Outdated Trends That HGTV's Property Brothers Swear Are Ruining Your Home's Vibe

Everyone wants an aesthetically pleasing house, one that feels expertly designed and makes you feel welcome the minute you step inside. However, according to the Property Brothers, certain design elements will ruin your home's vibe. These seem like a good idea at first glance, and might even be trendy, but such touches will make your home seem clunky and haphazard if you include them. Drew and Jonathan Scott know what works and what doesn't. The brother team has had multiple shows under their belts — including popular hits like "Celebrity IOU," "Property Brothers: Forever Home," and "Brother vs. Brother" — and have remodeled hundreds, if not thousands, of homes. With that kind of experience, they intimately know what trends add to a space and which ones detract. 

While some obvious trends will make your home seem dated, like floor-to-ceiling mirror walls from the '80s, others might surprise you. For example, the brothers express that barn doors can diminish your home's vibe, even though they were super popular during the modern farmhouse era. They also believe all-white kitchens have had their moment, and if you have an overly bright one, your home won't be as cozy as it could be. Here's a closer look at what other trends might be making your home less aesthetic and throwing off its ambiance. 

Decorating with mirrors is a secret weapon for many designers. Not only does it make a room appear brighter since it bounces sunlight around, but mirrors can also make your small space look bigger since they reflect the room back to you. Because of this, you might think that opting for super-sized pieces will give you optimal results. While they might, the Property Brothers warn not to go with a full mirrored wall unless you want to ruin your home's vibe. According to Jonathan in Season 7, Episode 5 of "Property Brothers: Forever Home," this "disco-ball wall" (-32:16) needs to go. In the episode entitled "The Next Multigeneration," the contractor removed a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf with a mirrored back, reasoning that "fully mirrored walls came and went."

If you want a statement-making mirror but don't want to commit the faux pas of a mirrored wall, utilize oversized options instead. Invest in one that's over 6 feet tall; the taller, the better. This will create the same dramatic effect as a mirrored wall, but in a more contemporary way. If you have a more vintage style, try incorporating the viral antique gold mirror that has been trending for the last five years, like the Arch Baroque Wall Mirror from Hobby Lobby. If you prefer a simpler option, there is also the LINDBYN Mirror from IKEA, which features a thin gold frame. You can either mount these on the wall or simply place them on the floor.

Barn doors have been all the rage for the last 10 years, reaching their zenith during the peak of the modern farmhouse movement and "Fixer Upper" mania. However, staple of the design like shiplap and distressed wood have had their moment, and the iconic Joana Gaines style is outdated in 2025. As a result, elements like barn doors are now seen as dated rather than architecturally exciting, and that's something that Jonathan agrees with. "Barn doors have been kind of overdone," he said in an Instagram reel for Good Housekeeping. "There's new hardware now that actually looks even better. Barn doors are perfect for certain solutions, but not for every solution."

They're a great option for small or cramped spaces, especially in areas where a swinging door would occupy a lot of room or create an awkward path of travel. Think of tiny powder rooms or tight utility or laundry rooms. However, touching on Jonathan's notion that barn doors aren't perfect for every solution, it's not the best option for bathrooms, as it doesn't insulate sound or temperature well. It merely sits in front of the entryway rather than shutting completely. Instead, you can use pocket doors for those situations. Just like barn doors, they don't swing open, saving space. However, they fully close much like a standard door, offering better soundproofing.

Kitchen remodels typically cost thousands, if not tens of thousands, of dollars to pull off, especially if you update big-ticket items like countertops. Materials like quartz or granite can cost upwards of $100 per square foot, depending on the type you buy, which is why people on a tight budget often look to DIY their counters with epoxy. With a simple kit, they can hide the old counters with a layer of paint and a protective resin cover to modernize their space. However, there is a hidden downside to trendy epoxy countertops: they don't last. "Don't epoxy your countertops," Jonathan warned in the Instagram reel for Good Housekeeping. "The people who are trying to find a solution to change it out by adding resin or painting it. No! It never lasts. It starts to look even worse once it begins to peel away."

It might be a good temporary solution if you're saving up for a renovation that will happen in a year or two, but it won't hold up long-term under the wear and tear of a high-traffic space like a kitchen. Instead, consider investing in solid surface countertops, like acrylic counters. One such popular brand is Corian, and on average, Corian counters cost between $25 and $50 per square foot. Compare this to the average cost of granite, which ranges from $40 to $100 per square foot, and you have some decent savings.

