I only post on Instagram odd things I find in homes that I see when listing or showing properties. Most of the shots are of retro Barbie dream kitchens from the 1960’s, plaid shag carpet or wall paper archeology. We’ve become a world of trends, where fast fashion and fast designs come and go in a heartbeat. I have no clue how anyone can keep up with all the social media, blogs, photos, videos, television shows dedicated completely to home décor trends. What I can tell you from what I know personally is that I see a lot of interiors in my line of work each week and to steal from the ‘Things That Must Go’ segment on Radio From Hell X96, here’s my list:

-bare bulbs and harsh light fixtures. If you see it hanging at Homo Depot in the home light fixture isle, it’s already passe. Invest in a classic chandelier as your centerpiece if you’re lucky enough to have a dining room.

-dark wood and Italian-style décor. Tuscan tiles are meant for Italy. Ask my friend Michelle who owns Tile for Less in Riverton or Salt Lake-and she may start gagging at the thought of anyone replacing classic marble or hardwood for a dusty stone castle look.

-wallpaper borders at the tops of walls or at chair level. No, no, and no.

-the TV show Mad Men brought the ‘Mid-Mod’ phenom in home décor back. The show went off the air 3 years ago, and as far as trends go, the avocado greens and harvest golds are again, outdated.

-antlers and mason jars. I’m not sure either item will go away as Utahns are avid hunters and home canners. I personally would gasp if someone threw a good Mason jar in the glass recycling because with a new lid I could throw in a batch of jam next time I hop over to the Farmer’s Market downtown.

-sponge painted walls or walls with stencils. Sponge walls usually look like your friend’s kids came over and had a party in your home without your permission. Most people cannot stencil straight or well enough to make repetitive designs look good. DIY don’t.

-dried flower arrangements and wreaths. It is BAD Feng Shui to have dead plants in your living space. They get dusty and ad shed/break apart as they age. Also, silk plants can look good in the right spot, but they also get dusty and faded. And no to fake bowls of fruit. Try your green thumb next time you decorate and eat real food.

-cottage cheese ceilings. This spray on crap originally was made from asbestos! But in 1978 when it was banned from inside homes, the manufacturers went to a paper or Styrofoam material. Ohhh, and sparkles cost more to add after the spraying was complete!  IF your ceiling is not asbestos, you can scrape that crap off by wetting it, scraping, wetting, scraping, etc. If it is asbestos (and you can have that material tested locally for cheap) you can legally remove it yourself. We are the only state left in the nation where a homeowner can do the job themselves (albeit abide by the disposal rules).