What's making a home look dated in 2025? Interior designers share the design icks that they say are aging your interiors

Whether you're currently residing in your 'forever' home that you haven't decorated for years or have just moved into a new space, it feels like there is always something we could be doing to keep our homes up to date with current trends.

It's a tough old beast, the circle of trends. The interior design trends that were once considered chic can rather quickly feel old-fashioned. Of course, there are timeless interior design style choices we can all make to help design a home that never dates but there are certain features that can make your home feel dated – and not in a cool, nostalgic kind of way.

From retro aesthetics to passing microtrends, we've asked designers to help us identify what is making a home look dated in 2025. Here are the 8 design icks designers are urging you to rethink this year.

What's making a home look dated in 2025?

While some design choices age gracefully, others can instantly date a space, making it feel stuck in the past. From once-popular gray walls to mass-produced slogan art, certain trends that dominated homes over the last decade are now being swapped out for more thoughtful, character-filled interiors.

So, what exactly is making a home look outdated right now? We asked interior designers to share the decor choices they’re leaving behind – and what to embrace instead.

1. The '90s kitchen

The 1990s interior design trends saw the orange, honey oak kitchen take root in homes across the country. With Tuscan-inspired aesthetics, these popular wooden kitchens were characterized by warm tones and ornate details, but designers are keen to see the back of them in 2025.

'Dated' interiors, to me, often bring to mind fluorescent overhead lighting and orange-toned cabinets,' says interior designer Wendy Labrum. 'Both reminiscent of a '90s kitchen.'

Michelle Murphy, founder of DEMI RYAN agrees saying: 'In 2025, a home can look dated if it features outdated design elements that no longer align with current trends. Heavy, ornate details, dark wood cabinetry, and faux finishes from the early 2000s now feel outdated compared to the lighter, more natural materials trending today.'

If you're looking to update a wooden kitchen, try refinishing the cabinetry by painting the doors or sanding away the honey tones and restaining them lighter. And of course, switching up kitchen wall colors, countertops, and flooring is going to make a huge impact too.

2. Millennial Gray

You're likely aware by now that decorating with gray is on the out. Taking TikTok by storm, creators have coined this cool hue 'Millennial Gray' as a way to describe how every Millennial in the 2010s chose to color drench their homes gray in a rebellion against the warmth of the '90s.

Kailee Blalock, co-founder of House of Hive, says that gray flooring and Millenial Gray interiors are aging homes the fastest in 2025. 'Cool-toned grays are out,' she explains. 'They can make a space feel cold, impersonal, and reminiscent of early-2010s builder-grade design.'

Of course, the antidote to gray is warmth and riotous color. 'Instead, we’re seeing a strong shift toward warmer woods, rich browns, and creamy beiges – tones that add depth and comfort to a space,' suggests Kailee.

'The gray-on-gray aesthetic has had its moment, but it now feels quite flat and uninspired,' agrees designer Lauren Gilberthorpe. 'The most timeless interiors have layers of color, texture, and personality. A home where everything matches too perfectly, from furniture to accessories, can feel overly contrived.'

3. The big light

Now, we must instantly preface this by saying the big light is by no means canceled. But the solo use of it? A quick way to make your home feel dated, and uncurated.

The big light debate has been sparking interest on the internet of late, with many creators confessing their hatred of harsh overhead, single-source lighting, as it can make a space feel flat and uninviting. Instead layered lighting, by incorporating lamps, sconces, and dimmable fixtures, is being championed for its ability to add warmth, depth, and ambiance to a room.

Vyanca Soto, owner and principal designer at Market Studio Interiors, agrees saying ignoring the importance of lighting is a key mistake to make. 'Outdated overhead fixtures, harsh LEDs, or uninspired flush mounts can instantly age a space,' she explains. 'In 2025, lighting is taking center stage, elements like sculptural sconces, layered illumination, and thoughtfully designed fixtures elevate even the simplest of rooms.'

4. Matching furniture sets

Once seen as a sign of a well-coordinated home, matching furniture sets – especially those sold as complete living room or bedroom packages – have been seen as passed their sell-by date for a few years now.

'Identical furniture pieces from big-box stores can make a space feel uninspired,' says Michelle Murphy. 'Mixing textures, styles, and vintage finds creates a more curated, modern look.' Interior designers now encourage mixing materials, styles, and eras by shopping for vintage furniture or custom pieces to create a more dynamic and personalized aesthetic.

