We've all done it: got caught up in the moment and succumbed to a trend that turned out not to last. I’d imagine that during the depths of the clean minimalism of the 90s, many homeowners looked back at the pelmets and bed valances of the 80s and had a crisis of decorating confidence - never dreaming that they'd come back in such a big way.
But such is the nature of trend cycles: things always come back around and, truly, if you love it, there’s no judgement here.
That said, there are certain design choices that can make a living room feel a little less considered than it deserves. Not because they are inherently “wrong”, but because they feel so tied to a moment that it's hard to perceive them as anything beyond a passing trend. Below, we look at the living room features that can unintentionally date a space and the simple, stylish alternatives to try instead.
Feature walls
The feature wall has started to feel a little dated, especially when it appears as a single, high-contrast panel in an otherwise plain room. Particularly popular in the noughties were a harsh grey, deep navy or jewel-toned wall, or a blousy floral wallpaper used on just one side of the space. Rather than feeling intentional, it can sometimes look like a shortcut to adding character and may make the rest of the room feel unfinished by comparison.
Instead:
Play around with the fifth wall: the ceiling. Painting the ceiling in a contrasting colour, carrying the wall colour overhead or using a different finish can make a room feel far more considered. A gloss ceiling can bounce light around a darker space, while a soft tonal shade can make a sitting room feel cocooning rather than stark. If you still want to introduce contrast, try doing it through woodwork, alcoves, doors, or built-in shelving instead of one isolated wall.
Mirrored furniture
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Mirrored side tables and consoles can feel like a remnant of the early noughties. While mirrors are a brilliant addition in most spaces for bouncing light around and making a room feel larger, very square, rigid mirrored furniture can feel a little lacking in personality and style.
Instead:
Use mirrors more cleverly and sparingly. An oversized antique-style mirror leaning against a wall, a curved mirror above a fireplace, or a small decorative mirror placed opposite a window can still bring in light without dominating the room. Look for softer shapes, foxed glass, aged frames, rattan, wood, or brass details to make mirrors feel more decorative. The aim is to treat them as considered design pieces rather than reflective furniture that can quickly make a room feel cold.
Too much grey
All-grey interiors once felt sleek and modern, but too much grey can now make a home feel cold, flat and impersonal. Grey laminate floors, grey walls, grey sofas and silver accessories together can drain the warmth from a room.
Instead:
Layer in warmer neutrals such as taupe, oatmeal, cream, clay, olive, chocolate, or soft plaster pink. These shades still feel calm and easy to live with, but they bring more depth than a blanket of cool grey. Natural wood, woven textures, linen, wool, ceramics and warm-toned metals can also help soften the space. If you already have a lot of grey, you do not necessarily need to start again; try adding warmer cushions, curtains, rugs, lampshades and artwork to shift the palette.
Matching furniture sets
A matching living room suite can make a home look a little catalogue-led. When every piece is from the same range, the room can lack character and look less collected over time.
Instead:
Mix materials, finishes and eras to create a more layered room. Pair a modern bed with vintage bedside tables, a contemporary sofa with an antique side table, or a clean-lined dining table with more characterful chairs. The pieces do not all need to match, but they should speak to each other through colour, scale, or material. This makes the room feel as though it has evolved naturally, rather than being bought in one go.
Uniform gallery walls
A collection of art on a wall is always a fun way to display your personality. Where you need to be careful is with too much uniformity. Using the same colour frames, the same mounts, and very similar styles of artwork can begin to look a little uninspired, more like a shop display than a personal collection.
Instead:
Try mixing it up with more unexpected pieces for a looser, more personal look. Combine framed prints with oil paintings, sketches, textiles, postcards, plates, hats, pennants, mirrors or objects picked up on travels.
Varying the frame styles and sizes will make the arrangement feel more collected, but keep one or two elements consistent, such as a loose colour palette or similar tones of wood, so it does not become chaotic. The best gallery walls look as though they have grown over time, rather than bought as a matching set.
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Daisy Bendall is the Houses Editor at Country Living and House Beautiful, where she spends her days sourcing some of the most inspiring homes across the country. Prior to specialising in real homes, Daisy worked for Good Housekeeping, Red, Elle Decoration and Prima, styling shoots, covering the latest decorating trends and hunting down the best buys for your home.
