Interior designers share 10 of the worst trends they saw this year

Christopher Charles, the principal designer of ChristoperCharles Interiors, told Insider the Instagram-worthy color-block-curtain trend isn't as great of a choice as it may seem.

"These bands of color in equal or varying widths seem to terrorize my social media timeline on Instagram," Charles said. "The color-block-drapery trend made it one of the worst trends for 2022 for me because I find it unimaginative and a lazy attempt to coordinate a space."

Charles said bouclé, a heavy fabric made from looped yarn, was overused this year. It was especially popular on pillows and couches.

"This fabric has been used to upholstery every available piece of furniture without restraint," he told Insider.

According to Charles, the fabric doesn't do any favors for furniture pieces with detailed silhouettes.

Glam interior-design styles create an upscale feeling through luxurious fabrics and glittering sparkly accessories. But Charles said overusing of glitz and glitter is impractical and can quickly saturate a space.

"Everything glam is a trend to accessorize a space with decorative items that are all ornate, shiny, sparkling, reflective, and jam-packed with glitter," he said. "These decorative items were showcased in countless professionally videoed spaces, from art to vases. All of these items appear to be mass productions with no character or story."

According to the designer, saturating a space in glitter, glitz, silver, and gold, or, as if "a fairy dust storm were taking place," provides no individual character or quality in curation.

Mike Semegen, interior designer and owner of Hello Home Studios, told Insider that deals on furniture provide instant gratification, but poor quality can lead to pieces that won't last.

"Too often, homeowners feel pressured to look for a quick fix or a quick purchase," Semegen said. "And because of this, they tend to look for the best deals and what's already in stock and available. These furnishings end up being cheap, mass-produced, poor-quality pieces."

Poor-quality pieces might need to be replaced within a couple of years and can be a waste of hard-earned money.

All-white interiors are popular for their clean and minimalistic look on social media but Semegen said this trend comes with a host of other issues.

"Yes, white rooms are modern and clean looking," he said. "However, this look will fall flat in years to come without any color for dimension or wood to add warmth to the space.

According to Semegen, all-white can be difficult to keep clean, may feel sterile and clinical rather than warm and inviting, and serve as a reminder that "too much of anything is never good."

Interior designer Kathie Chrisicos of Chrisicos Interiors told Insider a little can go a long way when it comes to curvilinear furnishings so it's important not to add too much curve to your space.

"Curvilinear furnishings were implemented with curved surfaces, creating flowing schemes, as the key element," Chrisicos told Insider. "Don't overwork curvy shapes. As is true for all trends, a little bit goes a long way, think straight-arm sofa with a round cocktail table."

Chrisicos said brown is everywhere these days but it isn't the best or easiest color to work with.

"The color brown has been everywhere, unfortunately," she said. "This is a difficult color or shade to work with, especially if you have a smaller-sized interior. I think the walls should have escaped this all-encompassing color trend, along with excessive use of brown or deep-brown upholstery, which absorbs the light and makes a room seem darker."

In recent years, biophilia has dominated the interior-design space. Though bringing nature indoors can be a good choice, Chrisicos recommends using balanced judgment to avoid creating a jungle-like feeling.

"Nature is found all around us, so use restraint against the trend of bringing nature into your home," Chrisicos told Insider. "As always, a balance is desirable."

She recommends staying away from too many plants and an over-abundance of natural materials such as jute rugs, nature-toned upholstery, and soft goods (greens and browns) to avoid an over-the-top jungle look.

Gray is a common design choice for those wanting to stay minimal and neutral, but interior designer Courtney Wollersheim of Floor360 said this trend could go wrong if you don't complement it with other tones.

"Warm, rich tones in wood, fabrics, and tile are coming back around for a good reason," Wollersheim said. "The overly cool, sterile feel of gray floors, gray walls, and gray furniture is getting to be too much of a good thing."

Wollersheim recommended balancing shades of gray with natural, warm tones.

Interior designer Eddie Rider of Eddie Rider Designs said white metal appliances are making a comeback for those seeking a classic look, though they aren't necessarily the best option from a design perspective.

"White metal appliances in the kitchen will trend quickly, and I put them in the category of avocado or copper finishes," Rider told Insider. "The whites often do not match the cabinet colors and throw the entire look into a not-fabulous category."