These are already dated! Outdated Interior Trends to Avoid in 2026
I finally have the courage to write about Outdated Interior Trends to Avoid in 2026!
It is just another day, looking for inspiration. I’ve also been doing some inspections of new builds lately, but honestly, nothing very interesting. I have a feeling there isn’t a lot of innovation happening in Melbourne. Some trends seem stuck, and many of us just can’t seem to let them go.
And that got me thinking—maybe it’s time we have this conversation. Not to shame these trends (they had their moment!), but to rethink how we’re using them.
This isn’t a list of things that should never be used. Instead, these are trends that have been overdone and need to be used with more thought. Think of them like an outdated jacket—you don’t have to throw it in the bin, but maybe you can alter it or pair it differently to make it look more on-trend and less likely to date quickly. I’ve been back through the whole list again for 2026—most of these have only dug in deeper since I first wrote it, and I’ve added two more that have well and truly had their moment.
Outdated Interior Trends 1
All White Everything!
I’ve probably said this more times than I can count—but please, let’s stop with the white-on-white everything. It’s flat, it’s cold, and frankly, it’s lost its charm. While some still argue it’s “timeless,” the reality is… it’s starting to feel very dated.
I get it—many homeowners reach for white because it feels like the safest option. But here’s the twist: bright, vivid white is actually one of the trickiest colours to get right. And yes, even an all-white space can go horribly wrong if there’s no depth, texture, or contrast to back it up.
That’s not to say white is off-limits. There are so many beautiful whites out there, and the key is choosing the right one to suit your home’s overall style. Rather than defaulting to a bright, generic white, think about whether your space calls for something warmer or cooler. If you want a shortlist to start from, I’ve written up my 7 favourite Dulux whites and where each one actually works.
I’ve had clients ask for all-white interiors before—and with a bit of tweaking, I’ve kept their vision intact while elevating the result. Take a project I did in an older home in Kew, for example. Instead of stark white, I used Dulux Antique White on the walls and paired it with a grey-beige joinery colour. They’re quite close in tone, but Antique White has a gentle warmth that gave the space much-needed depth and softness.
Because it was an older home, I steered clear of cooler whites, which would’ve felt too sharp and contemporary. For the benchtops, I chose a stone just a touch lighter than the joinery, with subtle brown undertones. At first glance, it still reads as white—but with so much more richness and warmth underneath.
When I presented the concept to my clients, they absolutely loved it—even though, funnily enough, almost nothing I used was truly pure white.
Outdated Interior Trends 2
Light Grey
Remember around 2015–2017 when light grey was everywhere? Every Pinterest post seemed to feature light grey paired with soft pink. I loved it at the time too—I even changed my linen to match! But it’s 2026 now, and it’s time to move on.
That doesn’t mean you need to throw out all your light grey décor, furniture, or wall paint. Instead, think about how you can refresh it. Light grey makes a great neutral backdrop, but pairing it with pink now feels a little tired. Try combining it with darker greens, deep blues, or even off-white to highlight the vibrant tones and make it feel fresh again. If you have light grey furniture, bring in colourful accessories to balance it out. And if you have light grey accessories, try pairing them with bold furniture choices. It’s all about how you mix and match to keep things interesting!
One thing that has shifted since I first wrote this: the neutrals doing the heavy lifting now are warm rather than cool. Caramel, tobacco, mushroom and soft browns have quietly taken over from cool grey and beige, and deeper greens are doing the same job for colour. So if you’re repainting rather than restyling, that’s the direction I’d be looking—there’s more on it in my round-up of the biggest interior design trends for 2026.
An example of how light grey pairs comfortably with stronger colours.
Outdated Interior Trends 3
Black Hardware
I used to specify black hardware too—it had a real moment, and that moment was a good five or six years ago now. But pretty quickly, it started feeling a bit flat… even cheap. Black and white interiors, in general, can lack depth and personality, and black hardware doesn’t always age gracefully. Matte black tapware and handles against white cabinetry is still one of the fastest ways to pin a kitchen to about 2020.
These days, I find gunmetal to be a far more luxurious alternative. From a distance, it still reads as dark, but up close, the subtle metallic texture adds a richness that black just can’t match. If your home leans warm, you can also find warmer-toned gunmetals that blend beautifully without feeling cold or harsh. Definitely request samples from different suppliers—it’s worth comparing in person.
