We’re already halfway through the 2020s, but some living rooms still look like they’re stuck in the 2000s or 2010s. Not sure if yours is one of them? Sometimes, it’s the little things—a color palette, a piece of furniture, or an outdated trend—that make a space feel older than it is.
Here, designers share five decor choices that are dating your living room (and how to fix them).
Matching Furniture Sets
Designers agree that matching furniture sets in the living room, popular in decades past, are a no-go and will automatically date your space. Instead, designer Rachel Peck recommends weaving together an assortment of styles that you truly love. “Be intentional with mixing and make sure every piece gets you excited,” Peck says. “Intention leads to timeless design.”
And don’t just confine yourself to bringing together items from a range of retailers and brands—you can take things a step further and combine eras, too. “I love mixing pieces from different time periods and areas of the world to give a space a real sense of place,” says designer Rebecca Amir.
No Material Diversity
On a related note, it’s important that you vary the materials and colors in your living space, says Sonia Chauhan, founder of Studio Sonia Interiors. She cites rooms that feature all-black accents, for example, as dated in her book. “When every piece is fighting for attention instead of working together, the room starts to feel disconnected,” Chauhan says. “Try mixing patterns, textures, tones, and even mixing metals.”
Additionally, just as Amir suggests mixing eras with regard to furniture, do not feel beholden to one particular time period when it comes to your accessories, either. As Chauhan explains, “You shouldn’t walk into a space and immediately know what year everything was bought; the goal is a home that feels cohesive and collected over time.”
Too Many Mirrored Accessories
It’s time to pack up all of those mirrored accessories, notes designer Terri Brien. “What may have once felt glam now reads as cheap and mass-produced,” she says. Can’t bare yourself to part with everything? At least make an effort to pare your sparkly collection down a bit.
“Don’t get me wrong, used sparingly, a touch of shine can still feel chic but when every surface glitters, it ends up looking more like a mall decor haul than a space that’s been thoughtfully collected and curated,” Brien reflects.
Faux Fur Throws
Brien isn’t a fan of faux fur throws in the living room, either, unless they’re high-quality and look to be in tip-top shape—she finds that these blankets look especially dated when they become matted. “What once read as cozy now just looks cheap and tired,” the designer says. Grab a classic wool or knit blanket for your sofa instead.
Too Much Gray
The days of saying yay to all things gray are now over. Amir is done with all-gray spaces and suggests that you move away from them, too. “There are so many great options for off-the-shelf furniture these days that go beyond millennial gray,” she says, reflecting that in the past, oftentimes all that was in stock were pieces available in gray colorways. (Thankfully, this no longer is the case!)
