Buyers love updated homes. As for homes that follow the \u201ctrends\u201d\u2026 meh, they\u2019re called trends for a reason. HomeLight spoke with agents and interior design pros, combed Instagram and design blogs to bring you 9 fads to avoid or eliminate in your home.<\/p>\n The popularity of the accent wall is undeniable. Online searches for the trend have grown 35% over the past five years<\/a>. The theory is that one brightly colored wall adds a \u201cpop of color\u201d to an otherwise neutral room. But a wall is often too large a canvas for such a purpose.<\/p>\n \u201cThe truth is a neutral base of walls, ceilings, and floors will make it much easier for the next buyer to move in. Keep the color regulated to art, linens, and accessories,\u201d says Justin Riordan<\/a>, interior designer, architect and founder of the Portland-based home staging company Spade and Archer Design Agency,<\/p>\n Too much color on the walls, even if it\u2019s on trend, can keep buyers from setting foot inside a home. They\u2019ll see it in the pictures and move on.\u00a0 \u201cMost buyers won\u2019t be able to see past that red kitchen,\u201d Rosenberg says. It just means more work for them.<\/p>\n That doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t have color in your home. Instead of that loud pop on the walls, opt for a subtle whisper of pigment. \u201cWe do use subtle punches of color to help our buyers discuss each room,\u201d Riordan explains, \u201cbut there is a limit to the amount of color we should add to homes.\u201d<\/p>\n Elle Decor<\/a>, which has been publishing internationally for over 20 years, recommends these on-trend, buyer-friendly colors for your accent wall:<\/p>\n You might be tempted to go bright, but a subtle accent wall, or merely a neutral palette, will do a better job of selling your place.<\/p>\n Tile countertops in the kitchen saw their heyday in the \u201870s and \u201880s, but like any good trend, they\u2019re making a comeback<\/a> with the minimalist movement. Tiling your countertop is relatively affordable, and tiles come in a variety of colors and patterns, meaning a unique counter space for your home.<\/p>\n But unless you\u2019re updating an already tile kitchen counter, think twice about installing one from scratch. When a potential buyer comes through, they won\u2019t ooh and aah over your custom tile. They\u2019ll think about the maintenance<\/a> that comes with tile countertops, which require that you seal the porous surface every year and keep the grout clean.<\/p>\n When it comes to selling a home, cleanliness is the watchword. Unfortunately, tile kitchen countertops don\u2019t scream clean and tidy.<\/p>\n If you want to replace your kitchen countertops, consider the affordable (and still on-trend) butcher block<\/a>, or the quartz veined countertops Southern Living <\/a>has declared as the \u201cgo-to\u201d kitchen style of 2019.<\/p>\n With over 100k tags on Instagram and a coveted spot on Pinterest\u2019s top 100 2018 Pins<\/a>, the mixed metal trend<\/a> is here to stay. From jewelry to home decor, mixed metals add dimension and depth to your overall home design.<\/p>\n However, you can\u2019t just grab knobs and pulls at random; some fixture finishes don\u2019t play well with others. \u201cBrass nickel is out,\u201d says Rosenberg, \u201cGetting rid of that helps update a home. Brushed nickel is fine, and oil rubbed bronze is typically fine.\u201d<\/p>\n To create the mixed metal look you see in the magazines, be intentional with your selections:<\/p>\n Your home should appeal to a broad audience of buyers, but don\u2019t get rid of an element of design that\u2019s unique or one of a kind to your home. In an Architectural<\/a> Digest<\/a> survey, 58% of designers<\/a> said they sourced customized pieces for clients in 2019, a 44% increase over the previous year.<\/p>\n \u201cIf it\u2019s new, even if it\u2019s personal, I would recommend keeping it,\u201d advises Chen Mishael<\/a>, a New York City real estate agent who\u2019s sold 78% more properties than the average agent. \u201cIf you have a special wallpaper or a unique painting, then it\u2019s worth keeping because it\u2019s something of good value. Although it\u2019s personal, someone might see value in it.\u201d<\/p>\n Take a risk and keep that professionally hand-painted mural in the bedroom. It might not be everyone\u2019s taste, but if it has value, it could appeal to buyers specifically interested in your property.<\/p>\n Thanks to Instagram and Pinterest, busy, bold wallpaper is back in a big way. Online searches for \u201cbold print wallpaper\u201d has increased by 401% in the past year<\/a>.<\/p>\n But here\u2019s the thing about wallpaper, don\u2019t add it to your home. \u201cIt can add visual clutter,\u201d Rosenberg reasons.<\/p>\n \u201cBuyers are doing their searches on the Internet, and they’re looking at the photos and when they see wallpaper that they don’t like in their minds, they’re thinking it’s going to cost a lot of money and time to get rid of it.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Keep your home fresh and clean with neutral paint on the walls. When a buyer sees that blank slate in the listing photos online, they can more easily imagine the changes they\u2019ll make after moving in.