Some trendy concepts and aesthetics look good only in pictures, but they are impractical in a functional living space and for daily use. A well-designed home must also meet the practical needs of its inhabitants.
Impractical Design Trends for Kitchen
Black Furniture in the Kitchen
- Visible Prints: Black surfaces readily reveal smudges, fingerprints, and watermarks, making it a constant cleaning challenge.
- Maintenance: Maintaining a spotless appearance becomes a never-ending task, as any speck of dirt becomes glaringly obvious.
Marble Countertops
Problem: While marble countertops are undeniably elegant, they pose significant practical challenges in the kitchen.
- Absorbent Nature: Marble is a porous natural stone that absorbs liquids, leading to stubborn stains that can be nearly impossible to remove.
- High Maintenance: Regular sealing and meticulous care are necessary to preserve the pristine look, making it unsuitable for busy kitchens.
Alternatives: You can opt for sealing the marble countertop to protect it from stains and scratches or use other materials such as quartz, which is non-porous, wood, laminate, or stainless steel.
Impractical Design Trends for Living Room
Extreme Minimalism
- Uninhabited Feel: Overly minimalist spaces can resemble a museum rather than a comfortable home, lacking the warmth and coziness needed for daily living.
- Inconvenient Storage: The absence of display and storage options can make it challenging to access everyday items.
Glass Tables
- Visible Prints: Glass surfaces display fingerprints, smudges, and dust, requiring constant cleaning to maintain their pristine appearance.
- Safety Concerns: Glass tables are more prone to chipping, cracking, and breaking, posing a safety hazard, especially if you have children or pets.
Alternative: Wooden tables are a classic choice because they are durable and easy to clean.
Floating Staircases
- Safety Hazards: Floating staircases can be impractical in households with children or pets. The absence of risers and handrails makes them a safety hazard.
- Potential Danger: Without proper handrails, they pose a significant risk, especially in homes with elderly occupants or individuals with mobility issues.
If you still want this staircase style, use a non-slip surface for the treads, install a handrail, use lights to highlight the steps, and opt for a wider tread to have a bigger surface area to step on and reduce the risk of slipping.
Oversized Sofas or Recliners
- Space Management: Large sofas or recliners consume space that could be utilized for other purposes. Also, they obstruct pathways, affecting traffic flow.
- Room Layout: In smaller living spaces, large pieces can overwhelm the area, making it appear cramped.
Alternative: Use furniture that serves multiple purposes. Sleeper sofas, pull-out beds, and convertible furniture can help you make the most of your space without sacrificing style.
Impractical Design Trends for Bathroom
Vessel Sinks
- Difficult Cleaning: The space between the vessel and the countertop is hard to clean, leading to grime buildup over time.
- Splash Zone: Vessel sinks are usually small. For a main bathroom used daily, that means you’ll have water splashes all over the countertop or floor.
Alternative: Undermount sinks are installed underneath the countertop, so they are easier to clean.
Wallpaper in the Bathroom
- Mold and Peeling: Bathrooms with showers and bathtubs produce high levels of humidity, which can lead to mold growth and cause the wallpaper to peel.
If you still want to incorporate wallpaper, you should avoid installing it in areas where it will be exposed to direct water, such as in the shower, near the bathtub, or above the sink area. You can put it on the upper side of the sink wall. Also, install a dehumidifier and air the room regularly to lower the humidity levels.
Open/Walk-In Showers
- Splash Zone Management: Without proper construction, water splashing and overflowing can become an issue, creating slippery and potentially hazardous conditions.
- Drainage Requirements: Adequate drainage systems are essential to prevent water accumulation and potential flooding, adding complexity to the design and maintenance. A recess floor for the shower zone is a necessity.
Chandelier over Bathtub
- Electrocution Hazard: The presence of water in a bathroom makes chandeliers a potential electrocution risk. Safety standards advise against placing electrical fixtures near water sources.
- Maintenance Challenges: Cleaning and maintaining the chandelier can be cumbersome and risky due to its location.
Impractical Design Trends for Budget-Friendly Homes
Barn Doors
- Insulation Issues: Barn doors are not insulating and do not provide sound, air, or odor protection. The gap between the door and the wall can compromise privacy and climate control.
- Limited Privacy: While they can serve as room dividers in open spaces, they often fall short of providing the privacy that traditional doors offer.
Desk in the Middle of the Office
- Limited Access to Power Points: A desk in the center of the room can make it challenging to access power points for electronic devices, leading to a cable jungle.
- Reduced Workspace Efficiency: It can disrupt the flow of the workspace and limit the use of available office space effectively.
