People Are Revealing The "Outdated" Home Design Trends That Are Wayyy Better Than Modern Day Trends
We recently asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us which "outdated" home design trends should make a comeback. Here are the surprising results:
1."Walls. Walls need to come back. No more open floor plans. I don't want to be able to hear everything going on in my house at all times."
"ROOMS. Open floor plans are so loud. Everything echoes, and kitchen smells get everywhere. Please stop 'renovating' older homes and open everything up. We're potentially looking to move in the next few years, and if I've seen a house open the kitchen up for no reason, that is not a house we will consider. ... I don't want my house to be one big space."
—40, Canada
2."I have always loved the look of an accent wall. Whether it be a solid color or a pattern, I feel like it gives the room personality, especially if it matches the rest of your decor."
—20, Illinois
"I added accent walls to most rooms in my house; I like how they make a focal point. It’s also just paint, it ain’t no big deal to 'fix' if I ever sell. Homes need to go back to being for the family living in them to enjoy. Too often, people are concerned about retail value and how 'sellable' their aesthetic choices are. Live in the now, and stop worrying about that. Chances are, even in its most neutral state, it’s not going to have perfect mass appeal anyways."
3."Sunken living rooms. I haven't seen one in over a decade, but I love the look of two steps down into the couch area. Leaves the rooms open, making the space feel large, but provides a touch of intimacy and lounge intrigue."
—49, Georgia
4."One trend I hope comes back is true dining rooms. I own a 1990 home, and I love the dedicated space. I made the dining room a bright lemon theme (the fruit and the color). Everyone who has visited loves it, and they go out of their way to linger in that room for the fun, poppy vibe. It's like a gravity point."
5."Colorful porcelain in the bathroom. White is not only boring and looks dingy a lot faster. I love our original harvest gold tub and sink."
6."Having more bathrooms (or even bedrooms) rather than a GIGANTIC primary bedroom the size of a one-bedroom apartment. I don't need a bedroom that big. I don't have that much furniture. But what I DO like is having more than two bathrooms. That way, when guests come to stay, there's always one available, making getting ready easier."
7."I would love to see tan walls back in style because I've been putting off repainting! The grey trend only lasted five to 15 years (depending on location). Our old grey walls and white trim got dirty easily but photographed extremely well. My husband loves the ambiance of our Tuscan/traditional kitchen, and he swears it will come back in fashion again!"
—42, Oklahoma
8."I grew up in a house with ceiling fixtures, so I'm used to a wall switch that lights up the whole room. I like old-school ceiling lights. Nope to that guess-which-outlets-work-with-the-wall-switch style of room wiring."
9."Built-ins. Built-in shelves, built-in entertainment centers, built-in storage, anything that is built into the walls of a home! I loved those details."
"I grew up with my grandparents in a house built in the 1920s. They had a built-in toaster and a built-in radio. The knobs and buttons were pretty old, and they were pretty basic, but it was super convenient and worked really well. They didn't have a built-in bread box, but those, too. So many built-ins that I don't see today."
—33, Maryland
10."Put that fancy laundry 'room' back in the basement. Unless the house is huge, that space should be another bathroom (or closet), especially if there is only one bath in the house. There should ALWAYS be two bathrooms in every home if possible."
"What is so problematic about folding clothes on a bed or counter? Why all that space and cabinetry dedicated to two machines and a bottle of Tide that could also go in a closet?"
11."Not that I ever really thought it was outdated, but the farmhouse look is nice. ... a nice light farmhouse creates a warm and durable look. I have an old house, so it matches the old walls and the look of the place so well already. Plus, a lot of stuff that can pass as farmhouse isn't always expensive."
—40, California
12."Sliding barn doors. As a big time horse lover, I love to see a little bit of the barn/stable brought into my home."
—26, California
13."Actual color. These muted, gray homes are drab and void of imagination and style. I want to see patterns, bright colors, and other accents that I've never thought of — interior design is art, and I feel like we forgot that."
14."Pancake windows! What do I mean? I think it was popular in the '50s through '70s, when there was a little serving window from the kitchen to another room, like a dining room or a living room."
"They are not practical for anything, but I always wanted one to open one and be like, 'Who wants pancakes?' and pop some steaming buttery pancakes out to a crowd from that type of window. Hence, pancake windows."
15."Wicker and brass furniture. We've already brought back a ton of early '80s decor. Imagine completing the look for that true immersion feeling."
—40, USA
16."Wood paneling. I'm talking about quality wood paneling. Mahogany or walnut, for example. There's nothing better than a den with beautiful wood paneling, big windows, and built-in shelving. Bonus for terrazzo, conversation pit, or indoor planters. It's just so cozy and beautiful."
"I despise the gratefully outgoing trend of 'open concept.' Sorry. I don't want to look at my kitchen all day, and I love having defined spaces. I have people over all the time, and I never need to be in the kitchen for extended periods. Open concept is so freaking dumb."
—48, Texas
And finally..
17."The front porch. They were fun to decorate and it was a great way to meet the neighbors."
—50, Pennsylvania
"Things that help to foster a sense of community and form relationships with others: Staying put in the smaller house (you don’t have to upgrade), a dining space you actually use, a front porch, etc."
—Anonymous, USA
What other "outdated" home design trends would you like to see brought back? Let us know in the comments below!
Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
