Trends come and go and, before you know it, what you thought was stylish once is now behind the times. If your home has any of these, it’s time for an update!
16 Things That Will Make Houses Look Dated
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Old Window Treatments
Heavy fabrics, ties, fringed trim and roller shades belong in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. Dirty blinds or cracked blinds also make a home look dated.
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Floor-to-Ceiling Mirrors
We displayed this floor-to-ceiling mirror setup in 1982 inside an apartment. We said back then that floor-to-ceiling mirrors added a feeling of more space and also hid cabinetry and an entertainment center. You might notice the angled lighting creates a dramatic effect and helps point your eyes where the interior designer wanted you to focus.
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Old Wallpaper and Borders
Whether it’s flowers, bunnies in baskets or busy patterns, nothing makes a home look dated quicker than wallpaper. To get out of the old and in with the new, learn more about the easy process on how to remove wallpaper.
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Glass Block Bathroom Windows
We’ve shown any number of glass block projects through the years, like a glass block shower and a glass block basement window. Glass block walls appeared in homes in a variety of ways in the ’90s.
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Faux Stone Fireplaces
There’s a lot going in this room but one thing that stands out is the faux rock fireplace. Homeowners moved away from the classic brick fireplace in the ’70s and ’80s to something like this. Then there’s the ubiquitous track lighting in the room and vertical blinds on the sliding glass door.
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Old Colors
Are your walls hunter green, olive, gold or mauve? These paint colors make your home look dated. It’s time for some new paint!
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Brass or Gold Light Fixtures
Shiny brass or gold light fixtures make your home look dated and are a sign it’s time to update your lighting.
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Analog Thermostat Control
If you’re still using an old thermostat to control your home’s heating and cooling system, it’s time for an upgrade. An analog thermostat makes a home look dated. And a smart thermostat even helps with energy savings.
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Old Cabinet Hardware
Even if you’ve installed new kitchen cabinets, old hardware such as hinges and pulls can make a home look dated.
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Primary Colors
Bright color tend to indicate the strength of the economy. When colors turn brighter in clothing and decor, it’s generally because the economy is performing well. That’s what happened in the mid ’90s and it often took the form of primary colors in home decor.
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Clutter
Whether it’s your living room, basement or office, remove all the old knickknacks and decorations you’ve had on display for decades. This clutter makes your home look dated, and it doesn’t have to.
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Wood Wall Panels
It’s hard to make a home look modern when it still sports paneling on the walls. Wood panels and dark rooms make your home look dated.
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Popcorn Ceilings
Popcorn, cottage cheese or textured — whatever you want to call it — has been over and make a home look dated for a long time.
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Tile Countertops
Tile countertops may have been on-trend in the ’80s and ’90s, but there’s a reason people rarely have them today. Tile counters make a home look dated and are prone to cracking.
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Carpeting in the Bathroom
Carpeting in the bathroom definitely makes a home look dated. And let’s not even think about how difficult it is to keep bathroom carpet clean and free of mold.
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Vinyl Flooring
Linoleum and vinyl may have been popular 20 years ago. But now it often looks cheap and can be difficult to keep it looking clean.When something looks cheap and dirty it definitely makes your home look dated and it’s certainly time for an update.