Vyanca adds: 'The biggest culprit in 2025? Overly “done” spaces that feel like they’re trying too hard to follow trends rather than telling a story. Homes that look overly staged, matchy-matchy, or filled with mass-produced furniture lack the depth and character that today’s design-savvy homeowners crave.'

'Fast furniture and hyper-trendy elements (think boucle everything) are being replaced with collected, artisan-made pieces that stand the test of time. It’s all about curating a home that feels personal, intentional, and reflective of the people who live in it, not just a carbon copy of an Instagram trend.'

5. Accented trims and moldings

For years, painting trim and moldings in a contrasting color to the walls (often in crisp, gloss white) was a go-to design move to highlight architectural details. However, in 2025, this approach is starting to feel more dated as the trend toward color drenching takes over.

'In the past, contrasting trim and molding were the go-tos, but in 2025, the more elevated approach is color drenching,' explains Kailee Blalock. 'Painting trim, walls, and even ceilings all in the same hue create a seamless, immersive look that feels much more on-trend and up-to-date.'

When you contrast trim and wall colors, you create unnecessary visual stops that can disrupt the flow of a space. Color drenching feels far more intentional and elevates a room instantly. If you’re nervous about going all in, try a muted, tonal variation instead of a high-contrast trim – a deeper or glossier hue in the same family as your walls can add sophistication without feeling too stark.

6. Slogan-heavy, mass-produced art

Kitschy wall art with words and slogans was once a go-to for adding personality to a space. But now this is one of the quickest ways to make a home look out of touch.

'"Live Laugh Love," "Home Sweet Home," and similar worded décor pieces have lost their charm,' continues Kailee. 'The shift now is toward meaningful, collected design – original artwork, antique pieces, or handmade items that reflect personal style rather than mass-produced sentimentality.'

'A home is looking dated in 2025 when nothing is personal,' adds Sarah Latham of Latham Interiors. 'Unique art, vintage furniture, and customized details are providing that love and attention to our homes.'

Instead of filling walls with generic sayings, opt for framed textiles, photography, or even handmade pieces from local artists. Thrifted artwork, flea market finds, and family heirlooms will also contribute to a layered, lived-in aesthetic that feels far more personal than factory-made prints.

7. Black hardware

The use of contemporary, all-black fixtures is top of the list of dated hardware trends. Black hardware had its moment, but it can feel stark and predictable now. We’re seeing a return to unlacquered brass, antique bronze, and even polished nickel, finishes that age beautifully and add a sense of timelessness to a space.

'The stark black-and-white farmhouse aesthetic is fading, making way for warmer, more organic finishes,' says Kailee. 'Brass, aged bronze, and patinaed metals bring softness and richness, adding depth to a space rather than the harsh contrast of matte black.'

Not only does it quickly date your space, but it's also wondrously impractical. Matte black fixtures, in a bathroom especially, are super hard to clean and maintain due to the coating being so easily scratched and damaged. So we think it's high time this material is replaced.

8. Boring countertops

For years, plain countertops, whether solid white quartz, speckled granite, or basic laminate, were chosen for their practicality and versatility. And we can see the appeal, kitchen countertops are an expensive investment so sticking to a more conservative material felt like a great way to ensure it would remain timeless.

Unfortunately, the opposite effect has happened. Kailee is a fan of banishing countertops with no movement in 2025. 'Ultra-plain, sterile countertops are being replaced with natural stone or quartz that mimics the veining and movement of marble, travertine, or soapstone. Even granite is better,' she explains.

Your countertops are one of the largest visual elements in a kitchen, so why play it safe? A beautifully veined marble or honed limestone can elevate a space instantly.

'While still durable, speckled granite is losing favor to quartz, marble, and other natural-looking surfaces with softer veining and a more organic feel,' Michelle concludes.

Trends come and go, but the key to a timeless home is designing with personality, balance, and intention. While elements like matching furniture sets and 'Millennial Gray' walls once felt like the height of style, in 2025, they can make a space feel uninspired and outdated.

The good news? Consider it an opportunity to refresh and refine by making small, thoughtful updates that add depth, warmth, and individuality to your space.