“Bad Interior Decorating”: 50 Pics From This Online Group Celebrating The World’s Worst Designs
Interview With ExpertHaving your own place comes with many responsibilities. You have to purchase your own furniture, take care of any plumbing or electrical issues that might arise, and the fridge won't magically be stocked unless you buy groceries. But you also have the opportunity to decorate the place however you like!
Whether you want popcorn ceilings and wood paneling on the walls or kitchen cabinets covered in plywood, it's completely up to you. Your home, your rules! Just be prepared to face judgment online if you decide to make questionable design decisions. We took a trip to the Bad Interior Decorating subreddit and gathered some of their most interesting photos below. So enjoy scrolling through these pics of bizarre and creative homes, and keep reading to find a conversation with interior design expert and blogger Laurel Bern!
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Not Nearly As Bad As Finding A Pet Rock In The Bowl
I have enough of my own problems I don't need to know my butt's problems too I'm good
Toastlamps
Don't Be Like Lauren
Just like preferences with food, clothing and music, interior design is subjective. You might love a home that’s full of only neutrals, while your best friend might decorate with lots of bright colors and eclectic patterns. But regardless of what your personal taste is, it’s likely that you would consider the design someone’s home to be questionable. And if you’re interested in critiquing home decor from the comfort of your humble abode, you’ve come to the right place.
The Bad Interior Decorating subreddit is the perfect place to channel your inner Bobby Berk and fantasize about what you would do to give these strangers' homes makeovers. This subreddit has over 2,000 members and is home to a wide variety of pics. If you spot a light fixture you hate, a rug that looks ridiculous or visit a home with wallpaper that should have been ripped up decades ago, feel free to share your findings with the group.
“Can You Pass The Salt Before It Falls Into The Trough Again Please”
I feel this would make a much nicer outdoor table in a garden
Oyster Fireplace, Most Horrifying Thing I've Ever Seen
Studio Apartment
To learn more about the importance of interior decorating and what qualifies as unfortunate design, we reached out to interior design expert and blogger Laurel Bern. Laurel was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and shared that design is "only important if one wants it to be important."
"However, I firmly believe that our environment affects us mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually," she added. Laurel also says that there's definitely such a thing as bad design. "However, bad design is not related to preference or 'taste.' I can appreciate interior design that's done well but is not to my taste," she explained.
Bought A House Last Year And Wondered Why This Light Never Worked. Finally Took It Off To Have A Look At The Wiring
TV Too High
Perfectly normal behaviour, carry on.
Load More Replies...And a rear projection tv to boot, the kind you have to sit right in front of to clearly see what's on the screen.
perhaps there is an angled mirror above the bed to get a straight angle to the screen. Of course everything would be upside down from that angle... unless you watched TV with your head at the foot of the bed
Load More Replies...What kind of Wil E. Coyote mess is this? Pray no one gets flattened during an impromptu watch party one day while they crane their neck just trying to get a better view of the screen. Wtf.
So many things wrong with this room. I just want to bull doze it and start over.
I just can't look away, there is so much going on here. The stairway is not wide enough, and it looks like whatever that is above the stairway could do some damage to someone if it fell. What the hell is going on here? There is just too much going on.
I could see myself trying to carry something through that doorway and that wire getting caught on me, and that sofa would not be usable after what happens
Yes, the TV being too high is clearly the biggest problem with this room
Ok so… I spent a really long time trying to understand the picture on the ceiling (left). I had finally settled on a tiger and a soldier 69ing when I zoomed in and realized what it actually was.
There is no way to get rid of that thing either. They will have to take the whole house down with it. CRT tvs are like herpes: with you until you die. My marriage almost never happened because of a CRT.
Anyone lightly brushes against that wire for the TV and there are going to be problems.
That TV immediately gives me anxiety and I would under no circumstances sit on that sofa under it!!!!
This problem could be solved by buying a massive modern TV and mounting it on the cross post.
There's Very High Frequency, Ultra High Frequency and Super-Ultra High Frequency.
Imagine TV fell and killed the one who was sitting on the sofa below....
This Is Actually Carved Into A Hardwood Floor
We were also curious to find out if there were any popular design trends at the moment that Laurel isn't personally a fan of. "There's a pervasive trend towards big, boxy, rustic, contemporary (some call it 'transitional') furniture," she shared. "There is nothing subtle or personal about it. It tends to feature medium to dark, neutral colors. I find this style annoying and tiresome unless it's in a mountain home in the Rockies."
