8 design trends HGTV made popular that no one actually wanted

HGTV has shaped the way people think about decorating and renovating homes for years, but not every TV-friendly idea holds up in real life. Some trends looked great on camera but turned out to be impractical, hard to maintain, or flat-out unlivable once the cameras stopped rolling.

If your house still carries a few of these TV-born fads, you’re not alone—plenty of homeowners fell for them too.

Open shelving everywhere

Open shelving photographs beautifully but doesn’t work well in everyday life. It collects dust, grease, and clutter faster than you can clean it. Unless you keep perfectly curated dishes or have hours to keep things neat, it ends up looking messy. Most people who tried it have gone back to cabinets for a reason—it’s more practical, especially in busy kitchens.

All-white kitchens

HGTV made all-white kitchens look timeless, but living with one is another story. White cabinets, white tile, and white counters show every fingerprint, stain, and scuff. It looks pristine on day one but quickly turns into a constant cleaning project. A little contrast—like warm wood tones or darker counters—makes a kitchen feel cozier and far easier to maintain.

Shiplap overload

Shiplap started as a farmhouse accent, then took over entire houses thanks to TV makeovers. While it can add texture, covering every wall makes a space feel dated and overdone. It also traps dust and can be a pain to repaint later. Used sparingly, it works, but full rooms of shiplap now read more “early 2010s HGTV” than “modern farmhouse.”

Sliding barn doors

They looked rustic and cool on TV, but in real homes, barn doors lack soundproofing and privacy. They also stick out from the wall, making furniture placement awkward. Many homeowners have realized traditional doors do the job better and take up less space. What looked charming on screen often turns clunky in tight hallways or bedrooms.

Painted brick

HGTV made painted brick look sleek and modern, but once you cover it, there’s no going back. Paint traps moisture, which can damage the brick long-term. It also chips and peels, turning maintenance into a recurring chore. Natural brick—cleaned and sealed—ages better and requires far less upkeep than constantly touching up paint.

Floating shelves instead of upper cabinets

Floating shelves look minimal, but they drastically reduce storage and collect grime fast. In real life, most people need cabinets to hide everyday items like mugs and appliances. Unless you love restyling shelves every week, floating shelves end up being high-maintenance décor that doesn’t add much function.

Accent walls in every room

Accent walls were a TV go-to for adding “drama,” but too many of them make a house feel chopped up. They often draw attention to the wrong spots and date a space quickly. A consistent color palette feels calmer and more intentional. If you want contrast, try layered textures or tone-on-tone colors instead.

Overly open floor plans

Open layouts look great for filming home makeovers, but real families know they’re noisy and hard to heat or cool evenly. Without walls, every sound travels, and every mess is on display. Many homeowners are now bringing walls back to create defined spaces that actually work for daily life. What looks bright and airy on TV isn’t always the most livable setup off-screen.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.