When it comes to bathroom design, some people like to think outside of the box. Regular white subway tiles and medicine cabinet mirrors aren't creative enough for them, so they incorporate interesting design accents, such as mirrors with patinated edges. However, Drew doesn't think that's enhancing your bathroom design, but rather detracting from it. "People like to do something fancy with their mirrors, like patina mirrors, some sort of an aged look to it. Stop doing that for the mirrors that you use in your bathroom. That is not meant for there. It's meant for a decorative wall, but not the mirror you need to use every day," he told Good Housekeeping in the Instagram reel.

While it may look aesthetically pleasing, it's also very difficult to see your reflection in. Since bathroom mirrors are utilitarian in nature -– and you need clear visibility to do things like shave or apply makeup -– the added flair will quickly feel like a nuisance. Because of this, the Property Brothers warn against this popular bathroom design trend. In fact, the brothers recommend not only getting a clear mirror, but also choosing one that comes with built-in lighting for ultimate visibility. "Lighting is key, especially in smaller spaces like bathrooms ... For your mirror wall, sconces don't typically do the trick ... Nowadays, there are many mirrors that have built-in light fixtures. It gives you the perfect glow when applying makeup or taking a selfie," Jonathan told MyDomaine. An example of such a fixture is the Jonathan Y Lighting Bathroom Wall Mirror, available on Ferguson Home, which is a circular mirror with a ring of light built into the glass.

For the last decade, all-white kitchens were the look du jour. Their bright and airy appearance felt modern when compared to the darkness and visual heaviness of the Tuscan and wooden kitchens of the early 2000s. However, bright white is the cabinet color trend that will be outdated by 2026, and Drew and Jonathan agree. "If people are going modern, they think of white everywhere, but maybe some contrast is good," Drew said in a Room X Room series live video, as reported by The Kitchn. Jonathan agreed, sharing, "For the longest time, it's been white cabinets in white kitchens. Lighter colors help bounce light around and feel cleaner and brighter. But I love a little color — stained wood, blues, greens."

People are now craving warm and cozy interior designs, leaning towards rich color schemes and natural textures like wood and stone. For kitchens, this translates to deep cabinet colors like velvety browns, deep greens and blues, warm beiges, and rich burgundies. Wooden cabinets are also having a comeback, but in lighter white oak or mahogany stains that feel contemporary and less visually heavy.

Laminate counters are a tempting addition to a kitchen flip due to their affordable price. On average, they clock in at $35 per square foot, but budget options can cost as low as $10 per square foot. However, the Property Brothers warn that they're not worth the price, even if they're low-cost. "I can't think of a single kitchen design where laminate would look better than stone, butcher block, or a solid surface like Corian. Yes, laminate is cheaper, but in many cases, you can actually take value away from a house by installing it," Jonathan told HGTV. Drew agreed, sharing, "It frustrates me to no end when people spend their budget on a product, like laminate, that automatically seems dated—it's like throwing money away!"

To increase your ROI, consider listening to Jonathan and installing Corian, butcher block, or an affordable stone option like slate instead. As previously mentioned, on average, Corian counters are a more affordable option, making them a comparable alternative to laminate. Butcher block countertops cost more per square foot, ranging from $50 to $150 per square foot, but also feel more luxurious since they're a natural material. As for stone counters, one of the most affordable options is slate, which costs between $20 and $60 per square foot.

Open shelving in kitchens was all the rage in the 2010s, and for good reason. By removing bulky uppers and replacing them with airy, minimalist open shelving, the kitchen felt modern and youthful. It allowed you to display your favorite kitchen items, transforming everyday things like glassware and serving platters into decorative pieces of art. However, Drew thinks it's had its heyday, and the reality of the kitchen being a utilitarian place is setting in. "For the average family, open shelves aren't all that functional. Unless you're very careful about what you display, the shelves will end up packed with random dishes and looking messy," he told HGTV.

You lose a significant amount of storage space by worrying about how items are displayed. And if you pack your kitchen essentials on the shelves like you would behind closed cabinet doors, then the space immediately looks cluttered and chaotic. Instead of replacing all of your uppers with open shelving, consider substituting only a small section with floating shelves. This will allow you to display your favorite items without sacrificing half of your available storage space. If you want to avoid them entirely, Drew has a great workaround. "For an airy look without the clutter, get cabinet doors with frosted glass panels," he told HGTV. This option also alleviates another common issue with open shelving -– the accumulation of dust. Since everything will be behind cabinet doors, you won't have to dust those shelves or items as often as you would with open shelving.

