5 Home Trends We’re Ready to Retire in 2019

They’ve had their time, but these decor elements are ready to be put out to pasture.

By Maggie Burch, Southern Living

As the year comes to an end, it’s time to take stock in all that 2018 brought us and make a mental note of everything we don’t want to take into 2019. And for us, that includes interior design trends. At the end of the day, you should decorate your home as you like, but sometimes, we all need a little inspiration and direction. And that includes highlighting the trends that those of us who look at a lot of homes are tired of seeing. They’ve had their time, and we’re happy to put them out to pasture alongside shag carpet and cherry wood cabinets. Below, we’ve rounded up 5 home trends we’re ready to leave behind in 2018. Are you with us?

Cookie-cutter Farmhouse Decor

Now don’t get us wrong—we love a good farmhouse as much as the next Pinterest fanatic, but the best farmhouses we’ve seen usually don’t have a sign announcing their identity. The kitchy, store-bought decor meant to look like you dug it out of a barn has gotten a bit heavy-handed, which makes it feel inauthentic. The same is true of all the reclaimed wood accents and barn doors that look a little forced in a new, more minimalist home. And let’s be honest—no one is buying “reclaimed” wood at HomeGoods. (If you’re looking for ways to organically include real reclaimed wood in your home, here are some great ideas.) Use your chicken wire sparingly, throw a few sprigs of cotton into your flower arrangement, and limit your galvanized metal pieces to 1 or 2 per room—they’re all great decor elements when used as accents, not the focal point of a room. And please, no more “farmhouse” signs.

Word Art

We’re picking up right where the last point left out. The word art trend—whether it’s cut-out wooden letters or a text-heavy print—has gone a bit too far. And we can say this confidently because there is a demand for instructions on how to DIY an “industrial farmhouse bathroom sign” that says FLUSH on the Internet. Does anyone really need that? We’re all for filling in blank spaces on your walls, but pick art that speaks to you, not to literally every house guest you have.

Faux Fur

When something feels as soft as faux fur does, we totally understand the desire to incorporate it into all areas of your home. But the ubiquity of faux fur decor—especially the white sheepskin rug—has reached its tipping point. There is absolutely a place for faux fur if it strikes your fancy—a throw blanket on our bed, please!—but high-traffic living rooms are probably not it. And let’s leave the faux fur pillows for adolescent bedrooms.

Accent Walls

Painting a contrasting color or installing wallpaper on one wall of a room has been a popular way to instantly add a punch of personality into a room for a few decades, but it’s a look we’re ready to retire (at least for now). With rich jewel-tone colors and fun patterns becoming more and more popular, why not commit to a bold color on all four walls? Furniture and decor looks more cohesive on an evenly colored backdrop. And if you do have a lone wall that feels like it needs something to add interest to the room, try adding floor-to-ceiling millwork and paint it the same color as your other walls. This instantly adds dimension (and a high-end touch) to your space—plus, it’s a great option for the wall along your staircase.

Macramé

With boho-chic design becoming all the rage in the past couple years, we’ve seen a surge in popularity of macramé pieces used in home decor. You’ve seen them—the woven wall hanging, plant holder, and even swinging seat hanging from the ceiling. Unless you’ve fully embraced the boho-casual lifestyle, the casual material looks a little out of place in a more traditional or even modern space.