Top 12+ Decor Choices That May Lower Home Value (Most Owners Don’t Realize)

Wall-to-Wall Carpeting

Carpet once signaled comfort and luxury, but today, buyers overwhelmingly prefer hard surfaces like wood or luxury vinyl. According to a 2024 HomeLight survey, more than 54% of real estate agents say homes with extensive carpeting often fetch lower offers.

Carpets trap allergens and odors and can easily show stains, making them a turn-off for pet owners or families with allergies. Even newer, high-quality carpet rarely competes with the clean look of hardwood or laminate.

Replacing carpet with hardwood can offer a return on investment of up to 70%, according to Remodeling Magazine’s 2023 Cost vs. Value report.

Buyers want flooring that’s easy to clean and won’t need replacing soon after move-in. If your home is carpeted throughout, especially in high-traffic or dining areas, you might unknowingly be shrinking your buyer pool.

Bold or Dark Paint Colors

While a deep navy accent wall or moody green living room might be trending on social media, these choices can backfire when it’s time to sell. Zillow’s 2023 Paint Color Analysis found that homes with dark or unconventional wall colors sold for up to $2,500 less than similar homes with neutral tones.

Potential buyers often see bold paint as extra work—they imagine having to repaint before moving in. This psychological barrier makes your home feel less move-in-ready, which can lower offers.

Neutral colors like whites, light grays, and soft beiges appeal to the widest audience and make spaces appear larger and brighter. Even if you love your statement wall, consider repainting in a more universally appealing shade before listing.

Overly Customized Built-Ins

Bespoke built-ins, like office desks, bookshelves, or entertainment centers, often seem like a practical upgrade. However, if they’re too specific to your needs, they can limit a room’s usefulness for future owners.

A 2024 survey by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) found that 31% of agents reported custom built-ins as a common reason buyers pass on a home. These features can make it difficult for buyers to picture their own furniture or hobbies in the space.

Built-ins that are impossible to remove or dominate an entire wall can especially hurt in smaller rooms. While storage is always a plus, sticking to more flexible options keeps your home’s appeal broad and adaptable.

Converted Garages

Turning a garage into a gym, playroom, or extra bedroom might make sense for your family, but it can actually lower your home’s value. According to a 2023 Remodeling Impact Report, 75% of buyers prefer a functional garage.

Many buyers prioritize parking, storage, and workshop space over the bonus room. In areas with harsh weather, the loss of covered parking is especially unpopular.

Even a high-quality conversion often yields less return than the cost to install. If you’ve made this change, consider leaving the garage door and basic infrastructure intact, so the next owner can easily convert it back if desired.

Permanent Wallpaper or Murals

Wallpaper and wall murals have made a comeback, but highly personalized or busy patterns can be a red flag for buyers. A 2024 Opendoor report indicated that homes with heavy wallpaper sell 14% slower than those with painted walls.

Removing wallpaper is a tedious, time-consuming job, and buyers often see it as an immediate renovation need. Murals with specific themes or bold designs narrow your home’s appeal even further.

If you love the look, try peel-and-stick options or limit wallpaper to small, easily updated areas. Otherwise, you risk making your home feel outdated or overly personal.

Outdated Kitchen Cabinets or Countertops

Kitchens remain a top priority for buyers, and outdated materials can drag down your home’s value fast. The National Kitchen & Bath Association’s 2024 Trends Report found that homes with laminate countertops or dark, dated cabinetry sold for up to 10% less than updated kitchens in the same neighborhood.

Buyers today expect quartz, granite, or solid surface counters and lighter, modern cabinets. Even a minor kitchen facelift—like painting cabinets or swapping hardware—can boost appeal and sale price.

Ignoring these updates may leave buyers budgeting for an immediate remodel, which translates to lower offers.

Popcorn Ceilings

Popcorn ceilings, popular from the 1950s through the 1980s, are now widely seen as unattractive and outdated. According to Realtor.com’s 2023 survey, listings with popcorn ceilings spent an average of 21 days longer on the market.

Many buyers worry about potential asbestos, which was sometimes used in these textures before 1978. Even if asbestos isn’t present, the messy removal process is daunting.

Smooth ceilings feel more modern and make rooms appear taller and brighter. If you still have popcorn ceilings, removing them before listing can significantly increase buyer interest and perceived value.

Over-the-Top Landscaping

Lavish landscaping with ponds, intricate flower beds, or expensive water features may reflect pride of ownership, but it can actually scare buyers off. A 2023 Cost vs.

Value analysis revealed that homes with low-maintenance landscaping sell for 5-7% more than those with elaborate gardens. Many buyers see high-maintenance yards as a burden rather than a bonus.

Water features can be expensive to maintain and may pose safety concerns for families with small children. Simple, well-kept lawns and basic foundation plantings are most appealing.

Keeping landscaping manageable ensures your home looks inviting rather than overwhelming.

Unusual Bathroom Fixtures or Colors

Retro pink toilets, vessel sinks, or colored bathtubs might fit your style, but they’re often a dealbreaker for buyers. The 2024 Homebuyer Preferences Survey noted that 62% of buyers prefer bathrooms with standard white or neutral fixtures.

Unique features are often viewed as outdated or difficult to replace. Even small details, like non-traditional faucets or lighting, can make a bathroom feel less universally appealing.

Swapping out unusual fixtures for classic options is a relatively low-cost way to boost your home’s value and attract more buyers.

Too Much Themed Decor

Whether it’s a nautical bedroom or a rustic cabin-style living room, themed decor can be charming to some and off-putting to most. According to a 2023 Redfin market analysis, homes with heavy thematic decoration stayed on the market nearly twice as long as neutral homes.

Buyers struggle to envision their own belongings in a space dominated by a specific style. Themed decor can also make rooms feel smaller or more cluttered.

Sticking to simple, versatile decor helps buyers imagine the home as a blank canvas for their own tastes.

Outdated Light Fixtures

Brass chandeliers, fluorescent kitchen lights, or track lighting from decades past can instantly date a home. The National Association of Home Builders reported in 2024 that 47% of buyers cited outdated fixtures as a reason to lower their offer.

Lighting is one of the easiest ways to modernize a space without major renovation. Swapping out dated fixtures for simple, contemporary designs can make your home feel brighter and more up-to-date.

Inexpensive upgrades here often yield a high return and attract more positive attention during showings.

Built-In Hot Tubs or Pools

While a pool or hot tub might seem like a luxury, recent data suggests they aren’t always a plus. A 2023 Zillow survey found that only 27% of buyers viewed pools as a must-have, while over 40% saw them as a maintenance headache.

In many regions, especially with shorter swimming seasons, pools and hot tubs can actually reduce your buyer pool. Insurance costs, liability concerns, and upkeep are all major drawbacks for families with young children or those seeking low-maintenance living.

Unless you’re in a high-end market where pools are the norm, these features might do more harm than good when it’s time to sell.