten a room and collect dust,” says interior designer Maria Ramirez.
If you really need faux, go for matte leaves, natural color, and simple vessels, she says.
“Better yet, try low-maintenance indoor plants or a few dried stems or branches," Ramirez says.
These bring real texture and warmth without the plastic glare of faux plants that make a home feel less lived-in or alive.
Furniture That Feels Like a Toy
Remember those plastic blowup chairs from the '90s or the bean bag chairs of the '70s? Today’s toy furniture might manifest as wavy shelves, bright pink plastic chairs, or the popular bubble sofas available online.
But according to Ramirez, unless you’re a kid, it’s time to put away these things. Instead, ground your spaces with classic shapes and good materials.
“Keep the fun in smaller accents like cushions, ceramics, and art, where you can play freely without committing to a chair that feels over by next summer,” she says.
Vacation Frames
Another pet peeve of designers is vacation photo frames that state the location of the getaway, like “ARUBA.”
“Instead, tape a note to the back of the photo that reads 'Aruba 2025 xo' and place the photo in a beautiful frame,” Jones says.
What’s more, these frames lean generic and can drain a room of personality and make it feel staged. Choose frames with meaning instead—perhaps they come in colors compatible with your color palette or they’re older frames, adding vintage decor pieces to your modern home for a cool juxtaposition of old versus new.
“Pieces with a story add depth and make your home feel intentionally curated, not cloned,” says Ramirez.
Originally published in The Spruce
Text by Michelle Mastro
