Designers Are Tired of These 5 Overdone Decor Details – Here’s What to Retire in 2026 and What to Try Instead

The stack of untouched coffee table books that’s a carbon copy of your neighbors’, the wall art from the 2010s you’ve been meaning to switch out for years, the accent wall you’ve just gotten used to seeing – these are all decor details that could be bringing down the style of your home. And designers are so tired of seeing them in 2026.

Much like everyone on social media right now, I have been enjoying seeing the throwbacks to 2016 – cringing at the filters and the fashion. Now, when we look back, what was once considered the height of style feels dated and tired.

Interior design trends are much the same, and although the speed at which looks come and go out of style seems to have slowed in the past few years, there are certain decor details that have become tropes.

So I summoned the pros to share their insight on which decor details give them that same cringe feeling I get when I look at my 2016 tastes – and they did not hold back. Below, find the decor details you should retire in 2026, and what you should incorporate into your home’s design scheme instead.

1. Faux Plants and Flowers

Ask any designer what decor detail they're tired of seeing in interiors, and chances are, they'll always mention faux plants or flowers. Although faux plants are certainly more convenient and last much longer than real plants, they're most definitely not an equal replacement.

As interior designer Lexie Saine explains, 'Faux plants tend to read as static and lifeless, especially in spaces that are otherwise thoughtfully designed. Over time, they collect dust, fade, and can cheapen the overall feel of a room rather than elevate it,' she says.

Instead of decorating your interiors with something fake, it's best to use real plants and flowers that can stylize your home much more effectively. 'There are many low-maintenance options that thrive indoors and bring life, texture, and natural color into a space,' Lexie explains. Some of the best indoor plants include golden pothos and cacti. Even run-of-the-mill, grocery store flowers can do the trick.

If live plants just aren't for you, Lexie has other ideas. 'Sculptural objects, branches, or organic materials like stone, wood, or ceramic vessels can provide visual interest without trying to imitate nature,' she suggests.

2. Mass-Produced Wall Decor

If design trends from the past year have taught us anything, it's that personality-driven and character-rich interiors are more desirable than ever. That's why designers are so against mass-produced wall decor – it looks generic and doesn't speak to those who inhabit the space.

'We are tired of seeing mass-produced art pieces that appear in every big-box catalog,' interior designer Jeannine Bogart explains. 'When you see the same abstract line drawing in ten different homes, it ceases to be art and becomes filler. It lacks the personal narrative and subliminal depth that a home deserves.'

In a perfect world, personal art would be the best alternative – one-of-a-kind pieces that you or someone you know has made. However, not everyone is an artist, or has access to an artist. That's why Jeannine suggests vintage sketches or even framed textiles as an alternative. 'These have 'visual weight' and tell a story that a retail print simply cannot,' she says.

3. Decorative Chains or Bead Strands

This feels very 2016. Do you remember the decorative beads that seemed to adorn every stylish person's coffee table – no one quite knew what they were for, but they felt 'rustic'. Designer Lindsay Thornton is over them.

'I'm over the 'decor necklace' – that chunky wooden beaded strand that graced coffee tables for years with no real purpose aside from adding warmth through the wooden material,' Lindsay says. These details don't do anything, yet they take up space that could be styled in other, more practical ways.

Rather than styling a shelf or a coffee table with something that has no function, Lindsay suggests incorporating styling pieces that serve a purpose. 'I love using stone or plaster finished catchalls to add in a softness to the room, but that also serve a purpose to anchor a coffee table or hold a cup of coffee,' the designer explains. Purposeful decor that's designed with chic style will always trump non-purposeful decor.

4. Generic Books

Decorating with books is an easy way to fill your home with personality. However, decorating with generic books – books in which you have no interest in the subject matter – is something many designers are tired of seeing in interior design.

'Fashion house coffee table books seem to be everywhere. Tom Ford has become one of the most recognizable and arguably most overused coffee table books in interiors. It’s undeniably elegant in black and white, but at this point it’s a visual cliché,' interior designer Jacqueline Goncalves explains. There are even some travel books that have become so overused that they've lost their appeal. 'I find these titles read as decorative props, trend-driven and not unique or thoughtful,' Jacqueline says.

If a book doesn't speak to your personality, even if its front cover is pretty, don't bother styling it in your home. It's always going to look forced. Instead, Jacqueline recommends styling books that mean something to you. 'Whether it’s a homeowner’s vintage yearbook, a well-worn leather photo album, an out-of-print fashion or design title, local artist, or information about the property’s history, select pieces that tell a story,' Jacqueline recommends. 'The goal is to create something interesting not just for a photograph, but for the people who inhabit the space.'

5. Word Art

I'm sure we've all fallen victim to the word art trend at some point. I know I certainly did – my kitchen used to be filled with rustic word art signs. But can you blame me? Everyone had them.

However, in 2026, interior designer Allison Smith says it's time we retire the rustic, modern farmhouse-inspired word art. 'We don’t need reminders on how to gather, eat, or be. Those phrases often feel more instructional than intentional,' Allison explains.

If you've hung art with your family name on it, there's absolutely nothing wrong with keeping that up. However, instead of hanging word art that reads 'Come Together' or 'Believe' in your home, opt for 'art with soul,' Allison says. Landscape paintings or photography can be a nice alternative, but Allison also suggests textural artwork like wood, iron, porcelain, or even plaster wall art as a word art replacement. You can even hang plates to add character to a blank wall.

These details have become overused and impersonal, and if there's one thing designers are looking for in homes, it's decor details that make your home more unique. So embrace the individuality, and remember that the more personal your home looks, the better.