5 Once-Trendy Living Room Designs That Designers Hate to See in a Home

Once upon a Pinterest board, we all fell hard for barn doors, chevron rugs, and fiber wall hangings. But fast-forward a decade, and many of those once-trendy choices are starting to feel more played out than polished.

To see which styles have officially overstayed their welcome, we asked interior designers to share the living room trends they’re tired of seeing.

From showroom-perfect minimalism to boho spaces bursting with personality, these are the styles experts agree are starting to feel more formulaic than inspiring.

Stark Minimalism

Sleek, sparsely furnished living rooms were once the pinnacle of chic living, but designer Kerry O’Duibhir believes that era has passed.

“Stark minimalism feels more like a showroom than a home,” she says, noting that when minimalism veers into monotony, the result can feel cold and uninviting.

“Strip a room of softness, and you lose the desire to spend time in it,” she says.

That said, if minimalism still speaks to you, there’s no need to forgo it entirely—it’s simply evolving into a softer, more refined expression: quiet luxury.

Think of it as minimalism with a cashmere sweater and opt for layered rugs, full drapes, and tactile textures that soften sharp edges and cool surfaces.

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Industrial

While Edison bulbs will always have their place—namely, strung across a your backyard—according to O’Duibhir, it might be time to retire those metal pipe shelves and caged ceiling fans, as they often lack the warmth today’s interiors call for.

“The industrial look makes sense in a converted factory loft,” she says, “but in a tract home or new build, it can feel more like a flip tactic: a quick, generic fix that isn’t necessarily bad, but doesn’t feel thoughtful, either.”

If you’re still drawn to industrial style, give it a modern refresh by swapping out raw, dark metals for colorful finishes in shades like poppy red or sunny yellow.

These hues are just as versatile, but they lend a more playful, updated feel.

Bohemian

Moroccan rugs, mismatched Kilim pillows tossed on a rattan daybed, a smattering of succulents—this once-iconic combo now feels more like a 2016 Pinterest starter pack.

It’s no surprise boho chic took off in the early days of design blogging: it was budget-friendly, easy to DIY, and perfect for anyone furnishing a first apartment or home on a shoestring budget.

But today, design has evolved toward deeper personalization—and so has the boho formula.

A single silk cactus-print Kilim pillow on a velvet sofa or a tonal Moroccan rug layered over a sisal rug can bring texture and soul without going overboard.

Farmhouse

With its reclaimed wood finishes and vintage-inspired charm, farmhouse style burst onto the design scene about a decade ago and it’s remained a favorite ever since.

For years, it offered a formula: shiplap here, a trestle table there, and suddenly, even the newest construction felt rooted in history.

But designer and influencer Ella James Miller thinks it’s time to rethink the trend. “Your modern high-rise apartment with a wall of windows isn’t the place to force a farmhouse aesthetic,” she says.

That doesn’t mean tossing everything out, though.

In a recent project, Miller paired a classic farmhouse table with a sleek Scandinavian silk saucer pendant. The result? A space that feels more relaxed, slightly eclectic, and most importantly: lived in.

“I’d rather see people lean into pieces they love and let their individual style come to the forefront,” she says.

“It’s about letting your style evolve, not following a checklist.”

Midcentury Modern

Before you list your prized, atomic-legged walnut credenza on your local secondhand marketplace, hear us out: Midcentury modern design isn’t going anywhere, but according to designers, the trend has started to fade.

Back in the mid-2010s, midcentury modern design had a major resurgence. Big-box retailers made it easy (and affordable) to furnish an entire space in the style, and for many, matching everything felt like a quick path to a cohesive, stylish home.

That said, even iconic styles need a little breathing room. So if your living room is starting to resemble a ’60s sitcom set, it may be time to break up the uniformity.

Try pairing a sleek pedestal coffee table with a traditional, skirted roll-arm sofa, or refresh a ceramic mid-century lamp with a pleated, patterned shade.

These simple swaps can help create a more layered, collected look, without losing the cool factor that drew you to MCM in the first place.