Designers Warn These Home Trends Won't Age Well

Read this before you invest in a color-drenched kitchen or limewashed walls.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 6:31pm

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Interior designers are cautioning homeowners about certain popular home design trends that may not stand the test of time. Trends like bold cabinet colors, color drenching, themed spaces, open shelving, minimalist decor, the "mob wife aesthetic," faux molding, and limewashed walls are all highlighted as potentially dated looks that could quickly feel out of style. The experts offer suggestions on how to incorporate these trends in a more timeless way, such as using bold colors in accents rather than on cabinets, or blending classic pieces with subtle nods to current styles.

Why it matters

Home renovations and design choices can be significant investments, so it's important for homeowners to carefully consider trends that may not have long-lasting appeal. The designers warn that overly trendy looks can make a space feel dated quickly, leading to the need for costly updates down the line. By understanding which trends are more fleeting, homeowners can make design choices that will age gracefully and provide a richer, more intentional design experience.

The details

The designers highlight several popular home design trends that they believe won't age well, including bold cabinet colors, color drenching (painting walls, ceilings and molding in a single hue), overly themed spaces, open shelving, minimalist decor, the "mob wife aesthetic" of bold maximalism, faux molding, and limewashed walls. They caution that these looks, while trendy now, can quickly feel impractical, garish or out of date. Instead, the experts suggest incorporating these trends in smaller, more subtle ways, such as using bold colors in accents or blending classic pieces with current styles.

  • In recent years, the use of limewash on walls has become a popular trend.

The players

Galey Alix

A designer and content creator who warns that bold and vibrant colored kitchen cabinets are a trend that will likely work its way back out quickly.

Rebecca Bobroff

An interior designer who says that "color drenching" an entire room in one hue can quickly feel impractical and borderline garish.

Cheryl Clendenon

The creative chief of In Detail Interiors who cautions that overly themed spaces and ultra-minimalist decor are on their way out.

E. Norton

Of Norton Interiors, who says they always ask clients if they are truly neat enough for open shelving in the kitchen.

Sarah Henley

The founder of Henley Design who says the "mob wife aesthetic" of bold maximalism only works if the client has an authentic connection to that style.

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What they’re saying

“Kitchen cabinets are one of the most expensive investments in your home's design and can be difficult to change out in a few years when it's not the trend anymore.”

— Galey Alix, Designer and content creator

“Done right, the vibe is cool, but it can quickly feel impractical and borderline garish.”

— Rebecca Bobroff, Interior designer

“Overly themed spaces (like all-in on Barbiecore or a maximalist jungle) might feel fun now, but could date your home quickly.”

— Cheryl Clendenon, Creative chief, In Detail Interiors

“Whenever a client wants open shelving in their home, we always ask them to honestly answer this question: 'Am I truly neat enough for this?'”

— E. Norton, Norton Interiors

“As with most tenants of good design, the heavy, over-the-top maximalism that is a hallmark of this trend only works if the client is a Soprano — or at least mob-adjacent.”

— Sarah Henley, Founder, Henley Design

The takeaway

Home design trends can be tempting, but it's important for homeowners to carefully consider which ones will have lasting appeal. By understanding which looks may quickly feel dated, homeowners can make more informed choices that will provide a richer, more intentional design experience over time, rather than requiring costly updates down the line.