Lisa O
There’s something about setting up a home that makes people want to fill every corner. The excitement takes over, and before you know it, you’ve bought things that look great online but don’t fit your life. Some things you’ll never touch, others make daily life harder, and a few just never feel right. Over time, you start realising that comfort rarely comes from what you add—it’s what you choose not to.
Oversized Sectionals
They look inviting in showrooms, all soft corners and deep seats. Then you get them home and realise they swallow the whole room. The coffee table feels miles away, and you can’t open a window without moving a cushion. What felt cosy now feels crowded. Most people end up circling the same small space, avoiding the giant couch they once couldn’t wait to buy.
Trendy Bar Carts
They promise style—shiny shelves, bottles lined up like a magazine spread. But most end up collecting dust and half-empty mixers. They occupy valuable space and seldom serve a practical purpose beyond hosting a guest or two. After a few months, the wheels squeak, and the glass shelf feels out of place. The fun fades once you realise you barely drink at home.
Cheap Rugs
They’re tempting because they look nice and are less expensive. But within weeks, the fibres flatten, corners curl, and stains set that won’t come out. You keep vacuuming, hoping it’ll look better, but it never does. One day, you lift it and see all the dust trapped underneath. That’s when you understand why good rugs are expensive.
Fancy Coffee Machines
At first, they feel like the ultimate upgrade—complete with buttons, settings, and frothers—the whole setup. But mornings become complicated fast. The machine needs cleaning, parts go missing, and what’s supposed to be a simple cup of coffee turns into a project. Eventually, it gets pushed aside for the same old French press you started with. The machine stays, taking up space and collecting guilt.
Accent Chairs
They look perfect in photos and add “character,” as everyone says. But no one ever sits in them. They’re either too stiff or too small, and somehow always end up with a pile of clothes draped over them. Eventually, they stop feeling decorative and start to feel like just another thing you have to dust. Most homes have one corner like that.
Elaborate Lighting Fixtures
A statement chandelier is a great idea, but it can be a hassle when it needs cleaning or a bulb change. Then you’re balancing on a ladder, regretting every shiny crystal. The light often feels too harsh or not bright enough, which makes the drama you wanted start to feel impractical. It’s the kind of purchase that teaches you that good lighting rarely needs attention.
Kitchen Gadgets You’ll Use “Someday”
Juicers, pasta makers, doughnut presses—they sound fun until you realise how much counter space they steal. The first use is exciting, the second feels like work, and after that, they go back in the box. They end up in the cupboard next to the other forgotten “essentials.” The irony is, the more gadgets you own, the less cooking you actually do.
Matching Towel Sets
They look neat for about a week, all folded and colour-coordinated. Then one shrinks, another fades, and suddenly the whole set feels off. You start reaching for the older, softer ones anyway. People often buy them to make the bathroom feel “complete,” but comfort has nothing to do with matching colours. It’s about what feels good after a long shower.
Open Shelving
It photographs beautifully—dishes stacked neatly, jars filled with grains. But in real life, it’s chaos. Dust settles fast, and every misplaced cup stands out. You start wiping more than cooking, and eventually, you close the kitchen door to avoid looking at it. Closed cabinets might not trend on Pinterest, but they do save your sanity.
Throw Pillows Everywhere
They make couches look plush in catalogues. But at home, you’re constantly moving them to sit down. They end up on the floor, in baskets, or under the dog. After a while, you can’t even remember which ones came with the couch. They’re harmless enough, but the clutter slowly grows. You realise fewer, simpler things often look and feel better.
Mirrored Furniture
It feels luxurious at first—shiny, reflective, elegant. Then you notice every fingerprint, every smudge. Cleaning becomes a daily job, and sunlight only makes it worse. The shine you once admired starts feeling cheap and cold. Most people don’t realise how high-maintenance it is until it’s too late. After a year, you’re dreaming of plain wood again.
Wall Decals
They’re meant to be “easy décor,” a quick way to add personality. But they never look quite right. Corners peel, edges bubble, and after a few months, the charm wears off. Removing them leaves marks, and the wall underneath looks tired. It’s the kind of shortcut that ends up costing you a paint job later. A quiet wall would’ve aged better.
Massive Dining Tables
People imagine big gatherings, family dinners, laughter echoing around the room. In reality, most nights it’s just two plates and too much space. They’re hard to clean around, and you end up sitting in the same corner anyway. The idea of entertaining feels lovely—but life rarely matches the picture. A smaller table would’ve done the job just fine.
Artificial Plants
They seem like an easy fix for low-maintenance greenery. But once they collect dust, they lose that illusion of life. They sit there, never changing, never growing, and somehow make the room feel stale. Real plants ask for care, but they give something back. Fake ones sit still, reminding you of the effort you didn’t want to make.
Trendy Paint Colors
That bold teal or dark grey looks stunning online. Then you paint the walls, only to realise they don’t match your furniture, or worse, they change shade with the light. After a week, the initial excitement fades, leaving the room feeling heavy. You start searching for “how to repaint without losing your deposit.” Some regrets take a few coats to cover.
High-Maintenance Bedding
Satin sheets, linen sets, and multiple layers—it feels luxurious until you try washing them. The pillowcases wrinkle, the duvet cover never fits right, and suddenly, bedtime feels like a chore. Most people end up reverting to their old cotton set and realising that softness always trumps aesthetics. Comfort never needed that much upkeep.