So Much Purple. So Much Of It
This is the visual equivalent of cooking a multi-course meal, but putting melted cheese in/on everything; the salad, the main course, the vegetables, the dessert, the drinks, the table, the napkins... Also, there is no center or focus, so it takes awhile to make sense of it.
Made A Bookshelf For My Brick Collection
I Am Grout
Laurel also provided some tips for those of us who want to spruce up our homes' interior design but aren't quite sure where to start. "Read my blog! There are over 900 blog posts that talk about dozens of topics. Recently, I've been featuring my renovation in Boston and using myself as a guinea pig," the expert told Bored Panda.
This Kitchen
I'm all for using scrap materials but partical board cracks apart so easily and cabinets get heavy wear. This is gonna be falling apart very quickly.
Scene Of The Crime
Who Wants Fire For Breakfast?
Aside from checking out her blog, Laurel suggests collecting images of rooms, furnishings, colors, fabrics, etc. you like when you start dabbling with interior design. "I recommend Pinterest for this. Please don't think too hard about it. Just collect what you love," she shared.
"Eventually, you'll see a pattern and colors you gravitate towards. Also, look at art. I get incredible inspiration from the old masters," Laurel added. "A great piece of art is a terrific place to start to develop a color scheme. If you find a designer whose work you adore, go ahead and copy what they did. I guarantee it will be different, no matter how hard you try."
Lattice On The Ceiling, Pink Champagne On Ice
Knit Picking
I Don’t Even Know Where To Start With This
Finally, Laurel recommends only using furnishings, colors, and designs you truly love, and trying "not to listen to all the noise out there."
"Design trends are created to sell more furniture and magazines. I recommend going for classic furnishings, be they traditional, modern, or contemporary," she noted. "I also recommend working with an interior designer whose work you admire, even if it's only for a consultation. Most will do consults by the hour. It'll be the best money you've ever spent and will help to avoid making the costly mistake(s) you were about to make."
Potential
Grandma Got A Good Deal On This Pillow
This Is Truly Disturbing And Disgusting
Determining what qualifies as “bad” interior design can be tricky, and it’s constantly changing based on what’s trendy at the moment. But according to Business Insider, some of the worst home design trends that were popular in 2023 were large sectional sofas, grey-toned spaces and open floor plans. Designer Selena Lewis warns that sectionals often make rooms feel crowded and take up way too much space. Instead, she recommends opting for a couch and one or two extra chairs that can be moved if necessary when hosting.
6 College Bros And One Brain Cell Between All Of Us
Pulled Up The Carpets In Newly Purchased House To Find This
The pentacle is used alot for protection, spells and rituals by pagans, witches and wiccans. It's not a symbol for evil.
No. Just No
For when you have explosive diarrea and need something to hold on to? (Pls don't upvote this.)
And when it comes to the “gray-tone movement,” Lewis says using too much gray can actually make it very difficult to blend other colors into your space. Instead, it might be better to use lighter neutrals, which can make choosing furnishings and adding in accent colors a lot simpler. And while open floor spaces have been popular in recent years, many people are now preferring segmented zones so that each space has a designated purpose.
Santas Gotta Come In Somewhere?
Found On Real Estate Listing: Interesting Bathroom Layout
This One Is So Bizarre I Can't Even Come Up With A Catchy Title
Are you enjoying these photos of unfortunate interior design, pandas? Hopefully these pics make your home look even more stylish! Keep upvoting the photos that you find particularly bizarre or hilarious, and let us know in the comments what the strangest interior design choices you’ve ever seen were. Then, if you’re interested in checking out another Bored Panda article, you can find even more interior design fails right here!
Chip And Joanna Died For Your Sins
I’d be distressed too if someone had done that to my beautiful table!
When Flipping Houses Goes Wrong
It doesn’t matter how hot you have the water set to, you’re still taking a cold shower
A Story Of Designs, And Their Clashes
I don't think it's supposed to hang like that and should probably look better from a really high ceiling so they can hang freely. Like they are supposed too.
Step Single A Just With Begins Journey Every
Thank You Landlord, Very Cool!
Cat...opia
There is just so much going on in this room that my brain is confused.
