8 Things That Make Your Kitchen Look Tacky, According to Interior Designers

The kitchen is often considered the heart of the home, but it's not always the most stylish room. With so many design trends coming and going, it's easy for even your most well-intentioned choices to feel overdone.

Some decorative elements stand out as ones you should consider avoiding. From word-art walls to flashy lighting, these details can make an otherwise lovely space feel tacky, say experts. A refined kitchen, meanwhile, embodies restraint, proportion, and a clear sense of calm. Of course, everyone's taste is different, and you may love your kitchen as it is. However, if you're looking for guidance on streamlining and making your kitchen a bit more elegant, read on.

Plastic or Folding Chairs

Nothing dates a kitchen faster than flimsy plastic seating. 

"Temporary seating makes a space feel unfinished," says Felipe Freig, home expert and owner of Versa Homes. Instead, a simple set of wooden stools or cushioned chairs will instantly ground the room, making it look more intentional.  The goal is to create a space that feels lived-in, not improvised.

Fake Fruit and Faux Greenery

Artificial fruit bowls and plastic greenery rarely fool anyone, and they'll collect a lot of dust. Replace them with fresh, real elements, like a bowl of seasonal produce, a potted herb, or a sculptural ceramic piece. Authentic texture always adds more elegance than an imitation.

TVs

The tide might be turning on this one, as small televisions in the kitchen are reappearing as part of the '90s decor trend, but they need to be done right. A TV in the kitchen instantly changes the mood of the room, so ask yourself: Do you really need a screen in the one place that's meant for slowing down, cooking, and being present?

“The average human person needs to minimize screen time—not maximize it by having a screen in their face at all times,” says Jo Hayes, an etiquette expert and style consultant.

Flashy Lighting

A chandelier might seem glamorous, but in the kitchen, it can easily overwhelm the space. 

“Lighting should complement the design, not compete with it,” says Freig. Understated fixtures with warm, diffused light will elevate the atmosphere far more effectively than anything oversized or glittery.

Word Art and Slogan Prints

“While you may think prints that read ‘home sweet home’, ‘eat pray love’, and ‘live, laugh, love’ make your home look welcoming, they really just make it look tacky, unstylish, and generic,” says Hayes. 

Once charming, this trend now reads as impersonal and mass-produced. As an alternative, choose framed photography, minimalist art, or even a vintage mirror to bring subtle character and texture to your walls.

Too Many Competing Colors

A kitchen should have visual harmony. “Too many bright or clashing tones create distraction,” says Freig. 

Stick to a cohesive palette—ideally three main colors—and let variations in texture, material, and finish add depth. When in doubt, neutral tones always look more timeless.

Clutter

From stacks of cookbooks to endless countertop décor, too much of anything can make a kitchen feel chaotic.

Both experts agree: edit. The most beautiful kitchens aren't the ones packed with things, but the ones that give each object room to breathe. A clear counter not only feels elegant, but is also easier to live with and use.

Busy Refrigerator Doors

Coupons, magnets, and postcards may hold memories, but they also make your kitchen look busy. “A clean fridge door is one of the easiest free upgrades you can make,” says Freig. If you really love displaying personal touches, then move them to a corkboard or inside a pantry door.