8 common design mistakes that make your home look dated — and how to avoid them

Story by Lisa Joyner

 Whether it’s not testing paint colours before comitting or placing plug sockets in the wrong places, we’ve all made silly design mistakes along the way.

But while our rooms should be filled with things we love (including those vintage pieces you picked up at an antique fair), some subtle design missteps could be quietly aging our homes.

There’s a big difference between a home that feels dated and one that’s deliberately styled with a vintage look,” says Adrian Brown from Urmston Carpets. “Retro and vintage interiors can absolutely work, when styled correctly.”

To help you avoid making mistakes in your home, we asked the experts to share what ages a home — and what to do instead. Keep reading below for all you need to know:

1. Harsh lighting

Lighting can make or break the feel of a room. Overhead lighting (otherwise known as the “big light”) is either the star of the show or a design flop that creates an unflattering, harsh look as soon as the switch is flicked.

“Harsh lighting is a very common interior design mistake that will age your home,” says Magdalena Gierasinska, Head of Product and Displays at Barker and Stonehouse.

The real trick with lighting is to layer. Small recessed lights, table lamps, or a tall corner light curving over a sofa are more manageable than one bright light source.

“It is very important to use several different lights to create depth, warmth and balance within the home. Consider task, ambient and accent lighting. Ambient lighting is the general lighting that illuminates a room — it doesn’t have to be a harsh overhead light – a floor lamp is a great source of ambient lighting too.

“I’d recommend choosing a variety of patterns and colours – that way, the lamps will look just as striking when turned off as they do when turned on.”

Shop the full look at M&S© Jon Day

2. Matching furniture

For Kate Palmer, Creative Director at The Painted Furniture Company, choosing overly matched or mass-produced furniture sets is a big no-go zone.

“It’s a big mistake that will make your home feel dated,” says Kate. “While it might seem like a safe option, having everything too coordinated can lack personality and feel stuck in a past era

“Instead, try mixing painted pieces with natural woods or combining vintage-inspired designs with more contemporary elements. This layered, curated approach gives your home a timeless charm rather than tying it to a specific trend or decade.”

3. Relying on trends too much

Trends guide us as we make tweaks and changes to our homes, but according to the experts, we shouldn’t be chasing decorating fads if they don’t serve a purpose.

“One of the most common pitfalls we see is an over-reliance on trend-led design statements without considering your practical use of the space and how those trends will settle into the home over time,” says Jenna Forsdyke, Senior Interior Designer at Pfeiffer Design.

“Bold finishes, high-gloss cabinetry, overly themed décor, or trend-driven colour combinations can quickly feel tired if they don’t align with the character and traffic of the home as well as the people living in it.”

Charlotte Saunders, Interior Designer at OKA, agrees: “We all have our own ideas of what makes a home feel personal and stylish, but certain design choices, particularly those driven by fast-moving trends, can quickly make a space feel dated.

“Before embracing a trending look, pattern, or style of furniture, I always encourage clients to ask themselves: ‘Would I love this even if it weren’t trending?’ If the answer is no, it’s probably best left out.

4. Varnished wooden banisters

Banisters are fiddly features to paint, regardless of what finish you go for. But if there’s one timeworn choice to avoid, it’s gloss.

“Heavily varnished wooden bannisters or overly ornate spindles that can make a staircase feel stuck in the past,” says Kenny Macfarlane, Managing Director at Handrail Creations. “Swapping them for painted or matte-finished railings, minimalist balustrades, or even metal or glass elements can dramatically modernise the space.”

Shop the stair runner at Tapi Carpets© Tapi Carpets/@tale_victoria

5. A poorly planned layout

You may have a knack for accessorising rooms, but if your layout is wrong, the whole flow of the space is disrupted.

Bo Hellberg, CMO at Scandinavian design icon String Furniture, says this is one of the biggest mistakes he sees.

“A well-designed room should feel cohesive and easy to navigate, with each area serving a clear purpose.

“Floor-to-ceiling shelving systems offer an elegant solution to this common issue. Open, floor-to-ceiling shelving can create distinct zones within a room, acting as a stylish room divider that provides added storage and delineates space while still allowing light to pass freely through the room.”

Shop the full look at Matalan© Matalan

6. Embellished and velvet beds

Planning your bedroom scheme? According to Mark Tremlett, Founder of Naturalmat, crushed velvet and embellished beds can date your home.

“These bold designs have since fallen out of favour, with many opting for more subtle, stylish alternatives,” says Mark. “We recommend choosing tactile fabrics such as boucle, cotton, or linen, and selecting a bed frame with clean lines or soft curves. This will allow the room’s natural character and design potential to instead take centre stage.”

7. Wooden decking

“Wooden decking was once all the rage, but today many homeowners prefer natural stone, tiles, or paving as an external surface,” says Thomas Goodman, a property and construction expert at MyJobQuote.co.uk.

“The upkeep of wooden decking is one reason why it fell out of favour, but it also gets slippery in wet weather, of which there is an extensive amount in the UK. Composite decking is a good alternative; you still get the look of wood without the upkeep.”

Shop the full look at Garden Trading© Garden Trading

8. Acrylic corner baths

While corner baths are space-saving and practical, Mike Whitfield from LUSSO says they can quickly date a home.

“They now feel bulky and outdated, especially in modern bathrooms that prioritise clean lines and symmetry,” says Mike.

“The curved, plastic-heavy look often lacks the refinement of today’s sculptural freestanding baths, which bring an architectural statement to a room. These corner designs tend to dominate the space, making a room feel smaller and less balanced, while freestanding tubs are a timeless choice that remains a focal point that helps create balance and harmony.”