Whether it was out of budgetary concerns or purposeful design choice, many of us have visited or lived in homes with laminate countertops. Laminate countertops are typically made with layers of plastic, paper, and chipboard.
While there are some pretty nice looking modernized versions today, the laminate countertops of the ‘80s and ‘90s were pretty tragic. To make matters worse, they usually came in colors like pink, teal, or even (poorly done) faux granite or terrazzo finishes. Add to that the inevitable chipping and water damage, and these countertops quickly lost their luster.
Oversized Ornate Furniture
Between the grand Tuscan-themed kitchens to the overly-large wrought iron light fixtures hanging from our vaulted ceilings, homeowners in the early 2000s wanted to feel like royalty in their homes (no matter how small their dwellings were).
Part of that ostentatious trend was to buy large and bulky furniture fit for a medieval castle. Ornately carved dark wood furniture including chairs and four-poster beds seemed to be all the rage. Thankfully, we’ve now realized that it's probably not the best idea to purchase a bed that takes up your whole bedroom!
Chatta-What?
If you grew up in the South, particularly Florida, chances are high that you owned or swam in a pool surrounded by Chattahoochee stones. These tiny and colorful stones were often used to create pool decks, facades of homes, driveways, and other areas.
If you had these, you knew the distinct and very painful feeling of stepping on them with bare feet or heaven forbid stepping on a loose and sharp tiny rock. While some people still choose these rocks to create outdoor areas, they’ve generally fallen out of fashion (and we're sure barefoot bathers are quite happy!)
Shut the Barn Door
Fans of Chip and Joanna Gaines may want to skip this one, but many interior decorators will agree with us when we say “enough with the barn doors.” Yes, there are instances where a barn door will enhance the look of an older renovated home.
Today, however, we are seeing new homes with barn doors and it just looks out of place. Not to mention that barn doors don’t really provide privacy or soundproofing. If you're considering putting barn doors to replace the regular swinging doors of your bathroom, you might as well put nothing!
Etch-A-Sketch
Glass etching is a classic art form dating back centuries ago. During the ‘80s and most of the ‘90s, etched glass seemed to have a moment. From etched glass statues to etched glass doors, we couldn't get enough of this trend.
Most of the designs ranged from geometric shapes to scenes featuring wildlife like birds. While this trend is certainly not the worst of the decade (remember these are the decades that brought us the mullet), most of us are happy that this trend is no longer in style.