Decorating & Design
March 30, 2021
35 Things In Your House That Could Be Dating It
At H&H, we think that a lot of beauty comes with age. Bronze builds a gorgeous patina over time, cedar shakes mellow to a glorious gray and that brass door knocker? It’ll only get better with use. Puffy, sun-bleached drapery, on the other hand… well, there’s a difference between old and outdated.
Here are 35 things that could be making your home look stuck in the past, plus some alternatives for a fresher, more contemporary look.
Honey Oak Strip Floors
Pale Scandi floors offer a fresher take than the honeyed oak of years past. An oiled finish is better alternative to layers of varathane that tend to get more yellow over time. Think about the planks’ dimension too: wide planks look more high-end than skinny strips.
Valances, Balloon Drapes & Swags
Overwrought window treatments have gone the way of supersized shoulder pads. Take a more pared-back approach with curtain rods and finials, too, and opt for something sleek like the example above.
White Appliances
In kitchens with dark cabinets, white appliances can stick out like sore thumbs. For an alternative, stainless steel has been proven to up a home’s resale value, but there are so many exciting finishes to choose from today (not to mention panel-ready fridges that better integrate with colorful cabinets).
Closed Off Entries
Tired screen doors and mid-century metal awnings shut down an entrance visually, lowering the curb appeal. Clear the way to a warm welcome with generous sidelights and a front door.
Themed Nurseries
This nursery is timeless (and cartoon character-free), decorated with vintage heirlooms and Scandinavian-modern furniture. Steering clear of overt themes also makes it easier to switch things up as kids grow.
Glass Vessel Sinks
Once all the rage, shallow glass vessel sinks have given way to to more substantial versions. Go deeper with a sculptural sink in stone.
Matching Furniture
The sun has set on matching dining and bedroom suites, and instead were the rise of individual vintage chairs and benches. In this vibrant dining room, a fun mix of blue and pink chairs around a custom table is unique, personal and artsy.
Stodgy Plant Displays
Grandma’s beloved African violets lined up on the sill are nostalgically quaint (and they seem to be thriving!), but there are fresher ways to showcase your plant collection. These suspended matching pots let foliage benefit from the natural light that streams in through this kitchen window, without cluttering counters, shelves or window sills.
Tired Finishes
If the finish has worn off bathroom fixtures, choose brass instead. Designer Shauna Walston says: “A natural brass gets even better with age, I have clients who fear brass is too trendy, but it’s here to stay.”
Overwrought Railings
Heavy turned spindles, chunky banisters and handrails with chipped paint have a claustrophobic effect on a staircase. This custom railing (based on a Chloe boutique in Paris) is an artful focal point that makes a statement.
Flimsy Outdoor Furniture
Creaky, plastic and nylon web outdoor furniture is no fun to sit on, and it’s a bit of a blight on a backyard. Investing in quality outdoor furniture will last for years, and beautify a garden.
Mind The Gap
We all know the dust- and grease-catching corridor that runs between the top of kitchen cabinets and the ceiling. Some try and turn that awkward space into styling spot for dishware, but it’s generally dark and tough to access. Cabinets that stretch up to the ceiling max out space and eliminate that awkward gap.
Drab Feature Walls
Sure, you can paint one wall a different color, or apply a decal or wallpaper (we’ve all seen the beach scenes and Tuscan vineyards), and call it a day. But the best way to treat a feature wall is to be less literal. Here, a dreamy hand-painted mural by artist Dana Mooney is equally transportive.
Jumbled Vanities
Having a spot to primp is such a pleasure, and a few pretty bottles on display looks luxe. Just remember to keep a cap on toiletries: a mishmash of potions, half-filled perfumes and powders can resemble an architectural dig in a beauty boutique, so be selective!
Clunky Hardware
Large, oversized knobs can make a kitchen feel busy and detract from cabinetry. Updating the hardware is an easy fix to make cabinets look fresher: keep things sleek with finger pulls or long, linear handles.
Frosted Glass
Update your space by swapping out dusty-looking frosted glass fixtures for clear glass. In this Palm Beach dining room, a cluster of glass globes resembles a bold, contemporary sculpture.