Another favourite of mine? Brushed nickel. It’s a classic, timeless choice that works across a range of styles—whether your space is modern, transitional, or somewhere in between.
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Outdated Interior Trends 4
Brass Hardware
I’ve never been a huge fan of bright, shiny brass—the polished gold kind. It’s often used to add a sense of luxury, but when it’s paired with pink, white, and grey, I actually think it can cheapen the look rather than elevate it.
Instead, I tend to favour finishes like antique brass, bronze, or warm brushed nickel. They feel more refined and timeless, and they work beautifully with a range of colours:
- Antique brass with white, green, or blue
- Bronze with pink
- Warm brushed nickel with grey
That said, brass isn’t going anywhere—if anything it’s having a second run now that everyone is moving off matte black. But it’s the aged, unlacquered and antique versions doing the work in 2026, not the shiny polished gold. If you’re going to use it, go bold. I love pairing brass with much richer, moodier tones—it feels far more intentional and high-end that way.
Outdated Interior Trends 5
Thick Countertops
Many people still believe that a 40mm, 80mm—or even 100mm—benchtop is the ultimate sign of luxury. But honestly? I don’t think that’s necessarily true anymore. It really depends on your overall vibe, your style, and how your joinery is designed to work with it.
I still use thicker countertops in some projects, but I often tweak the profile to make it more interesting or better suited to the space. And thinner benchtops? They’re definitely not a downgrade. In fact, they come with plenty of perks:
- More budget-friendly
- Allow for a shadow line for that sleek, architectural detail
- Free up more storage space below
- Create a cleaner, more modern silhouette
Choosing a 20mm benchtop doesn’t mean your kitchen will feel any less elevated. In many cases, it’s actually a smarter design decision. And if you want to showcase the stone more boldly, consider adding a stone shelf or a feature edge—it can still make a strong statement, just with a bit more finesse.
Outdated Interior Trends 6
Finger Tiles
I absolutely love finger tiles. They come in so many beautiful colours and proportions, and they have a way of instantly bringing a space to life. That said… I do think they’ve been a bit overdone. By 2026 they’re the default in almost every new bathroom and butler’s pantry I walk into—which is rather the opposite of the point.
That’s not to say I won’t use them again—because I definitely will. They’re a classic, and they’re not going out of style anytime soon. But I don’t believe they need to feature in every project. I’ve noticed a lot of people using them simply because they’re trendy, rather than thinking about how they actually suit the overall vibe of the space.
Finger tiles shine in modern, Scandi, mid-century, or Asian-inspired interiors. They’re not the best fit for Hampton, French provincial, or more traditional styles—though never say never! It all comes down to how you use them and how intentional the pairing is.
There are so many beautiful tile shapes out there that might work better depending on the style of your home. Keep your options open! I once walked through a newly built French provincial home where white finger tiles had been used as a feature—and it just felt completely out of place. Wrong style, wrong colour, wrong context. And tile is the easy part—if the bathroom itself doesn’t work, no tile will rescue it. I’ve rounded up the 10 bathroom layout mistakes I see most often if that sounds a bit close to home.
Example below:
Unique finger tile options
Autumn Terracotta
Shop here-The Blue Space
Grey Smoke
Shop here-The Blue Space
Outdated Interior Trends 7
Waterfall Countertops
I’ve heard so many people say they’re unsure about whether to include a waterfall edge—mostly because everyone seems to be doing it. It’s always an expensive upgrade, but does it really add value or make the kitchen feel more luxurious?
A waterfall edge is often seen as a high-end feature, but in my opinion, it’s not always worth the extra cost.
I don’t include it in every project—even if the client specifically asks for it and is happy to pay. It only makes sense when:
- It’s clearly visible from the main entry into the space
- There’s enough distance to fully appreciate the detail
- There’s nothing blocking the view (like a bin cabinet or bulky joinery)
If the edge isn’t going to be a true statement piece, I’ll often recommend something else—like open shelving. Done right, it’s both functional and beautiful. It gives you a chance to style the space with bowls, fruit, fresh veggies, or ceramic pieces. And don’t think of it as a downgrade—if designed well, it can become one of the standout features (and even a selling point) of your kitchen.
