Having designed dozens of homes and studied many more, interior designers become accustomed to spotting some of the same home accessories over and over again. Maybe they started out clever or creative but have since become overdone.
Below, interior designers shared several decorative accents they’re tired of seeing—at this point they’ve become clichéd. The short version? Steer clear of anything that looks straight out of a stock image or generically staged home.
Here are six overdone or dated decor accents the designers specifically called out.
Fake Plants
Sure, live plants add vibrancy and life to a space, but faux plants (no matter how small or convincing) often just add plastic and dust.
“Live plants add an energy and authenticity that faux versions simply can’t replace,” Rebecca Staub, founder of Beck Haus interiors says.
She encourages everyone to opt for real plants rather than faux, especially because there are low-maintenance plants that don’t require much TLC at all and because there are several places to score plants for cheap.
Audrey Scheck, the founder of Audrey Scheck Design, agrees that fake greenery, especially when low quality, is overdone. If you can’t invest in high-quality faux florals, it’s definitely best (and cheaper) to go the live route, she states.
“If a plant doesn’t make it? It can easily be swapped out for a new thriving plant,” Staub adds.
Bowls with Decorative Balls
Even if you’ve never displayed a decorative bowl filled with moss or decorative balls on your coffee table, you likely know someone who has, or you can picture the setup. Maybe you’ve seen it in a doctor’s office or hotel lobby. And Staub just isn’t into it.
“Whether it’s moss, glass, or porcelain spheres, I’ve never quite understood how this detail elevates a space,” she says. “When something exists purely as filler, it tends to fall flat.”
Decorative Beads
In addition to passing on decorative bowls, Alicia Hassen, the founder of Alicia Roche Interiors, urges you to skip adding decorative beads to a coffee table or mantel as well.
If it’s a layered, mixed-material look you desire, you can achieve that in other ways.
“I’d recommend stone or marble catchalls, or glass and metal objects, which work beautifully on coffee table books and add more depth and personality to your decor,” Hassen says.
Trendy Accents
Staub is also not a fan of any accessories that lean too trend-forward or influencer-driven. She would rather see people shop for items that truly reflect their own unique personality and style to make their home feel more authentic.
“When decor is mass-produced and trend-driven, that story gets lost,” she says.
One great way to infuse your space with pieces that really speak to you is to go the secondhand route and shop small, the designer adds, noting that this is how you can source items that are locally made or one-of-a-kind.
Mass-Produced Art
On a similar note to Staub’s point about trendy accents, Scheck notes that mass-produced artwork is overdone and it’s best to build a collection of artwork where every piece means something to you.
“Collected thoughtfully over time, these works add character, tell a story, and help a home feel layered, personal, and meaningful,” she says.
She encourages her clients to shop for such works by supporting local artists. Antique stores and vintage poster shops are other great places to look for art that not everyone will have.
Matchy-Matchy Decor
While you want all of your decor to have a general common thread, Scheck finds that all too often people will embrace an overly coordinated look.
There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of thoughtful variety in the form of pattern and texture mixing, she explains.
“A home can still feel cohesive without everything matching,” the designer says. “In fact, some of the most compelling spaces are the ones that feel collected, not coordinated.”