5 Bathroom “Upgrades” That Instantly Make Your Home Look Bad, Designers Say

Don’t let one questionable renovation turn a well-designed bathroom into an unstylish space that can ruin the look of your entire home. Before investing in upgrades or renovations, you want to make sure you’re investing in the right design choices.

So, what are some tacky bathroom upgrades that can instantly make your home look bad? We asked two interior design experts which type of upgrades to avoid and what you should do instead.

Loud, Colorful, or Unique Tile

Though that tile color or pattern might be trendy now, design experts warn that it could turn out to be tacky once it goes out of style.

Because tile is a permanent fixture that covers showers, floors and other bathroom areas, so what goes there should be considered carefully.

“Sometimes it can be fun to see these really glamorous, interesting, modern, artsy tiles, but that is one of the quickest ways to date a renovation,” says Pamela O’Brien, the principal designer of Pamela Hope Designs. “Like fashion, these things work in trends, and the trends move pretty quickly now.”

Instead, O’Brien suggests going with classic, timeless tiles, like subway, herringbone or basketweave.

“I would choose light neutrals and, even if you choose a pattern, I would keep my patterns light and open,” she says. “You could always go with a darker grout color, which will kind of enhance the pattern that you lay the tiles in.”

Want more design inspiration? Sign up for our free daily newsletter for the latest decor ideas, designer tips, and more!

Dramatic Stone Patterns and Textures

Like patterns, stone patterns and textures come and go with design trends. O’Brien says she can often tell when a bathroom has last been renovated by the type of stone used in it.

“Using really extreme stone patterns is another way to make something so loud and so dominant that you might end up either getting tired of it or even disliking it,” she says.

In lieu of dramatic textures, O’Brien recommends taking inspiration from how hotel and luxury spa bathrooms use neutral stone.

“They’re usually not going to have really extreme patterns in them and there’s a reason for that,” she says. “It’s long-term good looks that last, so rather than a really dramatic stone countertop, I would pick something that’s lightly patterned or possibly even a solid.”

Overly Ornate Vanities

Isfira Jensen, the CEO and principal designer of Jensen & Co, warns that an overly ornate bathroom vanity can come across as tacky, especially if it doesn’t match the style of the rest of the space.

“That’s why I would feel like that’s a huge faux pas,” she says. “No matter how nice it looks, it also needs to work well with the surrounding elements.”

Instead, try to find a vanity that matches the style of the bathroom and isn’t too large or small for the space.

“You want to make sure that the vanity has clean proof lines, a single color palette and isn’t very cumbersome to the eye,” she says.

Accent Borders

The ornate accent borders of the 2000s are a big no today, according to Jensen, and can be see as gaudy these days. She suggests skipping them completely in your bathroom.

“Less is more, so don’t even include it,” she says. “A lot of people think that it’s going to add an extra decorative element, but it’s not. It’s going to bring down the aesthetic.”

Low-Quality Plumbing Fixtures

Even if all your design elements, like tiles and vanities, match, low-quality plumbing fixtures can bring down the feel of your bathroom, but not just in its initial appearance.

Jensen points out that the cheaper faucets and handles will rust, chip, and peel over time, particularly ones in black.

“If you’re going to be investing in that, prepare to have them switched out very quickly, because you’ll see markings and scratches,” she says.” It will wear extremely poorly.”