Outdated Interior Trends 8
White Marble is the Best Stone
Do you still believe that the whiter the marble, the better the marble? That’s probably why it’s still so sought after. And yes—white marble is stunning. But honestly? It’s been overdone for far too long.
I think part of the problem is how often it’s paired with white cabinetry—especially Calacatta marble. That combo has been repeated so many times, it’s starting to feel bland, dated, and a bit uninspired.
And here’s the thing: there are so many beautiful alternatives out there. Why limit yourself?
Concrete, limestone, terrazzo, stainless steel, laminate, tile—the list goes on. And let’s not forget, white marble isn’t the easiest material to maintain either.
I’ve also noticed that, in many cases, white marble doesn’t even suit the overall design. When I do use it, I like to make it feel fresh—pairing it with bold joinery colours or moody wall paint to create contrast. It works beautifully in traditional, rustic, or Hampton-style homes. But in more contemporary or modern spaces, I tend to be a lot more selective.
For modern homes, I often lean towards limestone. In mid-century homes, terrazzo is a fantastic choice that adds both charm and character. It’s all about choosing the right stone for the right space. Understanding your personal style—and the story of your home—will always lead to better, longer-lasting design decisions. If you’re trying to settle stone, paint and joinery all at once and you’d rather not guess your way through it, that’s exactly what a design consultation is for—ninety minutes on your whole space, online, wherever you happen to live.
Outdated Interior Trends 9
Open Plan Everything
This is the one I’ve changed my mind about the most, so it’s new to the list this year. For a long stretch there, knocking every wall down was the automatic answer—kitchen, dining and living all in one enormous room, and the bigger the better. It’s now the layout I get asked to fix more often than any other.
The complaints are always the same. Nowhere sensible for the TV. Nowhere quiet to take a call. Cooking smells through the entire house. Sound bouncing off every hard surface. And furniture left floating in the middle of the room because there aren’t enough walls left to anchor anything to. A big open room and a room that actually works are not the same thing.
What I do instead is what a lot of people are now calling broken plan—still connected, but with something doing the dividing. A half wall, a run of joinery, a wide cased opening, a change in ceiling height, a shift in flooring. You keep the light and the long sightlines, and you get back the sense that each area has a job. Separate kitchens and proper dining rooms are quietly coming back too, and honestly? I’m not mad about it.
If your own place is the awkward open-plan kind and you can’t work out where anything should sit, that’s exactly what Fix My Floor Plan is for—send me your floor plan and a few photos and I’ll tell you what I’d move and why, $297 a room, no meetings involved. If it’s the kitchen specifically, my Kitchen Layout Dictionary ($57) walks through 50 layouts and includes a chapter on why open plan doesn’t suit every home. And if you’d rather just read for now, here’s the method I use to work out the right kitchen layout.
Outdated Interior Trends 10
Bouclé and Curves on Everything
Bouclé had a very good run. That soft, nubby looped fabric turned up on every armchair, bed head and dining chair for years, and a room full of it now reads as a fairly precise date stamp—somewhere around 2021.
It isn’t the fabric’s fault. It’s the volume. One bouclé chair in a room of linen, timber and wool still looks lovely. Four bouclé pieces plus a curved sofa plus a scalloped mirror plus a blobby coffee table is a room decorated by a trend list rather than by a person. Same story with the endless soft curves that came along with it—curves are still fine, but they need to come from the architecture, not from every single object in the room.
If you already own the bouclé chair, keep it. Just break up the softness: something with a hard edge, a texture that isn’t fuzzy, and a colour that isn’t cream. Deep greens and the warm browns—caramel, tobacco, mushroom—are where the interest is at the moment, and they make that pale bouclé read as a deliberate choice rather than a leftover one.
Still not sure what’s right for your own place?
That’s the part I do — and there are two ways in, depending on how much you need sorted.
Fix My Floor Plan — $297 a room. Send me your floor plan and a few photos. I’ll tell you what I’d change: where the furniture goes, what’s making the room feel awkward, and the practical next steps to fix it. Back with you in 5–7 business days, and there’s not a single meeting involved.
Or a Design Consultation — $550. Ninety minutes on your whole space: layout, colours, materials, joinery, storage, or just a second opinion before you commit to something expensive. Online, wherever you are in the world.
