Design trends cycle fast, and what’s charming one year looks tired the next. If your apartment still sports any of these ten looks, it’s broadcasting “2015 called” to every guest who walks in. The good news: most outdated apartment trends have simple, affordable modern replacements — and updating even two or three will make your whole space feel current.
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Word Art and “Live Laugh Love”
The queen of outdated apartment trends: inspirational words in curly script across the wall. “Live Laugh Love,” “Family,” “Blessed” — designers have begged for their retirement for years. If you love meaningful text, swap it for one large-scale piece of actual art or a framed vintage poster. It says the same “this home has personality” thing without the cliché.
Chevron Everything
Chevron rugs, chevron curtains, chevron throw pillows — the zigzag took over apartments in the mid-2010s and now reads as instantly dated. Among outdated apartment trends, this is the easiest to fix because it’s usually confined to textiles. Replace with solid linen textures, subtle stripes, or organic patterns like arches and botanicals.
All-Gray Everything
The gray-on-gray-on-gray apartment — gray walls, gray sofa, gray rug — was the “safe modern” choice for a decade, and now it just looks cold and flat. Warmth is back: swap gray textiles for cream, camel, and warm white, and add wood tones. You don’t need to repaint; textiles alone can rescue a gray room from the outdated apartment trends list.
Faux Barn Doors Everywhere
Sliding barn doors on bathrooms and closets were a farmhouse-trend casualty — impractical (no privacy, gaps everywhere) and now visually tired. If you’re stuck with one as a renter, lean into it with modern styling around it; if you own, standard doors or sleek pocket doors are the grown-up replacement.
Tiny Gallery Walls of Random Frames
A scattered cluster of small mismatched frames with no unifying theme reads as clutter rather than curation — a hallmark of outdated apartment trends. The modern version: fewer, larger pieces with consistent framing, hung with intention and breathing room. Three big frames beat twelve tiny ones every time.
What to Do Instead
The through-line of current design is warmth, texture, and intention: natural materials, curved furniture, layered lighting, and personal objects displayed with restraint. You don’t need a full redo — retiring two or three outdated apartment trends per room brings everything forward. For more current ideas, see our home upgrade guides and outdoor styling tips. Apartment Therapy’s trend watch tracks what’s fading in real time.
The Fastest Updates for Sellers
If you’re selling, outdated apartment trends actively cost money — buyers mentally deduct renovation costs from offers. The highest-ROI pre-sale updates: fresh neutral paint, modern light fixtures, new cabinet hardware, and depersonalized styling. These cost hundreds and return thousands. Real estate agents consistently say dated decor is the top reason for lowball offers.
Trends That Are Timeless
To avoid future outdated apartment trends, invest in what never dates: quality wood furniture, natural textiles, classic art, good lighting, and neutral walls. Trends should live in easily changed items — pillows, throws, small decor — not in permanent choices like flooring or cabinetry. Timeless bones, trendy accessories: that’s the formula.
Renter-Friendly Trend Updates
Renters can escape outdated apartment trends without losing deposits. Peel-and-stick wallpaper, removable backsplash tiles, new cabinet hardware (keep originals in a bag), plug-in sconces, and large rugs transform spaces reversibly. Landlords rarely object to improvements that don’t damage walls — and most of these come off cleanly. Being a renter is no excuse for living with chevron curtains.
Small Space, Big Style
Even studio apartments can escape outdated apartment trends. The trick is choosing fewer, better pieces: one great sofa instead of a matching set, one large rug instead of scattered mats, one statement light instead of harsh overheads. Small spaces actually make updating easier and cheaper — fewer square feet means fewer items to replace. Start with the piece you see first when entering; that single swap changes the whole first impression.