<\/p>\n In a kitchen with limited space, it\u2019s common sense to place your microwave above the stove. However, this common kitchen feature<\/a> is on its way out. This is in part due to the rise in popularity of universal design\u2014making the microwave accessible for all family members is more important than ever.<\/p>\n Moving your microwave? Here are some ideas of where you can store it:<\/p>\n Color in the kitchen is making a comeback, declares tech review site CNET<\/a>. From tomato red standing mixers to bright white refrigerators, color has started to catch on.<\/p>\n However charming you might find a bright blue microwave, it\u2019s not to the taste of every buyer. At worst, this can look like a dated throwback.<\/p>\n If you need to update appliances and want a fresher look than stainless steel, opt instead for black stainless-steel<\/a>. This less dividing finish is being used in every 1 in 10 kitchen upgrades<\/a>, according to a recent Houzz survey.<\/p>\n Stop by any hip coffee joint, and you\u2019ll run into the trendy Edison bulb or pendant light. According to Google Trends<\/a>, Edison Bulb saw its online popularity peak earlier this year, and Elle Decor<\/a> has declared this trend on its way out.<\/p>\n If you need to replace lighting in your home, try a striking structural piece<\/a> that\u2019s not only functional, but adds design and interest in your home. If you want a more subtle look, indirect lighting<\/a>, which bounces light off the walls or ceilings instead of directing light downward, can soften harsh lighting. Instead of a large fixture in the center of the room, use under cabinet lighting, or recessed fixtures in your kitchen.<\/p>\n Bright design can pack a punch in the bathroom<\/a>. However, if you\u2019re looking to update your commode in hopes to sell your home, think spa, rather than \u201cI\u2019d like to make a statement.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhite is your best friend in the bathroom,\u201d says Riordan. \u201cWhite towels, white accessories, white shower curtains will all make this room scream cleanliness.\u201d<\/p>\n An all or mostly white bathroom can make the space look larger, and radiates a sense of calm. Keep those spa vibes coming with artful accessories such as:<\/p>\n When you sell your home, you need to appeal to a wide range of buyers, not just your own personal taste. But go too far in the \u201ctrendy\u201d direction and the results could be fleeting. When in doubt, stick with styles that stand the test of time.<\/p>\n Header Image Source: (Stock-Asso\/ Shutterstock)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" You might love your bold bathroom tiling or brass finishes, but when it comes to selling your home, these fads can backfire.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":99,"featured_media":11756,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[321,240],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11743","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-attract-buyers","category-staging"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/decorating-trends-to-avoid-before-selling-a-house-accent.jpg\")
<\/a>1. Accent walls<\/h3>\n
\n
![\"Tile](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/decorating-trends-to-avoid-before-selling-a-house-tile.jpg\")
<\/a>2. Tile countertops<\/h3>\n
![\"Brass](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/decorating-trends-to-avoid-before-selling-a-house-brass.jpg\")
<\/a>3. Brass fixtures<\/h3>\n
\n
\nSince black goes with everything, incorporate a few matte black fixtures<\/a> into your bathroom or kitchen to tie the whole look together.<\/li>\n
\nYou don\u2019t want the mixing to come off as matching, so don\u2019t use finishes that almost look the same<\/a>. Instead of creating a chic effect, this will look like you didn\u2019t notice they were different. That means don\u2019t go for chrome and nickel. Pick one.<\/li>\n
\nInstead of painstakingly trying to complement the finish of your refrigerator, pick fixtures in a contrasting color<\/a> for intentional variety.<\/li>\n
\nYou can mix metals, but you don\u2019t want every fixture to be something different. Instead, pick one that will be the dominant finish, then one or two additional complementary colors for a cohesive look.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n![\"Plain](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/decorating-trends-to-avoid-before-selling-a-house-plain.jpg\")
<\/a>4. \u2018Run of the mill\u2019 decor<\/h3>\n
![\"Wallpaper,](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/decorating-trends-to-avoid-before-selling-a-house-wallpaper.jpg\")
<\/a>5. Wallpaper<\/h3>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/decorating-trends-to-avoid-before-selling-a-house-microwave.jpg\")
<\/a>6. Above-the-stove microwave<\/h3>\n
\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/andre-francois-mckenzie-sZ5CteK2r6E-unsplash-1-775x518.jpg\")
<\/a>7. Loud appliances<\/h3>\n
![\"Edison](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/decorating-trends-to-avoid-before-selling-a-house-bulb.jpg\")
<\/a>8. Edison bulbs<\/h3>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/decorating-trends-to-avoid-before-selling-a-house-bathroom.jpg\")
<\/a>9. Bold bathrooms<\/h3>\n
\n