7 Decor Trends From 2010s That Are Officially Outdated

Remember the Tuscan trend of the 2000s? It was so distinct and heavily used, it immediately comes to mind whenever we think about that decade. Now that we’re in the mid-2020s, we can do the same with the 2010s. From farmhouse finds to greige and gray, four designers spill the trends that have overstayed their welcome.

Gray, Gray, and More Gray

Every designer we talked to agrees: Gray—especially cool gray—has got to go. As Melanie Bryant, founder of Melanie Bryant Interiors in Jackson, Mississippi, says, “It quickly falls flat—what people really respond to is warmth, texture, and layers that make a home feel inviting.”

Elizabeth Burch, owner and principal designer of Elizabeth Burch Interiors in Nashville, Tennessee, recommends swapping it for a warm white (her favorite is Greek Villa by Sherwin-Williams). You could even add a fun, contrasting trim or wallpaper to add more personality. 

Farmhouse Style

We love us some Chip and Jo, but the farmhouse trend they started? Not so much. In the 2010s, it took all our homes by storm, barn doors, faux vintage signs, flat neutrals, and all. Now, it’s time to take them back. Still, Julie Dodson Webster, founder and creative director of Dodson Interiors in Houston, Texas, insists that you don’t have to change everything at once. In fact, you shouldn’t. To give spaces their true personality, they should be layered over time.

Art with Words

We don’t need a reminder that we’re “blessed,” or the command to “eat” in the kitchen. Instead, Webster recommends swapping out art with words for “something more vibrant, like an abstract or a landscape.” Even if you opt for a print, it can still feel more original, and will almost certainly be more visually interesting.

Mid-Century Modern

The problem, Bryant emphasizes, isn’t the aesthetic but that “it became a default look everywhere, no matter the house style.” More often than not, incorporating mid-century modern wall-to-wall feels out of place, but you can still add a piece or two to infuse personality.

Catalog Finds

You know those furniture sets you can get from any big-box furniture store or catalog? While they’re certainly functional, and some are even high-quality, they’re typically generic and personality-less. “I will always suggest mixing antiques and vintage finds that add depth and character to keep a space looking collected and dynamic,” Webster says.

All-White Kitchens

White-on-white kitchens have a serious appeal to them—they can be clean, bright, and simple (both in design and execution). Just as often, however, they read as sterile, one-dimensional, and formulaic.

Rachel Peck, design principal of Rachel Peck Interiors in Austin, Texas, always encourages her clients to be bold. “Find what you love and lean all the way in,” she insists. “Going just a little bit of the way in because you’re scared won’t get you the drama you’re looking for.”

Greige Floors

Nothing, Peck insists, timestamps a home more than greige vinyl plank flooring. Plus, it may seem versatile, but once installed, you’ll realize that it’s more noncommittal and lacking personality. You can’t go wrong with a warm, mid-tone brown hardwood, but if you want something light, pale oak is the way to go.