Is your home filled with motivational quotes? Are your walls painted gray? Do you own old furniture you no longer love? If you answered yes to any of these questions, your home may be what Gen Z is calling “cheugy.” The word cheugy is used to describe outdated trends that millennials often hold near and dear to their heart. Whether it be home decor, music taste, or even candle scent preferences, the term is only meant to poke fun at the generational differences.
So, the ultimate question is: “Do you own cheugy home decor?” To help answer this question, we asked experts from Vancouver, CA to Miami, FL, to reveal the top cheugy home decor and interior design trends of today. That said, it’s important to remember that your home should reflect the styles and trends that you love, even if they fall in the category of cheugy.
All things “modern farmhouse”…unless you actually live on a farm
No more cow/horse/chicken pictures. Try hanging “shiplap” vertically instead of horizontally to keep the great idea of adding texture to a space, but in a more modern way. And, no more two-story living rooms/fireplaces, please. They’re awkward and overpowering. Instead of 20’ ceilings, try 9’-10’ (max) with large floor-to-ceiling windows to still give the room a light airy feel. – J. Balis Interiors
As a modern ranch designer for the Farmhouse Hipster, hearing our beloved home style complete with shiplap and swingin’ barn doors were cheugy, wasn’t easy! What was easy was providing alternative textures for our clients in the form of creative molding, trim, and millwork applications. And, while I will always have a place in my heart for a rustic sliding door, we now add the warmth of wood with beautifully stained patio french doors, vintage pantry pocket doors, and even painted library doors. – Tanna By Design
Standard-sized pillows, lamps, chairs, and kitchen pendants
They just don’t cut it anymore, and it’s never been more important to scale up! Avoid cheugy home decor by always choosing the larger option because a generous scale looks expensive and can make a small space seem larger. – Alyse Warren
Edge strips that match the wood flooring, not the walls
This totally dates your home. If you’re refinishing wood flooring, choose 1/4 round strips that match your baseboard moldings instead. The look is crisp and clearly defines where the wall plane meets the floor plane. – Otrada Design
Cheugy home decor includes shiplap
The trend that will make your home feel outdated in 2021 is shiplap. I believe it has run its course and has been used too many times. Wallpaper and beautifully textured walls are a more current decorating approach. – Jennifer Pacca Interiors
Motivational signs, metallics, and macrame wall hangings
I have to be honest the term “cheugy” is new to me, however, outdated trends are not. Some of my favorite “chuegy” home decor trends would have to be motivational signs, macrame, and metallics. But the one that gets me is the overuse of metallics, whether in art or soft lines such as pillows. While some glitz can be well-appointed, too much can be off-putting. All trends aside, your home and your space are very personal to you and a reflection of your own personality. While trends come and go, it’s what you get out of your space that remains. – Willow Tree Home Design
Anything that is not authentic is cheugy home decor
I think anything that is not authentic to my clients would be considered “outdated”. Appropriate design will outlast a season. That said, emphasis of late includes design elements that reconnect us to the outdoors, and to nature. Integrating biophilic design principles into our homes is proven to increase our client’s health and well-being. Covid has forced us to reassess what’s most important to us in the environments in which we’re spending most of our time, and we’re discovering what truly works best for us. – Stacey Lapuk, ASID, Indigo Interiors, Inc. and Stacey Lapuk Interiors
Grey painted walls
You can still drink your pumpkin spice lattes, but please don’t paint your walls grey. Gray had a moment, but it’s time to step up your game with a bright and clean white wall or go dark and dramatic with a green, navy, or black. You are not basic, and your walls shouldn’t be either. – Megan Temple Design
Grey and white color theme
We have nothing against grey and white colors. In fact, these are popular and important neutral choices for homeowners and designers alike. White is a crucial color for a clean and sophisticated look and grey stands out against creamy white walls. We, however, think that the grey and white interior theme has become a cliché’ of what modern minimalist interior style is supposed to look like. In 2021, people are craving more use of other warmer neutrals and even bold colours especially seeing how pervasive Scandinavian minimalism has been over the past decade. We’re not saying grey is a nay, we just want to see different versions of it. – Chique Home Living
Holding onto furniture that doesn’t serve you
The best tip I can’t stress enough to my clients is it’s ok to throw out (or better yet donate) that old piece of furniture you keep lugging around, room to room, year after year. It’s not serving you, it’s not saving you money, and more importantly, it’s not functional. Unless you are saving a true piece of designer vintage or an heirloom of sentimental value, just let it go and move on. These pieces are usually awkward scratched-up wood tones. Try to introduce new elements into your homes such as cement, leather, marble, patterned fabrics, or even glass-made furniture and decor. – Alessandra Maria Iavarone of The Velvet Maple, a lifestyle shoppes and interior design studio
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