3 min readWe’ve all embraced a trend that didn't stand the test of time. With so much visual inspiration at our fingertips, it can be hard to distinguish between a style that genuinely reflects our taste and one that's simply having a moment.
Because trends are cyclical, it is difficult to say whether anything is ever truly “out.” What we can do, however, is look back at some of the most popular bedroom features of recent years and consider whether they have lasting appeal or whether they could be making your space feel more dated than you realize.
From once-popular color schemes to statement furniture and decorative finishes, these are the surprising features that could be making your bedroom look outdated.
Coordinated Bedroom Sets
Matching your bed, bedside tables, drawers, and dresser once made a bedroom feel polished and put together. Now, overly coordinated furniture can make a space feel more like a showroom than a personal retreat.
What to do instead: Try mixing complementary pieces, materials, and finishes, which tends to create a more relaxed, considered look as seen in Ida Jacobsson Wells' home below.
Ornate Upholstered Beds
With their deep buttoning, rolled edges, and often imposing proportions, Chesterfield-style beds were once a go-to for adding glamour. However, heavily upholstered designs can now feel visually bulky, particularly in smaller rooms.
What to do instead: Simpler headboards and cleaner silhouettes will give a bedroom a fresher feel, as seen in David Lewis's home above.
Feature Walls
A bold feature wall was once considered an easy way to add personality without redecorating the whole room. High-contrast paint colors and busy statement wallpaper can now feel disconnected from the rest of the scheme. Using colour or pattern more subtly throughout the room tends to create a more cohesive result.
What to do instead: Using colour or pattern more subtly throughout the room tends to create a more cohesive result. Try wrapping a room in romantic trailing wallpaper or a mural, as seen in artist Diane Hill's bedroom.
Mirrored Furniture
Mirrored bedside tables, dressers, and closet doors were popular for reflecting light and adding sparkle. Too many reflective surfaces, however, can make a bedroom feel cold or overly glamorous.
What to do instead: Natural wood, painted finishes, and textured materials can bring more warmth and depth. In Hannah Dawson's home, matt grey fitted wardrobes feel more timeless than a mirrored finish.
Chandeliers
Chandeliers can add drama, but ornate designs may make a bedroom feel more dated than luxurious.
What to do instead: Softer shapes and simple fixtures in glass, ceramic, or metal can still create an elegant focal point without overwhelming the space, as seen in Katherine Ormerod's bedroom.
Too Much Gray
Gray became the defining neutral of the 2010s, appearing on walls, carpets, bedding, and furniture. When used across an entire room, it can now feel flat and uninviting.
What to do instead: Rather than relying on a single shade of gray, introduce versions with different undertones. For a soft, pastel look, pair cooler grays with muted greens and blues, as seen below. For a warmer scheme, bring in earthy tones and small doses of pattern.
Crushed Velvet Fabrics
Crushed velvet was once synonymous with opulent interiors, particularly in silver and charcoal tones. Today, its high-shine finish on furniture and soft furnishings feels like a relic of the 2000s.
What to do instead: More slubby fabrics, such as linen, cotton, and bouclé, offer texture while creating a calmer, more understated look.
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