What’s old is sometimes new and what’s new can sometimes get old. While a design trend may be hot, there comes a time when you should move on. Whether it’s a room completely covered in chalkboard paint or a room filled with reclaimed “treasures”, some trends have been done to death. The following are just five overused decorating trends you should avoid.

Stereotypical Design

Stereotypical design has been a problem since the first homeowner added a tiki bar to their basement. People think that they can just throw a symbol of a culture in the room and create the style, but it isn’t so. Instead of trying to recreate Mexican flare with a sombrero, study the colors and design of Mexican culture and create a room doesn’t look like a Mexican restaurant.

Chalkboard Paint

There’s no denying the fact that chalkboard paint is a cool addition to almost any room. Unfortunately, people have taken this trend to the extreme. Instead of painting your entire child’s room in chalkboard paint, boarder off an area to make it look like an actual chalkboard. This would be a great place for him to keep notes about upcoming sports practice or tests.

Above the Fireplace TV Mounting

Let’s get one thing straight. A fireplace should be the focal point of a room and it should never have to compete with a TV. Not to mention that the heat of a fireplace can shorten the lifespan of your precious TV. You can opt to focus your seating arrangement on the fireplace, but still have comfortable access to the TV or you can create separate seating areas.

Disconnected Design

Stop trying to make your bedroom look like a posh hotel room. A room should be designed with your interests in mind. The room should scream your name, rather than looking like a room that can be seen in hotels across the country. Choose design elements that relate to you. You might start out with a bold paint color or even base your design off a beautiful duvet.

Reclaim Overload

There’s nothing wrong with salvaging that piece of furniture from the flea market and making it new again. A reclaimed piece can add character to an updated room. When the room is nothing but reclaimed pieces, it starts to look more like a thrift store than a chic living room. Be careful not to fall prey to reclaim overload.

There are so many wonderful design trends to choose from. Instead of choosing one that you’ve seen on TV numerous times, why not choose something new or even create your own design?

About the Author: Armand Heitland and his wife spent a lot of time planning their home decor. They recently found contemporary sectional sofas from gowfb.com and have had a few classical murals painted directly onto some of their entryway walls.