What once felt fresh and exciting can start to feel… flat. Overdone. Like a trend that’s trying too hard to still be relevant. If your home’s vibe feels a little off and you can’t quite put your finger on it, it might be time to let go of a few design habits that have quietly passed their prime.

Here are five decor trends to ditch in 2025, and what to try instead if you’re ready to make your space feel like you again.

1. All-White Everything

White walls. White couches. White-on-white kitchens. For years, this look was everywhere — a visual cleanse from the chaos of color. And yes, it had its moment. But now? It can feel more sterile than serene.

Don’t get me wrong: white still has its place. It’s crisp. It’s clean. It’s classic in the right context. But when an entire space leans too hard into white with no contrast, texture, or warmth, it stops feeling like a home and starts feeling like a showroom.

What to do instead:

Layer in earthy tones, rich browns, terracotta, and muted greens. Think creamy oatmeal walls, linen slipcovers, hand-thrown pottery. Bring in texture with natural wood, boucle, or jute. These warm, tactile materials soften the space and make it feel lived-in and loved, not just “photo-ready.”

2. Overly Themed Rooms

You know the look. The “coastal” room with anchors and seashells on every surface. The “farmhouse” kitchen with six signs reminding you it’s a kitchen. When decor leans too heavily into a theme, it can start to feel like you’re in a movie set instead of a real home.

This trend stuck around for a while because it felt cozy. Predictable. But in 2025, homes are moving toward a more layered, personal look. One that evolves over time instead of sticking to a strict script.

What to do instead:

Blend styles. Add global touches. Mix vintage with modern. Let your space tell your story instead of sticking to one narrow narrative. A woven Moroccan pouf, a vintage Italian mirror, a handmade quilt from your grandmother — these things together create a richer story than any catalog set ever could.

3. Fast Furniture and Matching Sets

There’s a certain convenience to clicking “add to cart” on an entire bedroom set. Bed, nightstands, dresser — all in the same exact finish, shipped in a box. But here’s the thing: convenience doesn’t always equal character.

Fast furniture often lacks the soul (and longevity) of thoughtfully collected pieces. Plus, matching sets can make a room feel one-dimensional. Like a hotel room with no personality.

What to do instead:

Mix materials and silhouettes. Pair a vintage wood dresser with a soft upholstered headboard. Use mismatched nightstands — one with drawers, one with open shelving. Let your space look collected over time, not assembled in one weekend. It’s more interesting, more sustainable, and way more you.

4. Gray Everything

Ah, the 2010s gray era — remember that? Cool grays on the walls, gray cabinets, gray flooring, even gray decor accents. For a while, it felt like the neutral of choice. But now, gray is starting to feel cold and uninspired, especially when layered on top of itself with no warmth to balance it out.

If your home feels like it needs a blanket and a cup of tea just to feel inviting, too much gray might be the culprit.

What to do instead:

Trade cool grays for warmer neutrals. Greige, taupe, and even soft clay tones are having a quiet moment. They feel earthy, grounded, and much easier to live with. And if you still love a bit of gray? Just warm it up. Pair it with honeyed woods, brass fixtures, and cozy textiles in olive, rust, or amber.

5. Open Shelving (That’s All for Show)

We’ve all seen those perfectly styled open shelves. The ones with identical ceramic bowls, artfully stacked cookbooks, and eucalyptus sprigs that never dry out. They look lovely in photos. But in real life? Dusty. High-maintenance. Often not that functional.

Open shelving isn’t out entirely. It can still work beautifully in the right space. But the overly curated, purely decorative kind is starting to feel a little try-hard.

What to do instead:

If you love open shelving, make it work for you. Display your everyday dishes, glassware, or that mug you reach for every morning. Add lived-in layers: a tiny oil painting, a candle you actually light, a bowl of fresh lemons. Let it feel like real life, not just a Pinterest pin.

6. Ultra-Minimalism That Feels Empty

Minimalism had its chic moment. The clean lines, the “less is more” vibe, the sense of calm that comes with open space. But here’s the thing: when minimalism goes too far, it can start to feel cold. Like your home is waiting for furniture to arrive or like you just moved in and haven’t unpacked yet.

A blank wall here or there is fine. But if your space feels more echoey than cozy, it might be time to invite a little warmth back in.

What to do instead:

Try intentional layering. Bring in soft textiles, moody lighting, or a quirky vintage find that makes you smile every time you see it. Display a few meaningful objects, like a bowl from your travels, your favorite coffee table book, or a candle you actually burn. Minimal doesn’t have to mean empty. It can mean curated, personal, and quietly soulful.

7. Generic Wall Art from Big Box Stores

You know the ones. The abstract canvas with factory brushstrokes. The mass-produced quotes that used to say “Live, Laugh, Love” and now say “Good Vibes Only.” It’s not that wall art is out. It’s just that this kind of wall art isn’t saying anything personal anymore. Your walls should feel like an extension of your life, not just filler.

What to do instead:

Go for art that makes you feel something. Frame a handwritten recipe from your grandmother. Hang a thrifted oil painting with weird charm. Display your kids’ drawings in oversized mats. Even a gallery wall of black-and-white travel photos tells a richer story than anything mass-printed. Your home deserves more than placeholder decor.