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.
Decline the Pine
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.
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 Beyond being outdated, the bright colors simply don’t look good.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.
Floral For No One
Floral used to be the thing to have in your home, particularly in the ‘80s. Want to buy a couch? Make it floral. Looking for curtains? Floral. Even pillows, pictures, and vases all had to be floral.
Unfortunately, floral now makes for a very outdated design. It’s a signature of a different decade that just doesn’t fit into the modern aesthetic. Using floral elements as accent pieces is perfectly okay, but implementing a floral theme throughout your entire home will turn your pad into a bad ‘80s movie.
No More Dusty Colors
Anything described as “dusty” shouldn’t be part of your home decor design. Unfortunately, in the ‘80s dusty pastels were all the rage. These somewhat-muted colors usually came in blues, pinks, and greens, covering furniture and walls in their soft-hued glow.
However, dusty pastels always look a little dirty, no matter what you might do to clean them. They also fail to create a clear color palette. Instead, your room is a smattering of pastel hues that feels chaotic, rather than calming. Choose a color scheme free of dusty pastels and leave that design decision in the past where it belongs.