7 “Stylish” Trends That Might Actually Lower Your Home’s Resale Value

While some design choices can boost your home’s value and charm, others—despite their popularity—may quietly work against you. From TikTok-famous paint techniques to ultra-modern tech upgrades, certain aesthetic decisions may not resonate with potential buyers or stand the test of time.

While we’re all for making your home your own, understanding which decor trends may be lowering your home’s value can be helpful to know if you plan on selling in the near future. In general, interior design and real estate pros agree: leaning too hard into fleeting home trends can easily date a home and lower its value on the market. 

Color Drenching

The internet’s hottest paint trend may not be the best choice if you’re planning on selling your home anytime soon.

We’ve heard this one before: neutrals are best when it comes to selling your home. Overly bold paint choices scream over personalization, alienating potential buyers who are uninterested in repainting the space after closing the sale. 

“Even the most exciting trends like color drenching may turn off your buyer as all they see is money adding up to repaint the home,” says Missy Derr, a Real Estate Advisor with Engel & Völkers in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Luckily, repainting your walls is a relatively simple and affordable project that can easily be done as you prepare your home for the market, so unless you’re about to list your home, don’t be afraid to express yourself with fun paint colors. We’re not ready to let go of color-drenching just yet. 

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Fluted Everything

Fluted panelling and reeded finishes are another popular home trend that design pros caution against. What once felt stylish and cutting-edge has begun to feel generic and overdone, and buyers aren’t loving it anymore, says Olga Doykhen, an interior designer based in Orange County, California.

“I’ve been seeing [it] a lot in builder-grade renovations,” she says. “When overused, the details lose sculptural impact and start to feel mass-produced. It’s especially problematic when applied without consideration of the home’s architectural language.”

Instead, go for timeless, not trendy. Take your home’s architecture and style into consideration, and wherever possible, opt for quality natural materials for a look that will feel truly timeless.

Over-the-Top Smart Home Improvements

This one may come as a surprise, but Derr says that technological improvements in the home aren’t always a win. This is for a few reasons, but mainly because technology changes quickly and can be expensive to upgrade and replace. And not everyone cares to have their entire home voice-activated or tech-compatible. 

“Energy efficient upgrades do add value, but things such as app-controlled faucets or color-changing lighting may not be appreciated, understood, or truly desirable,” Derr says.

“Instagram Beige” Minimalism

Warm, earthy color palettes are big in interior design and home decor right now, but beige-washed, minimalist spaces don’t read as well in real life as they do online, Doykhen says. It’s like the Gen Z version of “millennial gray”—it lacks depth, character, and personality. 

You don’t need to shy away from minimalism altogether if that’s what you like. In fact, minimalist decor is ideal for homes on the market. The key is doing it right so the space still feels warm and inviting. Think layered neutrals with contrast rather than monochromatic neutrals, Doykhen says.

“I prefer ivory and espresso, chalk and tobacco paired with tactile materials like frise, cashmere, oak, and patinated metal,” she says.

Statement Tile

Tile is a commitment, so while bold statement tile in the kitchen and bathroom is having a moment, the experts agree that neutral and timeless is best if you plan on selling your home in the near future. 

“These spaces are costly to remodel and are left untouched for years, sometimes even decades,” Derr says.. Too much ‘personality’ can be too much for the next owner.”

But, going too neutral in the kitchen and bathroom can be just as problematic. All-white kitchens and bathrooms feel cold, sterile, and uninviting, Derr says.

Instead, opt for a happy medium. Stick to classic and timeless shapes, natural materials, and warm neutrals with a proven track record. 

Excessive Open Shelves in the Kitchen

Perfectly styled open shelving in the kitchen may look idyllic on your Pinterest board, but in real life, potential buyers see clutter and wasted storage opportunities, says Rachel Blindauer, an award-winning interior and furniture designer.

That doesn’t mean you need to say goodbye to open shelving in the kitchen altogether if you love the look. The trick is striking the right balance between stylish and practical.

“Balance closed and open storage judiciously,” Blindauer says. “Minimize open shelving—show off some sculptural essentials, not everything from your pantry.”

Accent Walls With Moulding

Gone are the days when accent walls were simply painted in contrasting hues. Now, accent walls featuring wood trim or moulding are in style, and the experts agree they can be a tough sell on the real estate market.

That’s because unless the buyer loves the look, they’ll only see the potential cost and labor involved with removing it. Not only will they have to take it down and repaint, but they’ll likely need to repair the wall, too, Derr says.