The 7 cringiest home decor trends, according to Youtubers and Tiktokers

While Kellie is all for accessibility in design, she’s not a fan of “really terrible reproductions of iconic pieces that feel sort of bastardised,” like the beloved Ultrafragola mirror. Not to mention how many of the furniture dupes are not-so-surprisingly uncomfortable. Arvin Olano, a Las Vegas– and California-based interior stylist, was once duped by a dupe that made him feel like he was sitting on plywood. “Instead of buying a dupe of a designer piece, maybe find something that’s equally as amazing from the same era that’s made well, made with real wood, or just get a piece that’s a nod to that bulbous Camaleonda sofa that you like, but maybe not the exact same,” he advises.

Heather is also very on board with this pro tip. “If you’re head-over-heels for a large investment piece, use it as inspiration to seek lesser known designer pieces, go vintage, or wait until it’s passé and score a deal on it!” Emphasising the importance of personal style over trends, Kellie believes that “the cringiest thing you can do is to be a follower versus identifying what actually makes you happy and speaks to you.” As she so eloquently puts it, “What I don’t like doesn’t necessarily matter to you if you love it. I always say, If you love it, put it in your house. You have to look at it, you have to enjoy it.” We couldn’t agree more!

Leave the uncomfortable, blobby furniture in the funhouse

While sculptural and curvaceous pieces have been en vogue for a while now, both Kiva and Nick stressed the degree of discomfort from these otherwise stylish pieces. In a recent YouTube video, Kiva jokes about needing an elevator to reach the low seat of the aforementioned Mario Bellini sofa: “It’s very low! You can’t lay on it! I want to be able to take a 10-hour nap on my sofa if I want to.”

Too many curvy statement pieces in a room, such as the Verner Panton’s Heart Cone Chair or Faye Toogood’s Roly Poly, can render it a little too shapeless, giving off “funhouse energy,” as Nick describes it. Citing the importance of balance, Nick advises, “I would love to see the blobs embraced with some clean lines so that it creates something that’s interesting and dynamic but ultimately defined.” Besides, this furniture is typically not so ergonomic, citing the recent resurgence of inflatable furniture. “It might make sense for a teenager’s bedroom. It does not make sense for high-end, beautiful spaces,” he says. It’s a whole new curse of curves.

Over-the-top walls that are too busy for the room

While it can be tempting to go bold and shake your home style up with a strong statement wall color or wallpaper mural, a few of our experts warned that this could quickly enter into cringe territory. Caroline finds trendy wallpaper murals already starting to look dated. Not only can they be cringe, they’re not always so budget-friendly. “For materials and installation, these wallpapers could buy you a decent family vacation. Save your money, go to Cabo instead,” she insists.

For Heather, not enough attention is paid to harmonious design when it comes to painting an accent wall in a room. “In lieu of defaulting to a gallery wall or a busy wallpaper, play with elements like molding, ceiling design, art, sculpture, or rug layering to introduce a sense of play while keeping the room grounded.”

Kristen McGowan, an interior designer and YouTuber, thinks highly saturated paint colors in general will be out in no time, and encourages incorporating these hues in a more understated way, with “small decor, pillow covers, and wall art.”

Paint-flipping furniture for no good reason

Arvin and Drew Michael Scott, the interior designer behind Lone Fox, are both adamant about this insufferable trend that stemmed from furniture flipping. “Painted wood furniture—I just can’t do it anymore,” says Drew. On TikTok, Instagram, and beyond, there are countless DIY videos of people taking wood furniture and painting it.

“People strip it, they paint it the most weird, grotesque colours like lavender or green with brass, and it’s just not cute,” says Arvin. “I feel like in context they can do something and do some more research to make that piece more timeless, more modern, instead of just this trendy thing that they’re doing for Instagram, for a quick buck.”

There’s also something about trying to hide the fact that something is crafted out of wood that’s extra cringeworthy to Arvin. “We’re losing all the wood grain! We’re losing the warmth of the wood,” he laments.