Does your living room resemble a set from a 90s movie? Perhaps it’s because of things that have long since become anti-trends.
Elle Decoration magazine conducted a survey among 100 designers, and 87% named these items as the main enemies of the modern interior.
"They kind of scream, 'This is where people who are stuck in the past live,'" said Fixer Upper star Joanna Gaines .
Let's start with fringed rugs. Yes, they were once considered a symbol of luxury, but today, according to designer Tiffany Brooks , "fringe creates visual chaos, like crumbs on a black shirt." Instead, experts recommend plain rugs with geometric prints or mats made from natural materials.
Reader Elena from Krasnodar shared: “I replaced the old carpet with a jute one – the room immediately became lighter and more spacious!”
The second style killer is heavy curtains with lambrequins. “They are only suitable for theatrical scenes, not for living space,” says designer Martin Lawrence Bullard ironically.
The alternative? Japanese linen panels or graphic Roman shades. For drama, try flat-ply blackout curtains hung on a hidden rod.
Reader Dmitry from Kazan wrote on social media: “I removed the lambrequins and the living room stopped resembling grandma’s house.”
Third, there are the fake flowers. "They collect dust and look like a plastic wedding cake," Brooks says.
Designers recommend dried flowers: pampas grass, lavender or eucalyptus branches in ceramic vases. And if you don’t want to take care of plants, buy sculptural compositions made of metal or ceramics.
The fourth enemy of style is DVD collections on shelves. “It’s like putting old school notebooks on display,” laughs Gaines .
Instead, use the shelves as an art space: display handmade ceramics, rare books in stylish covers, or minimalist clocks.
And finally, the sofa-and-two-chair furniture sets. “They transform the room into a furniture store showroom,” Bullard notes.
Experiment: combine a vintage chair with a modern sofa or add unusually shaped poufs.
For example, design studio Norm Architects recently presented a collection where rough oak is combined with velvet.
Reader Anastasia from Sochi said: “I bought one bright armchair on sale – now it’s the highlight of the room!”
As Gaines says, "An interior is a story you're telling. Make sure there are no unnecessary characters in it."
