Interior Design:
History has had its fair share of awful and gaudy interior design trends. It was in the 70’s, however, that the truly tacky and horrendous made its way into our homes and offices.
 
Whether it was the rebellious feeling of the era or just too many drugs, the psychedelic and loud encapsulated the 70’s style. Some of the most outrageous, strange and visually traumatizing interiors come from this era. The 70’s were not the only time where interior design was in taste crisis; today, some people still commit the same questionable design choices.
 
Here are ten of the tackiest interior design trends to have “decorated” our spaces:
 
10. Lava Lamps

One of the must-haves of the disco era was a “lava” lamp. A lava lamp is a lighting fixture that has a cylindrical tube filled with colored liquid. Once the lamp is turned on, the heat from the light causes the liquid particles to move around the tube. Its light and colors gave an “outer space” feeling to the room. It also provided endless hours of entertainment for potheads.
 
Admittedly, these lamps are quite hypnotizing. They are, however, also quite tacky. Unless you are living in a college dorm room, leave the lava lamp deep inside your closet. The disco era has long been over.
 
9. Shag Rugs
It is fuzzy, soft, and will remind you of a skinned Muppet. They can be so thick that you will seem to sink into them. Shag rugs were the “it” item during the Seventies.
 
Nowadays, garish shag rugs are one of the worst floor décors you can have in your living room. Not only do they look hideously cheap, they also gather a lot of dust. It is not an enjoyable experience trying to launder and dry a shag rug.
 
Perhaps in a Seventies theme room it might work, but if your furniture and design is contemporary, leave out the shag rug.
 
8. Plastic
Plastic furniture is appropriate for outdoor and temporary seating or storage. It does not belong permanently in your living room, bedroom, or kitchen. Plastic plates and cups are not the height of elegance for formal dinners.
 
Plastic is often less sturdy than materials like wood or metal. Plastic furniture can never last long, and often breaks after a few years. Although plastic might not be as fragile as glass or ceramic, it isn’t as presentable either.
 
If you want to have elegant and tasteful home décor, keep away from plastic. They may be cheaper and less breakable than other materials but they do not get any style points.
 
7. Pleather
Nothing says cheap like pleather. Pleather is synthetic leather. It’s a type of upholstery or clothing material made of plastic fibers that serves as a substitute for genuine leather.
 
Leather upholstery is a statement of luxury and can satisfy the masculine taste. It is expensive and requires careful maintenance. It is also an investment.
 
Many might prefer pleather over the real thing because it is significantly cheaper and easier to maintain. It is also lighter than leather. Others claim to use pleather as a stand against animal cruelty.
 
There are many kinds of pleather; some are washable while others are stiff and difficult to clean. It might not be as environment friendly as it may seem either. Pleather takes longer to decompose than genuine leather, which means it remains solid waste problem longer.
 
If you insist on using pleather, use it for small accents. The smaller and less obvious they are, the less they will be scrutinized.
 
6. Plaid
On a school girl or Scotsman, plaid might actually be an acceptable fashion choice. On a couch, however, plaid just looks wrong.
 
Plaid is a fabric pattern that consists of alternating and crisscrossing bands of color in different widths. It is most often used in uniforms, and is also seen in English blankets.
 
Plaid can actually be a quaint accent to more solid pieces, but as a major feature it can become dizzying. As a table cloth it might work but as any other furniture covering it just won’t do. Plaid curtains are a definite no-no. Decorating an entire room in plaid can only spell disaster.
 
Stick to accents and avoid it on larger, more prominent pieces.
 
5. Overwhelming Patterns
The Seventies was the era of psychedelic and overwhelming pattern abuse. Patterns were everywhere during the Seventies, from clothing to bathroom tiles.
 
Large areas and furniture pieces covered in a strong colored, repeating pattern will make most people’s heads ache. It is an unpleasant visual assault, especially if the colors are bright and the pattern is intricate.
 
Paisley, sunburst, Hawaiian prints, tie-dye, and other combinations are never a good interior design option for upholstery or drapery. They overwhelm the senses and create visual chaos. The focus of a room is thrown off by a busy scattering of patterns.
 
Patterns should be used for accents not as distractions.
 
4. Clashing Colors
Colors help bring life into a dull room. They can set the mood of an area. Colors are one of the most important considerations in interior design. They should never ever clash.
 
Clashing colors disturb the flow of the room. They distract and sometimes cause anxiety, especially when two bright colors fight for dominance.
 
Colors should complement, even if they contrast on the color wheel, they should play off each other in a harmonious way. Subtle movements along shades or a bright accent color on a darker one are formulas for good interior design. Clashing colors are always tacky.
 
3. Duct Tape
Technically, duct tape is often not a conscious design faux pas. Interior design, however, should be a conscious effort.
 
Sometimes when objects or furniture break we use duct tape as a quick fix. Unfortunately, during the busy course of our lives, we often forget to get the damaged item repaired and leave the duct tape where it is. This is when duct tape becomes a design no-no.
 
Duct tape should be a temporary thing. It can hold something together or cover it, but only until the thing is repaired. It should never become a permanent feature.
 
Imagine duct tape on your wooden chair’s leg, or on your wall covering a hole, or holding together pieces of a vase. It is simply not attractive.
 
2. Bad Art
Everyone needs a piece of art in their lives. The best way to bring personality into a room is through artwork. Unfortunately, bad art can ruin the entire look of a room.
 
Art work that does not complement the rest of the room only makes it look disjointed. You want continuity and flow in the design, not a jarring display of bad taste.
 
Overwhelming pieces of art in a small room will make the room feel crowded and small. Garish colors and questionable talent can also spell design disaster. Just because someone made it and you bought it does not mean that it is art.
 
1. Foil Wall Paper
Nothing in this world screams weird and tacky than foil on your walls. Foil wall paper was, thankfully, a short-lived trend during the Seventies. Wanting to bring disco into the home or ward off brain-reading aliens might serve as a few lame excuses why anyone would put foil on their walls.
 
It is shiny, distracting, and utterly ridiculous as wall paper. Foil wall paper was probably the worst design idea of the 20th Century.
 
This trend might have been started by paranoid individuals who thought aliens where out to get them. Stoned idiots might have copied them. The Seventies was the era of acid drugs and post-war trauma. It was also the era that had the most traumatizing interior concepts.
 
Your home should be an expression of personality and taste. Avoid these design faux pas and maintain interior continuity, you’ll be sure to receive complements from your guests.