Super Hot Home Trends That, TBH, Just Don’t Make Sense: Massachusetts HomeBuyers MABA

 Once a home trend gets started, it gains momentum and snowballs. A clue that it’s happening is when you see the same design elements appearing everywhere you look. As certain looks start popping up regularly in your social feeds and solidifying their place on the hot list, you may be tempted to hop on the bandwagon and buy into them, too. But don’t click that “buy now” button impulsively.

 Design pros urge that you think carefully about how you really live, day to day, before pulling the trigger on a look that seems cool. Dogs, kids, and even the weather in your region can rule out particular design elements and render them simply unworkable. So which popular home trends are overhyped and likely to become annoying once they’re inside your home? To help, here are 10 fads you may want to take a pass on, as they may just turn out to be more trouble than they’re worth.

1. Stainless-steel appliances

Photo by Everingham Design

 The industrial look has been dominating the design world for some time, so the kitchen is prime real estate for acres of shiny metal. But those cool, reflective expanses won’t look pristine for long if you’ve got a toddler running loose with jelly-slicked hands more often than not. Stainless steel shows every mark, every time, so if your life isn’t one hundred percent goof proof, think about a matte or colored coating instead.

 “Stainless is so much upkeep,” says Darla DeMorrow of HeartWork Organizing. “And there are tons of beautiful enamels that we could all enjoy.”

2. Wallpapered bathrooms

Photo by Taylor Jacobson Interior Design 

 Our design pros love a wallpapered bathroom, but watch out! Moisture can cause certain kinds to peel and blister, sabotaging their chic look. “Never use real paper or grasscloth in a room with a shower or toilet, unless it’s underneath glass or a Plexi surface,” says Ana Cummings of the eponymous design firm. Wipeable, washable designer vinyls are the way to go here, like the ones you see in boutique hotels or upscale restaurants. “Or try a stenciled look, which just requires painting over it when you’re ready for a change,” adds DeMorrow.

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3. White living rooms

Photo by Complete Building and Design Inc 

All white may look heavenly but you probably don’t live in heaven 24/7. Truth: Get ready for this look to turn dingy in a matter of months. The one exception is furniture with white slipcovers. “Wash them twice a year, and they’re brand-new there’s nothing better,” says DeMorrow.

4. Wine walls

Photo by STACT Wine Displays Inc

 Wine walls are everywhere these days, but your vino will suffer for it. “A feature wall of wine in the kitchen will expose bottles to heat, cold, and humidity all of which prematurely age it,” warns Cummings. If you cherish your vintages, enclosed wine storage that’s temperature controlled is best.

5. Barn doors

Photo by Carpenter & MacNeille 

 Rustic touches like these are a big home trend on all the home design shows right now, but they just don’t perform well in real life. They’re not sound-proof, for example, so definitely skip them when it comes to bedrooms and bathrooms, says Whitney Wiggins, an interior designer with Seabrook. “Barn doors don’t close off a room the way a swing door can, and they require a large amount of clear wall when opened, leaving an awkward void when they’re shut,” she explains.

A better solution: a simple pocket door.

6. Jute or sisal rugs

Photo by Blu and White 

 Natural fiber rugs are minimally processed, made from renewable materials, and offer gorgeous weaves. But they’re also scratchy underfoot and shed like the dickens. Oh and cats tend to love the smell, and will scratch them or use the rug as an indoor potty. “You really need to be able to feel the texture with your hands, and try and test the shred factor,” says DeMorrow.

7. Recessed lighting

Photo by Luxe Classic Kitchens & Interiors, Inc.

Soaring twelve foot ceilings are amazing to behold. “But when they’re peppered with pot lighting, you can’t change the bulbs or make repairs without hiring a scaffolding crew,” says Cummings. Pendant lights are an easier bulb change, and also offer more visual interest.

8. Animal-skin rugs

Photo by J & V Painting 

 Animal skin rugs such as zebra, cow, or sheep really make a floor pop. However, they’re abhorred by animal lovers, and they inspire objections from designers, too. The reason? Whether this type of rug is fake or real, a vacuum generally can’t handle one, because of its delicate edges and other features. As a result, such rugs are all but impossible to keep clean, says DeMorrow.

9. Hanging chairs

Photo by Studio 80 Interior Design 

 Give us a great porch swing for lazy afternoons every day of the week. But putting one in your living room is a trend we can’t endorse. “Suspended seating is playful and popular,” says Wiggins, but as for their performance and safety, these swings fall short. They are unstable and awkward to sit on, and accidents are bound to happen. “I can spill my drink just fine on my own,” adds Wiggins. “No need to add kinetic energy into the mix.”

10. Open en suite bedrooms

Photo by Elad Gonen

 It may feel like you’re in the hippest hotel, when you can see into the glass shower from the bed, but it’s not practical for someone who craves a dark, quiet sleep space. And if you and your partner are at all on different schedules, this wall free, open plan, bed to bath situation is going to present a problem. “If good fences make good neighbors, then partitions between the bedchamber and bathroom make for a better relationship,” says Cummings.

The post 10 Super Hot Home Trends That, TBH, Just Don’t Make Sense appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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