Boxy Sofa
Gone are the days when a sofa was deep enough to swallow a small child! Today’s options are sleek and more streamlined, like this curvy sapphire beauty that makes good use of dead space with a built-in ottoman.
Clutter
Open display is a popular option in kitchens, but what’s on the shelves needs to be curated. Stacks of books, paperwork and tchotchkes need to be swept off surfaces in favor of meaningful, functional objects, like ceramics and glassware.
Dowdy Pendants
We’ve all seen ’90s-style pendants that hover over breakfast bars and islands like tiny UFOs at the end of long, skinny rods. It’s time to up the scale with impactful fixtures, like these jewel-like beauties.
Cracked Tile & Dirty Grout
It’s hard to get a fresh start every morning when the bathroom flooring is looking tired and dingy. A new floor in a punchy pattern tile can jump start a bathroom.
Boring Coffee Table
Placing a big, boxy square in the middle of a room impedes flow and can make a small space look even more diminutive. Tables that have some airiness to them, like this undulating version, are a much more modern option.
Tiny Windows
Bigger is definitely better when it comes to allowing in natural light. If a Nanawall is not in your future, try enlarging an existing window to give new life (and light) to a room.
Flimsy Bookcases
Teetering shelves groaning under the weight of books may have been a necessity at university, but precarious budget shelves don’t deserve your loyalty. Opt for substantial built-ins or floating storage.
Old-Fashioned Headboard
Since it’s the focal point of a bedroom, designers have been paying more attention to the statement headboard. Whether it’s high and channeled, or a luxe wraparound version like this one, there are many options on the market if you need an update.
Granite Counters
Big, dark and weighty, granite counters were hugely in demand in the past, but the tables (we mean countertops) have turned. Look for composites in a slimmer profile, or soapstone is a fresher alternative if you still yearn for a dark stone surface.
Overstuffed Armchair
They are a mainstay on sitcoms, but in real life, dad’s giant plaid armchair needs to be retired. A Scandi-inspired, sculptural piece can be just as comfortable, without looking dowdy.
Disorganized Office
As we move towards a paperless workplace, our homes can reflect that streamlining, too. A laptop gives you the flexibility to work just about anywhere, so keep your WFH office spaces clean and clutter-free.
Tired Throw Pillows
Toss pillows are a much less expensive update than reupholstering a sofa. Try a new color scheme or go the custom route with a fabric you’re in love with for an affordable splurge.
Bulky Ornate Cabinetry
Consider cleaner lines. Dark wood cabinetry with detailed panelling had its day, but now feels a bit heavy to the eye. Today’s designers lean toward lighter wood or paint colors and clean lines. Swap in flat-front or crisp Shaker doors in your kitchen for an instant update.
A Faded Front Door
Try a fresh coat of paint. It’s easy to forget about your front door, but thanks to regular wear and tear, they can start looking dingy fast (and you may not love the color you picked five years ago, either). We love how homeowners Michelle and Kenny Gemmill went with a cool blue for a breezy first impression.
A Matchy-Matchy Palette
Why not mix things up? Flip through old decorating magazines and you’ll be inundated with strictly coordinated color palettes (all white, green and blue, for example). In 2020, a more eclectic blend of hues from neutral tones to bold statement colors feels fresher.
Discolored Artwork
Hunt for fresh prints. If you didn’t spring for museum-grade glass, you may find your pieces are looking a little faded and dated. Swap washed-out artwork for new prints — or original paintings with UV-resistant glass — to give rooms their impact back.
Fussy Linens
A modern bed is anything but precious. Another common sight in old design publications: Beds dressed with impeccably arranged pillows, perfect linens and flouncy dust ruffles. To loosen up the overall look of your bedroom, scale things back and let wrinkles fall where they may!
Damask Wallpaper & Borders
Get out that scraper! Overly-elaborate, timeworn wallpaper has a way of dragging any space into passé territory. While it’ll take some elbow grease, you won’t regret replacing it. A fresh coat of paint or some textural grasscloth will seriously elevate things.
Out-Of-Date Frames
Bring photos into the present. Family portraits always deserve a place in the house, even when the kids are all grown up. But your old cluster of tabletop frames might not be doing them justice. We like the idea of blowing up an old favorite snapshot and setting it in a slim white frame.