Pine is a light wood that—we’re sorry to say it—isn’t all that interesting. While pine can look good as a subtle accent, sets of furniture made entirely of pine are painfully bland.
Unfortunately, the ‘80s and ‘90s really leaned into the utility of pine furniture. Bookshelves, dressers, desks, and cabinets were all made of the most boring wood you could find. Pine just doesn’t add anything interesting to your house. It’s time to switch to more interesting materials.
Why Plaid?
How did the ‘70s go so terribly wrong with their design decisions? The inclusion of plaid in your home decor also originated in that era. We’re starting to get the feeling that interior designers were just trying to ruin people’s lives.
Plaid is a tough look to pull off in any situation, let alone plastered over your walls and bedspreads. If we never had to see this trend again, it would be too soon.
No to Lino Floors
Linoleum flooring was once used commonly in kitchen and dining areas because of its resilient nature. The flooring is incredibly durable, has a slight cushioning effect, and is very easy to clean. Unfortunately, it’s also ugly.
The old-style linoleum flooring can change color in the sunlight, turning your kitchen or dining space from a shining white to a dirty yellow. Linoleum flooring just feels gross and outdated. It doesn’t have the flair that modern materials bring to a space, which is why it should be retired forever.
Tan Kitchen Cabinets, Don't
Are you sensing a theme here? Bright colors are perfect accents, but they shouldn’t dominate your entire space. That’s why colored cabinets are such an egregious design mistake.
Burnt orange or puke green dominating your kitchen isn’t a trend we want to see again. Beyond being outdated, the bright colors simply don’t look good. Opt for neutral colors for your cabinets, and add a little flair to your backslash and appliances. That’s the right way to do things.
Just Too Much Wood
Have you ever entered an older, ‘70s-style home and walked right into a den full of wood paneling? It was at one time the ultimate decorating decision that easily replaced plaster and drywall. Today, however, wood paneling just makes a space look dreary and dated.
In addition, wood paneling requires quite a bit of maintenance. Some wood needs to be oiled so it doesn’t lose its natural moisture. If it gets too wet, however, it can rot and warp, causing serious problems in your home. Beyond all that, the paneling just doesn’t look right in a contemporary house.