7 Outdated Living Room Features That Instantly Date Your Space

Interior designers have a keen eye for spotting outdated features in a living room. We asked three experts to share the telltale signs that a space hasn't been updated in years—and their insights might surprise you.

Key Points

• Pleated lampshades, gray fabrics, matching furniture, and wall-to-wall carpet date a room.
• To bring your space into the future, mix materials, use neutral linens, opt for a sleek TV, and choose warm brass lighting fixtures.
• Keep your space feeling fresh and current through new textures, art, and lighting.

It's no surprise that interior designers are extremely good at predicting trends before those styles officially take off and take over the zeitgeist, but they're just as good at spotting outdated features in a home, too. While there are obvious signs that designers look out for—like wall-to-wall carpeting and era-specific textures and features, to name just a few—there are more subtle ways to tell that a living room is due for an upgrade. If you're living in a space that's home to frilly lampshades and dated, tacky lighting choices, then interior designers warn your space is in need of an upgrade.

Wondering what other features pros immediately clock? We asked three experts about the different design features that instantly date your living room, and some are more sneaky—and surprising—than you'd expect.

Meet the Expert

• Lisa Simopoulos is the founder of Simopoulos Designs.
• Jody Jones is the founder of Blue Indigo Designs.
• Tracy Morris is the founder of Tracy Morris Design.

The Lampshades Are Too Frilly

Believe it or not, the type of lampshades you use in your living room can serve as a clear indicator of when the room was last updated, says Lisa Simopoulos, the founder of Simopoulos Designs, who says that lampshade styles "quietly evolve."

Just think about it, she says—in the 1980s, frilly, pleated lampshades were all the rage, but in more recent decades, cleaner silhouettes have reigned supreme. If you think lampshades are too insignificant of a feature to update, Simopoulos says to think again. She says that sometimes, her clients will change everything in a room except for the lampshades, and it makes a worse impression than you might expect.

The Fabric Colors and Textures Are Wrong

The fabric colors used in the living room can also closely indicate the era in which the space was designed. "Each era has its telltale textures and tones," Simopoulos says, adding that modern fabrics are generally made of linens or bouclé and feature soft neutrals. On the other hand, icy gray fabrics immediately scream 2010s, while heavy golds are associated with the 2000s, the designer says.

You Have a Large Entertainment Center

Technology itself has gotten more sleek in recent decades, and the way people display TVs in their homes has changed as a result, too. Jody Jones, the founder of Blue Indigo Designs, says that a bulky entertainment unit is one clear, obvious sign that your living room hasn't been updated in quite some time. In her projects, Jones says that an entertainment center will never be "the literal big elephant in the room," rather, she'll look for opportunities to blend it in seamlessly with the room's other design elements.

Your Space Is Super Matchy Matchy

Gone are the days of buying matching furniture sets for the living room, so if your space contains identical-looking furniture, it's a sign that it's quite out of date, according to Jones. She encourages people to break up these existing sets and weave in items that come from a mix of retailers and are made from a variety of materials for a more collected look. "We love mixing in at least one vintage piece in a living room and different fabrics and textures to bring a layered and timeless feel to the space," the designer says.

You Have Carpet Everywhere

Wall-to-wall carpeting in the living room is another look that will date your living room instantly, Jones says. Hardwood, engineered flooring, or luxury vinyl are among the most popular living room flooring choices as of late. Though you should always feel free to lay down a nice area rug in your living room, the designer says you shouldn't go all in with carpet.

Your Accessories Are Tied to One Era

Part of the fun of designing a living room is allowing it to evolve over the years as you bring in new accent pieces, says Tracy Morris, the founder of Tracy Morris Design. As such, she knows right away that when a living room contains tons of mass-produced art, matchy-matchy pillows, and the like, it hasn't been updated—or will very soon read as dated. "A well-designed living room evolves over time, and when those subtle layers of texture, lighting, and proportion stop progressing, it shows," she says.

Consider this your sign to always make subtle tweaks as time goes on in order to keep your living room looking current.

Your Lighting Scheme and Fixtures Aren't Right

Lighting is another key giveaway that a room hasn't been recently refreshed. "A room’s lighting temperature can be a subtle time stamp," Simopoulos says, adding that cool white lighting and brushed nickel features were mainstream in the 2010s, but things have changed since. These days, she says, the go-to look is warm, natural looking light, and fixtures are generally made of aged brass or mixed metals.