Tiled countertops are experiencing a resurgence right now, bringing lots of texture and color to a kitchen. But while they may look chic when freshly installed, they aren't very practical if you enjoy cooking frequently. That's because crumbs and food splatters will eventually get stuck in and stain the porous grout holding those tiles in place. During Season 7, Episode 13 of "Property Brothers: Buying and Selling," Jonathan and Drew highlighted this drawback when they stepped into a client's vintage kitchen. "I hate tile counters ... They just suck up all of the grime and the grease," Jonathan shared. Drew seconded that notion, highlighting how dirty the counters were by saying, "That food that you see? Pick it out!"

If you want something with as much texture and color as tiled countertops, consider installing terrazzo counters instead. They're another budget option, coming in around $40 to $75 per square foot, with an additional $6 per square foot for installation. The colorful chips are made from various natural materials, such as granite, glass, marble, or quartz, which are then embedded in a resin base. Much like tile, they come in a rainbow of colors, and thanks to their unique blend of materials, they create plenty of texture and interest. Terrazzo was also highly popular during the mid-century, so it also gives off a similar vintage aesthetic as tiled countertops.

If you own a builder-grade home built in the 1980s or 1990s, chances are you have at least one room with diagonal wooden flooring. While it was installed at an angle to create some interest, Jonathan thinks it's dated and will ruin your home's vibe. When he encountered these floors in Season 8, Episode 3 of "Property Brothers: Buying & Selling," he walked in the room and declared, "Out with dated diagonal flooring and in with superstraight planks!" (via Realtor).

If you don't have the budget to remove your diagonal planks and replace them with straight floorboards, you can instead minimize their appearance. A great way to do so is to invest in an extra-large area rug. Not only will it cover the dated layout, but if it has a pattern or interesting color, it will drag the eye toward it and away from the floor. This will make the diagonal planks less noticeable. However, that doesn't mean you should invest in a comically large rug. Instead, make it proportional to the size of your bed and nightstands. As a general rule, you should aim for the rug to extend at least 2 feet from the sides and bottom of the bed. So, if you have a queen, an 8x10 rug should be sufficient; if you have a king, aim for a 9x12 option.

This one might be a controversial take, but one half of the Property Brothers thinks that sectional sofas bring down your living room's vibe. It seems that these couches have been trending in recent years, especially with viral designs like Restoration Hardware's Cloud couch and Mario Bellini's bubble sectional, which have taken over the homes of celebrities and influencers. But they have since become outdated because of their large size. They might be comfortable and big enough to stretch out on, but it's that large size that Drew thinks makes your den feel clunky rather than well-designed. "In most homes, sectionals end up looking too big for the living area. I'm a minimalist kinda guy," Drew told HGTV. Hitting the correct proportions for your unique room size can be difficult, and the sofa ends up overwhelming the space more often than not. This, in turn, often makes other design elements like coffee tables or accent chairs squished, narrowing paths of travel and making the room look cluttered.

Instead, he recommends breaking up that sectional concept into separate pieces. "Keep it simple with a not-too-bulky couch and accent chairs facing your TV or fireplace," he advises. Since you're not dealing with bulky chaises and multiple modular sections, you can focus on choosing separate pieces that match the proportions of your living room. And if you make a mistake and get a sofa that is too big, you can balance it out by getting smaller accent chairs.

There is nothing worse than walking into a bathroom and seeing dirty fixtures. And if you have a jetted bathtub -– whether you inherited it with the house you purchased or installed one a few years ago –- chances are the jets rarely look pristine. Because of this, Drew believes keeping a spa tub brings down the vibe of your home. "People pay all this money for a jetted tub-$1,500 and up-and then rarely use it. Plus, it can be a pain for cleaning and maintenance since it's hard to keep the jets from getting moldy and musty," he told HGTV.

However, if you like relaxing in your tub, you don't have to settle for a boring builder-grade basin. "You're better off with a nice, deep soaking tub," he recommends. Soaking tubs are shorter and much deeper than standard versions. While the sizes vary between brands and designs, a soaker allows you to fully submerge under water, creating a much more luxurious experience. However, it's best to install a soaker if you have multiple bathrooms, and one of them already has a shower or standard-sized tub. That's because soakers have taller walls, and they can be difficult to maneuver, making quick showers cumbersome. They can also be difficult to bathe kids and pets in, so it would be more convenient if a soaker weren't your only bathing option.