The Plywood Headboard In This Staging
It's All Pink On The Inside
Inside Balconies On Apartment Building
ok hear me out - if this is somewhere with extreme weather and they decorated with lots of plants and colors this could be cool
Great For Floor Viewing
Black Appliances, ‘80s White Wood Cabinets, Electric Blue Walls…. This Is Dizzying To Look At
Not The Kind Of Place You'd Like To Curl Up With A Good Book
Over The Shoulder Toilet Paper Holder
"I Never Want To Be Out Of Your Sight"
Good thing they put up the tiny room divider - that makes it totally functional. /s
Oh Canada
Planet Of The Hamsters
Will The Real Slim Shady Please Sit Down (Please Sit Down, Please Sit Down)
Remember the first MIB movie? When Will Smith and the other applicants are given clipboards and those horrible egg-shaped chairs to see who was smart enough to think outside the box -er, 'egg'? This is the restroom in that place...
It Gets Worse The Longer You Look
This Is What $2,790,000 Gets You In Los Angeles-Adjacent
Just Moved In, Can't Open Past This Point
This Couch In The Basement Of An Abandoned Party Mansion Is USA All Day! [oc]
Collection Of Dust Collectors
French Doors But No Bidet?
Who Doesn't Want To Come Home To A Disco
I'm Floored
Rad Interior Decorating?
Rate My Setup
When You Forget About The Vents
Crate And ... Double Barrel?
The Smile Will See You Now
Up And Coming Trend In Interior Decorating?
Was Told To Post This Here! :) My Mom Bought A Massive Fur Blanket Made Exclusively From Roadkill
Lamp
Compact Kitchen
Bad Interior Decorating Holiday Edition
I Peaked Into My Cousins Room 🤢 He Finna Get Kicked Out Of Gramma House Lol
When Your Husband Is An “Artist”
Life Pro Tip - Use Two Nails To Hang A Large Framed Piece Of Art
The People Who Live Here Really Dislike Pigeons?
Definitely Too High
It's probably going to counteract the damage looking down at phones is doing to our necks
Split Level...split Personality
“This Is How You Hang Prints, Right? As Close To Each Other As Possible? Right?”
Foot Lamp (Oc)
Perfect For Military Families!
It Even Has A Light In Front Of It!
His And Hers Reading Lights
"We Need Something To Liven Up This Room..." "Don't Worry, I Know Just The Thing!"
This place looks abandoned, so I'm not sure why this is included.
Spray Paint Your Lights?
Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys
Walk Like An Egyptian
How Many Antlers Should I Hang? -As Many As Will Fit. Even The Little Ones? Yep
Not A Fan
Creative Use For Hair Extensions
It's Curtains For You
Good Luck Getting A Hundred And Thirty Euros For That
Found An Old Office With Everything Left Behind Tucked Away In The Basement Of An Abandoned State Hospital. [oc]
Christmas Present From My Brother: A 2014 Used Mercedes-Amg Petronas Formula One Team Rear Wheel, Converted Into A Coffee Table!
Sony Ps1 Table Lamp
Our Toilet Seat Broke So The Landlady Sent Us A New One And Ignored Our Request For It To Be Square
Cold porcelain against your warm skin.... in the middle of the night when you have to get up and pee.
But I Wanna Be Where The Lights Are Shining On Me
Craig Is One Crazy Guy. Found This On His List
Just Because You Can Doesn't Mean You Should
Too Tiny. Too High
GF Was So Proud Of Herself For Buying Raw Doors, Cutting In The Hinges And Drilling The Knob Hole. I Was The Bearer Of Bad News That She Did It Upside Down
They Blue It
All This Could Be Yours…
This...this Is Just Wrong
I hate those naked bowl sinks. I'll be really glad when that trend disappears.
Happy Holidays? Please Don't
Had To Stand Up To See The Score
To be fair, those are Christmas decorations, so they won't be there all year round.
Vanity Nemesis?
I mean… Vanity on a budget? Put some lights around it(even battery powered LED) and it would be an improvement.
Hot Mess
Unpopular Opinion? I Hate This Bathroom
This Is How I Decorated The Wall In My Bathroom. The Cat Mirror Is Extremely Sentimental
Cornered
Looks like they downsized to a smaller place but couldn’t part with any of their furniture
Continuing The Taxidermy Theme
Many of these are objectively bad, but there are a few that prove "not my style" =/= "bad taste". Let people enjoy things.
Neh, nothing like gleefully hating other peoples tastes ;) brings people together! (Jk, obviously you are right, but sometimes you just want to hate on Lauren because she puts her books backwards)
Load More Replies...Many of these are objectively bad, but there are a few that prove "not my style" =/= "bad taste". Let people enjoy things.
Neh, nothing like gleefully hating other peoples tastes ;) brings people together! (Jk, obviously you are right, but sometimes you just want to hate on Lauren because she puts her books backwards)
Load More Replies...