While getting “the ick” rose to slang stardom within the dating realm, it goes far beyond romantic relationships. At its core, an ick refers to something someone does that’s an instant turnoff and forever alters how you view them. The same can be true of interiors and the design process, especially in a world where the is sadly alive and well. So we asked to reveal their biggest design icks, and they delivered. From specific items like light-up furniture and decor with logos to uncalled-for client behavior, their design icks may inspire you to add to your own list of cringeworthy sightings or rethink your personal space. Take notes!
“My biggest design ick is outlets and outlet covers that do not coordinate with the overall design of a wall or room. There’s nothing worse than a moody, dark room that’s visually interrupted by white outlets and covers or, even worse, a crisp white room that’s visually interrupted by brown outlets!”
“My clients are almost exclusively families with young children. I am also a mom of four, so I wholeheartedly understand the need for durable fabrics and furnishings. Truly, I do. However, in 2024, we need to let the leather reclining sectionals with cup holders and LED lights fade into obscurity. LED lights and cup holders belong in your luxury SUV, not your living room. Opt for performance fabrics in forgiving colors, if white or beige scares you, paired with a traditional side table and accent lighting such as lamps, chandeliers, and sconces instead of nightclub or party bus LEDs.”
“One of my biggest design icks is when I walk into a room where all the furniture is clearly from the same line from the same store. Of course, I understand that non-design professionals are looking for a quick and easy way to make sure everything goes together, but I wish we put less emphasis on everything matching. I would so much rather walk into a space that’s a hodgepodge of mismatched pieces even if the composition isn’t perfect because that tells me so much more about your personality. Interior design isn’t about turning your home into a showroom; it’s about finding (and filling your space with) pieces that bring you genuine joy!”
David Quarles IV, principal interior designer at
“Generally, my biggest design ick is faux plants! While bought out of good intentions to facilitate making a house feel more like a home, faux plants carry three big cons that don’t outweigh the pros of real plants: 1) They still require maintenance, 2) More often than not, they cheapen the look of our beautiful homes, and 3) the really “good” ones are far more costly than real plants.
Faux plants break, topple over if the base isn’t sturdy enough, and you have to dust them! Otherwise, they’ll become a lackluster eyesore that won’t improve with time. Unless you spend a little more for them, faux plants tend to look inexpensive and instantly bring down the well-curated vibe of a home. However, if you do decide to splurge on better faux plants, they will cost significantly more than buying and nurturing a real plant. And still, you’d have to dust them often.
As an alternative, some easy-to-care-for plants are , , , and —my favorite being the Brasil pothos. They add literal life to a home and can introduce a new level of calmness to any day while learning to care for them.”
“This one is a little ironic. My personal preference is to forgo drapery or shades of any sort in the common spaces of a home (like a kitchen, living room, or family room). I love to see natural light and sunshine brightening up a well-situated home. However, when window treatments are present, I believe they should be custom and fitted perfectly. I know this can be a huge expense that most homeowners don’t anticipate and probably get sticker shock when they receive a quote, but I’d rather your windows be bare than have ill-fitted drapery. And if you must buy according to budget, please have them customized to fit your windows properly. Otherwise, a beautiful room will just look like you skimped on your eyelashes”
“I’m not a fan of logos in general, and I especially don’t think they belong in your home decor. I would never buy a blanket or pillow with a logo on it. One of those semi-ubiquitous blankets with the big Hermès H on it just signals that you spent $1,900 on a blanket. It doesn’t add anything to the design of a room. Don’t get me wrong—I think Hermès as a brand uses gorgeous, luxurious materials, and they have plenty of interesting designs in their collection. I would just decorate with one of their non-logo options.”
“Anything faux-aged. If patina is what we’re after, we’ll always prefer to get the real thing and avoid the pretenders. Let real materials be themselves, and let time do its thing! And on the converse, if ever building or buying anew, we look for materials and methods that are made to last.”
Undersized rugs! I think that’s the number-one sign of bad design. Your furniture should fit comfortably on the entire rug and not half-on, half-off. Proportion is everything; If the foundation is wrong, it can throw off the whole space. It always makes me cringe when I see a rug that is too small for a space. When in doubt, size up!
A pro tip if you can’t order a custom-size area rug: Get it larger, and you can always have a rug installer cut down the stock sizes! On a side note: Always splurge for a premium rug pad, and thank me later.
Jasmine Crockett, founder and CEO of
“Clients who take it upon themselves to make changes or add their own DIY projects during the design process without communicating with us. It can throw the entire design off completely if we’re not on the same page.”
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