The design trends I wish would disappear

You’ve seen it on Pinterest. You’ve double-tapped the Instagram reel.

But in real life? These design choices fall apart faster than a flat-pack shelving.

1. Bare Bulbs

Industrial chic? Maybe. Functional lighting? Not so much.

Bare bulbs are blinding. They create harsh shadows that make your face look like a villain in a horror movie.

Use these fixtures are accents only. Tucked into corners or over side tables. And make sure they are diffused, e.g., frosted glass shades!

B is a great illustration of what I’m talking about.

2. Floating Stairs With No Railing

We’ve all swooned over those modern floating stairs.

Until someone’s carrying laundry upstairs and there’s nothing to grab when they stumble.

That’s not minimalism. That’s a hospital visit waiting to happen.

DON’T DO THIS

Keep the airy look with glass railings or cable systems.

Make sure your stairs have a glass railing or cable system to maintain the airy look without risking your life every time you go up or down the stairs.

Design by JDA Studio. Photography by JCNS PHOTOGRAPHY

3. Doorless Bathrooms

There’s an open plan and then there’s too open. Doorless bathrooms are a logistical nightmare.

Steam everywhere. Smells migrating to the bedroom. Your partner’s 3 am bathroom trip becoming your 3 am wake-up call.

Some things need doors. Bathrooms are definitely one of them.

Keep the doorless look for a secondary bathroom. For everyday use, always opt for doors!

4. Crazy Textured Tiles

Stone pebble shower floors look like you’re at a luxury spa… until the cleaning starts.

Soap scum, mould, and water pooling in the uneven gaps make these tiles a full-time job.

Many are porous too, meaning you’ll be sealing and resealing them far more often than traditional tiles.

Save textured tiles for accent areas (or if you have a full-time cleaner). Your future self will thank you.

5. TV Too High Above Fireplace

It seems logical. Fireplace below, TV above. Symmetrical. Tidy.

Also guaranteed neck pain for anyone who watches more than 20 minutes.

Your TV should be at eye level when you’re sitting. Try beside the fireplace or on a perpendicular wall.

No space? Get a pull-down mount.

I blame this one on the builders. Too many cookie-cutter living rooms are built with no consideration of the people who live in them.

Here’s the thing about trends:

They’re designed to look good in photos. Not always to work in real life.

Your home isn’t a museum or a showroom. It’s where you live every single day.

And living with a beautiful but broken design? That novelty wears off fast.

The best homes aren’t the trendiest ones. They’re the ones that work perfectly for the people who live in them.

Cheers,
Reynard