- Home dcor has evolved immensely over the past century.
- From the muted, monochromatic rooms of the 1930s to the explosion of florals in the 1980s, interior designers have seen a lot of trends come and go.
- INSIDER turned to interior design experts Matthew Cane, president of Matthew Cane Designs , and Julie Sanders, senior editor at Home & Design Magazine , for their professional opininons on the worst design trends to come out of this century.
- Take a look at the trends that hit big the decade you were born and that but experts agree should not come back.
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The worst interior design trends everyone was obsessed with the decade you were born, according to experts
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"In this period it was done in shiny finishes and wild, bizarre textures," Matthew Cane, president of Matthew Cane Designs, told INSIDER. He added that the monotone look has now taken on matte-toned finishes and a contrast of color or metal for a modern twist.
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During the 1930s, people also started decorating their rooms around one-third of the way down the wall during, Cane says. Theyd throw some trimming at a certain spot and paint the above a solid color. It looks almost unfinished.
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A big trend in the 1940s and one of the worst was the use of tin and color-themed rooms, Cane told INSIDER.
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In the 1950s wood became a big player in interior design, Cane said. He listed wall coverings like veneers and shiplap as some of the worst yet most popular choices of the time.
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Popcorn Ceilings originated in the 1960s. The visible texture was meant to both absorb excess noise and cover up seams and tape in the walls.
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Source: Today Show , CBS 5 San Francisco
The rough design is historically made of chalk and some sort of wallboard compound. But, in some instances, it may have been made with asbestos.
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Because of the possibility of asbestos and the less than good-looking design many people have started taking down their popcorn ceilings that were likely installed decades ago. While it was once all the rage, Cane says its got no place in the new millennium.
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In 1968, the waterbed was introduced.
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And even though its undoubtedly fun to play on ...
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... Cane said, "If Im going to be floating on anything, its going to be on a raft in a pool or an ocean. Ill save the seasickness for #never."
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In 1968, round beds first appeared on the design scene. They lasted a few decades, but ultimately, Cane says hes a little confused by the concept, which really doesnt make logical sense: "I thought all humans were vertically aligned?"
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Julie Sanders, senior editor at Home & Design Magazine, told INSIDER that, overall, the 70s were "a pretty appalling period in design."
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"Yet, everything comes back around eventually, and designers tell me the 70s are seeing a resurgence as well," Sanders said. But there are some trends Sanders notes have not made a comeback at least not yet.
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She told INSIDER the 70s saw avocado-colored appliances, bath fixtures, and anything else that could possibly come in the shade of green. And for that Cane said, "Thank you, next."
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Sanders said "elaborate swag" on window treatments is thankfully a thing of the past.
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Back in the 70s and 80s, balloon valances the treatments on the windows below had their time in the sun. But that time is long since over. "The poof 80s sleeved dresses had their moment, and so did these," said Cane.
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In the 70s, silk bedspreads also made a statement unfortunately, not a statement worthy of sticking around.
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Cane said theyre simply "too hot and slippery!"
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Cane said dcor also became a bit more "glam" in the 70s with chrome and stone finishings becoming popular. But too much stone can make your space look like an actual cave.
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The beaded lamps of the 70s are out as well. After all, nobody wants to "hear the beads jingle every time they turn on and off a lamp, especially before sleeping," Cane told INSIDER.
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The late 70s and 80s saw lots of carpet everywhere! In the 50s, carpet was seen as a luxury. But as time progressed, people started to use it to cover anything in their homes.
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Source: Apartment Therapy
And bathrooms were no exception.
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"We used to have those carpet toilet bowl covers and mat sets," Cane said. "We even used to put the carpet pad around the top of the toilet seat."
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In the 1980s, people used glass blocks as partitions around their house to offer privacy while still letting light flow through the space.
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But, as Cane points out, "everyone can still see through glass." So they may not be the best choice for your bathroom window.
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Cane says the printed plastic tablecloths of the late 80s are "cheap and unsanitary."
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"Weve realized that fabrics like linens and sunbrella offer the same concept as plastic for easy cleanup," Cane told INSIDER. He said these options look way more expensive, feel nicer, and you can throw them in the wash before reusing which he calls another universal design feature for modern-day living.
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In the 80s, florals were on everything.
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And that makes Cane think one thing: "Collectively we can all say #grandmashouse."
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During the 1980s and 1990s wallpaper borders near the ceiling or at chair-rail level were all the rage.
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Source: SFGate , ELLE Decor
Those boarders followed the painted ceiling boarders of the 1930s.
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In the 80s, stenciling and applying decals on walls were also a popular trend, says Cane.
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The 1990s saw a new take on stencils. Decorators started taking sponges to them for a technique that would leave a different texture on the wall.
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Source: ELLE Decor
They could also get a different texture by dragging the sponge in circles instead of dabbing it.
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"We wanted to achieve texture, but there are so many modern products now that create the same textures, but better, from wallpapers to actual paneling that can be installed," Cane told INSIDER.
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Accent walls are big in design now and serve the same purpose.
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While inflatable furniture has been around since the 60s ...
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... it really made its mark on the 90s and early 2000s with pseudo-ambassadors like Britney Spears and every tween-focused retailer at the time were looking at you Delia*s and Limited Too.
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Even though the trend brought us that amazing Britney chair, Cane still declares inflatable furniture one of the worst things to happen to home dcor in the 90s: "Skin + Plastic = unnecessary flatulence sounds that you didnt make!" He isnt wrong.
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The 90s also saw a trend of yellow-stained wood.
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"To be blunt, this was one of the worst wood stain trends ever," Cane said. "What is appealing about a yellowish wood? It reminds me of all the neighborhood spec homes I grew up in."
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And dark wood staining also found its way into homes of that time, which Cane said is a big no-no now-a-days.
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"When an entire room is dark with dark wood, its cavernous," he said. "Weve now taken design to a more soft, light, and neutral tonal palette throughout the room."
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This decade also featured a trend that Cane said gives off a not-so-welcoming vibe: draping blankets or fabric over couches and chairs as an accent.
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He says it makes him think of someone whos trying to protect their sofa from an overload of dog hair.
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Another big trend in the 90s Cane doesnt miss: Solid, dark-stained, ornate, wooden headboards. "Who wants a dark, hard board hanging over their head before bed?" he asked.
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Another 90s trend Cane said is out of date is large-scale family portraits over the mantel or on the staircase. "Weve grown from this and learned you can dedicate a nice area of wall space to family photos instead still loving your family just the same," he said.
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Cane also remembers the 90s as being filled with sunflowers, from wall patterns to dishes.
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From the 90s to early 2000s, one craze Cane doesnt miss featured brands as the design. You could find colorful Lisa Frank artwork everywhere.
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"It had its moment I was a HUGE Lisa Frank fan but I think we all realized that, just because we love a brand or designer, we wouldnt post TOM FORD printed out all over walls for our design motif," Cane said.
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In the early 2000s, shabby chic resurfaced in bedrooms and living rooms.
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Originally introduced in the 80s, this is one trend Cane and Sanders dont see making another comeback anytime soon.
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Cane told INSIDER that today, rather than covering everything in the same pattern in hopes of achieving a neutral design, decorators curate neutral items to create warm rather than cold environments.
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Morgan Ione Yeager via Matthew Cane Designs
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