7 Outdated Interior Design Trends You Should Leave in 2025, According to Designers

Home trends don’t stick around forever—and that’s a good thing. As our lives shift, so do the spaces we live in. Nowadays, thrifting has become a weekend sport, handmade pieces are more exciting than mass-produced ones, and anything that feels too polished or showroom-perfect is starting to lose its charm.

Designers are noticing these shifts. We’re craving rooms with softness and personality, and spaces that reflect where we’ve been and what we love—not just what’s trending on social media. That means certain décor decisions that were once very popular are now fading out of style. Here, a closer look at the outdated trends that interior designers say they're ready to leave behind in 2025.

Cluttered Interiors

Somewhere along the way, the backlash to minimalism turned into a competition to see who could layer the most décor on a coffee table. However: “Clutter isn’t character, it’s confusion," says Rachel Hurley, founder and principal architect at Studio Ha. When every surface is stacked with trinkets, books, and candles, the room stops feeling lived-in, and starts feeling loud.

It's not just about being tidy—it's also about intention. “Your home should support your life, not distract from it,” she adds. Cluttered interiors leave the eye with nowhere to land. And despite what a maximalist moodboard may have promised, the result isn’t cozy—it’s just draining.

In 2026, Hurley is focused on spaces that breathe, and where meaningful pieces shine.

Show Kitchens

For years, people dreamed of a pristine, front-of-house kitchen that was so perfect, it looked like no one ever cooked in it. There wasn't a sponge in sight; stray spice jars weren't allowed to exist.

In 2025, that kind of showroom fantasy is losing its shine. “We’re seeing so much backlash against pretense and fakeness on social media, and most people are craving authenticity more than anything else," says Hormuz Batliboi, principal architect of Batliboi Studio. "I think that’s true with our homes too.”

Instead of hiding the realities of daily life, Batliboi hopes we’ll start embracing them. “We can celebrate the realness of a kitchen and still solve for design and practical needs,” he says. That might look like custom nooks, smart storage, or even a hidden (yet accessible) paper towel holder.

Accent Walls

Accent walls had their moment, but in 2026, designers are walking away from the one-and-done feature wall. “I’ve never been a fan of accent walls of any kind, whether painted or wallpaper," notes Batliboi.

The problem is that an accent wall often looks like an afterthought, not an intention. It visually chops up a room, instead of shaping it. Today’s homeowners are leaning toward more cohesive approaches, like tone capping or color drenching, which make the architecture feel more considered.

Ribbing and Fluting

The fluted-everything era had a good run—kitchen islands, bedside tables, consoles, and even waste bins fell victim to it. The downside? Ribbing and fluting collect dust, compete with other details, and age fast. "It’s decorative repetition without intention, a shortcut that ends up flattening a room, rather than enriching it," says interior designer and architect Daniel Joseph Chenin.

Instead of relying on trendy ribbing and fluting, designers are now returning to true proportion, structural rhythm, and restraint.

Quiet Luxury

The great beige wave of the early 2020s was meant to signal understated sophistication. But in chasing that quiet luxury aesthetic, many homes drifted into sameness. "Minimalism became monotone, and spaces started feeling more like hotel lobbies waiting for guests than actual homes with pulse, patina, or story," says Chenin.

What’s next is far richer: warmth rooted in nuance, not neutrality. Chenin is looking to neutrals that connect to place, like sandstone tones in the desert, clay-washed shades in the South, and limestone in the Midwest.

Round, Bubble-Shaped Furniture

Rounded, balloon-like furniture has been everywhere lately, from curvy sofas to playful armchairs. It's undeniably fun, but designers are starting to see its limits. "[It] reminds us of childhood or even futuristic dream worlds, but somehow doesn’t feel as grounded and timeless," says interior designer Nomita Joshi Gupta.

Designers are now looking to pivot toward furniture with substance, exploring new textures, grounded shapes, and color palettes that endure. "I'm looking for pieces that feel curated and intentional, not staged for the trend cycle," Joshi adds.

Granny Chic

Granny chic, with its all-over floral wallpaper and matching curtains, has officially passed its moment. “The whole thing reminds me of a dusty attic and makes me sneeze," says Joshi. What started as a charming nod to nostalgia has quickly become overexposed.

"It might be pretty from a distance, but [it's] impossible to live in," she adds. Instead, Joshi advises choosing patterns that are subtle and enduring. They should add personality, without turning a home into a museum.