Johann Hunt
Interior designers aren’t just chasing trends—they’re trained to spot what makes a space feel off. That’s why they ask clients to remove certain items that clutter the room’s flow, distract the eye, or serve no real purpose. These choices might seem harmless, but they quietly block style and function. Want to know what’s quietly holding your space back? You’ll be glad you checked.
Mass-Produced Wall Art from Chain Stores
You see, the art sold in those big chain stores is essentially wallpaper—it exists in thousands of homes, which completely strips your space of its special, personal feel. That kind of generic art just fills a spot on the wall without actually adding any soul to the room, making the whole design fall flat.
Artificial Flowers Covered In Dust
Fake flowers, especially dusty ones, completely miss the mark when trying to add beauty to a room. They cannot genuinely copy the small, lovely imperfections that make real flowers so beautiful. Additionally, these lifeless bundles collect dust and allergens and leave your space feeling neglected instead of fresh and vibrant.
Excessive Throw Pillows With No Cohesion
Too many cushions on a single couch or chair can turn a cozy spot into a cluttered maze that guests need to maneuver just to sit. Each pillow should add to the room’s color scheme or style and act as a thoughtful detail rather than a random pile of fabric. Those mismatched pillows just make the whole space look messy and, honestly, a bit overwhelming.
Tiny Decorative Trinkets On Every Surface
When you fill up every flat surface with tiny decorative items, you create absolute visual chaos in the room. These countless small trinkets distract the eye from the room’s main design and make even a large area feel cramped. Many people even call these items “dust collectors” because they require constant, annoying cleaning.
Overly Themed Decor
As you lean too hard into one specific theme, like filling a room with endless farmhouse or nautical items, the space feels instantly forced and fake. Overly themed spaces are never timeless and quickly start to look cliche. The goal is to choose only a few meaningful pieces for a more authentic, intentional look.
Empty Picture Frames As “Decor”
Using empty picture frames as a decorative feature adds visual clutter that has absolutely no purpose or meaning. Designers see these as pointless objects that make the room look strangely unfinished. Fill your frames with meaningful personal photos or artwork to create a cohesive visual story instead.
Cheap Replica Sculptures Or “Fake Luxury” Accents
Fake finishes and cheap imitation materials, like artificial marble or stone, rarely achieve the sophisticated look they promise. Mass-produced replica sculptures fail completely to capture the quality or detail of any original piece. Investing in one genuine item always has a bigger impact than cluttering a room with fakes.
Excessive Candles Or Diffusers On Every Surface
Placing a mountain of candles or scent diffusers on every available surface quickly overloads a room in multiple ways. Visually, such items instantly clutter your beautifully clear tabletops and shelves. They can also create an overwhelmingly strong mix of scents that is anything but balanced or inviting.
Fake Books Used For Height Or Color
Decorative “fake books,” often used just for their spine color or to add a little height, instantly make a space feel staged. These meaningless objects lack any personal significance or actual function for the homeowner. Designers always prefer real books that actually reflect the interests and personality of the people living there.
Outdated Window Valances
Heavy, old-fashioned window valances immediately drag a modern room backwards in time. This fabric decoration usually makes the windows look much smaller and even blocks the beautiful natural light from coming in. Removing these dated treatments opens up the space and creates a much cleaner, more contemporary look.