Give these outdated décor elements a skip.
A bedroom should be the one room in the house that feels immediately calming. However, what’s meant to feel luxurious or polished sometimes ends up doing the opposite. The culprit is rarely one mistake—more often, it’s a series of small, tacky design choices that quietly disrupt the mood.
Here, we spoke to interior designers about the details that can make a bedroom look dated and what you should focus on instead.
Related: 8 Things That Make Your Kitchen Look Tacky, According to Interior Designers
Overly Bright or Loud Art
Artwork can completely shift the tone of a bedroom—for better or worse. For example, what feels energetic in a living room can feel overstimulating in a space that’s meant for rest.
“Bringing in bright, abstract, modern, colorful art just feels tacky,” says interior designer Andrea Sinkin. “It takes the whole vibe of whatever you do in the bedroom and makes it feel electrified—you need calm and comfort.”
The concern isn’t only about color, it’s about intention. “Mass-produced artwork from big-box retailers is another thing to avoid. It’s generic and lacks character,” adds interior designer Olga Doykhen.
Instead: Choose art that feels layered and personal—pieces that support the room’s mood rather than competing with it. In a bedroom, restraint and authenticity will always read as more luxurious than visual volume.
Related: Thrift Store Art Is Always the Way to Go—Here’s How to Shop Like a Pro
Matching Furniture Sets
When everything in a bedroom matches perfectly, the space can start to feel staged. “Matching furniture sets are a major no-go. When everything is the exact same color, texture, pattern, and shape, you feel like you’re in a forgettable hotel room more than anything,” says Doykhen.
The problem isn’t coordination, it’s duplication. “When a bedroom starts to feel tacky, it’s usually because it’s overly decorated instead of ushering in a feeling,” says interior designer Tina Manis.
Instead: Skip the full suite and focus on thoughtful layering. Mixing materials, finishes, and eras—like pairing a wood nightstand with an upholstered headboard—creates depth and warmth.
Too Many Decorative Pillows
More is not always better, especially when it comes to pillows. While layering can add softness, overdoing it can quickly make a bed look fussy.
“Too many pillows in a bedroom looks tacky,” says Sinkin. “We all know those pillows come off every night. You look like you’re trying too hard.”
Instead: Keep the arrangement thoughtful and streamlined. “A wonderful setup for a bed is your sleeping pillow, then three euro pillows, two king shams, and a body pillow. That’s a total of six decorative pillows,” she says.
Shiny Bedding and Surfaces
In a bedroom, shine rarely reads as luxury. High-gloss finishes and overly slick textiles make a space feel inexpensive rather than elevated.
“Mirrored surfaces and competing patterns may look dramatic at first, but over time they create visual tension,” says Doykhen. “A bedroom should calm the nervous system, not stimulate it.”
Instead: Focus on texture and natural materials. “When you’re getting more value-priced bedding, look for linen, natural materials, cotton, velvets, and wool. Stay away from satin and shine,” Sinkin says.
Small Rug
Scale matters in every room, but in a bedroom it’s especially noticeable. When a rug is undersized, the entire space can feel disconnected.
“A rug that’s too small is tacky. It makes the room look like it’s floating on a tiny island, and it looks cheap,” says Sinkin. “Always go as big on the rug as possible, making sure that you keep a 6-inch border around the perimeter of the room.”
A properly scaled rug does more than cover the floor. It anchors the furniture and creates cohesion. “A beautiful carpet can add color and movement and can unify the space,” says Joyce Huston, co-founder and lead interior designer at Decorilla.
Instead: Choose the largest rug your layout comfortably allows, ensuring it extends beneath key pieces like the bed and nightstands.
Related: How and Where to Place an Area Rug in Your Bedroom—Including the Right Size to Use
Technology
Bedrooms lose intimacy when they begin functioning like offices or gyms. The moment the space starts to multitask, it often stops feeling restful.
“Clutter in a bedroom can be very tacky. Clean up, put your things away. Don’t have a treadmill in the corner of your bedroom collecting all your clothes,” says Sinkin.
Even entertainment can disrupt the atmosphere. “A TV hanging on the wall with nothing to ground it can also turn a room from tasteful to tacky,” says Huston.
Instead: Keep technology discreet and contained. If a desk is necessary, opt for one that can close or conceal devices. Ground a television with cabinetry or a console to integrate it into the design. And whenever possible, keep exercise equipment and visible screens out of the room to preserve a sense of calm.
Trend Overload
Following trends too closely can date a bedroom. What feels current today can feel tired just a few seasons later.
“Stick with what you love. Trends, like feature bedroom walls, don’t always age well,” says Doykhen. Ultimately, longevity comes from restraint. “The most elegant bedrooms don’t scream from the rooftops. They simply feel calm and deeply supportive of rest,” she adds.
Instead: Build the room around timeless foundations—soft neutrals, rich woods, quality textiles, and pieces you genuinely love. Let trends show up in small, interchangeable accents, rather than permanent features.
Read the original article on Martha Stewart
