The Once-Popular Wall Treatment Trend That Is Officially Outdated (& What To Replace It With)

We should always assume that the latest home design trends come with an expiration date, as even the most beloved ideas often lose their charm once the next wave of inspiration hits. It's a hard cycle to keep up with, especially when a trendy approach is meant for a more permanent aspect of your design. While you can switch decor accents in and out easily to align with what's popular, it's not as simple to refashion your walls once they go out of style. Just like flooring, furniture, and layouts, wall treatments are better left reserved for timeless styles. Be cautious when considering the outdated wall trends interior designers are sick of seeing to avoid a costly, time-consuming sense of regret. That said, more designers are moving away from the outdated look of smooth drywall and toward textured finishes that add more visual interest.

It's hard to believe that something as simple and subtle as smooth drywall can feel outdated, but home design is undergoing a significant shift in taste, leaving many once-popular methods behind. Numerous textured styles can strike the perfect balance between timeless and trendy, keeping your space feeling fresh and stylish in the long term. Whether you're deciding the details of your new home design or trying to figure out what exactly is making your current space feel outdated, your walls are one aspect that should never be overlooked.

For many years, simplicity dominated home design trends until people started to realize that playing it safe doesn't always lead to timeless style. Even though less risk-taking is involved, there are plenty of disappointing downsides to embracing minimalist decor like smooth dry wall finishes. This kind of wall treatment is inherently flat, missing the opportunity to introduce depth into your design. What separates a basic paint swatch from a stylish color choice on your walls is how you use the color to your advantage. Smooth drywall is more likely to replicate the flat swatch you're looking at, rather than bring it to life. It wasn't long ago that smooth drywall was a popular choice, but time has passed, and some real estate agents say that they can examine the wall finish to determine when a home was built, with certain drywall styles now reading as dated.

Our homes are a place that should feel welcoming and personal to our style and daily lives. A flat dry wall finish is no different from what you'd likely see in a doctor's waiting room or even your workplace, so it's no surprise that designers now feel it can make a space look a bit lifeless and uninspired. Now that homeowners are shifting away from this treatment, its past appeal as a popular style feels irrelevant and in need of a refreshing take.

Just because smooth drywall has become outdated doesn't mean the best alternative is something overly striking. Designs that take an extreme approach, whether it's towards minimalism or maximalism, can make your space more vulnerable to changing trends. On the other hand, some textured alternatives help to meet in the middle for a balanced, long-lasting appeal. That's not to say that popcorn ceilings are suddenly the standard of style, but rather that subtle textures can bring out the dimension that has been lacking in flat drywall finishes. Replacements with natural appeal, like plywood or plaster, maintain a sense of simplicity while also bringing in a touch of character into your layout. Plaster in particular is set to be the wall treatment trend taking over in 2026, offering a variety of textures from earthy clay to Venetian style.

You don't need to make your wall treatment the star of the show, but it can still be a key player by introducing a layer of depth. Some designers recommend choices like limewash or hand-troweled finishes, since understated textures can feel natural rather than trendy, and intentional rather than impersonal. If your dry wall feels outdated but you don't want to do a full revamp, introducing organic accents can add some dimension. Materials like brick, stone, or warm wood instantly give walls more presence and a hint of traditional charm that will age beautifully with your home.