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Good design is about finding the delicate yet pleasing balance between form and function. Though a lot depends on what you want to get done, a good rule of thumb is to keep your designs simple, so that they’re easily understood, practical, and aesthetic. But some people throw the rulebook out the window into the dumpster. And then they wing it.

Even though bad home interior designs are something you should practice social distancing from, you can’t deny that they can be hilarious… as long as it’s not your home we’re talking about! Bored Panda wanted to make you laugh and feel better about having to stay in your lovely home during the lockdown, so we’re bringing you the funniest, most facepalm-worthy interior design fails that prove common sense is actually quite rare.

Are you in the mood for some more horrendous examples of design? Well, once you’re done scrolling through this list and upvoting your fave horrible design pics, we invite you to check out earlier posts about design fails here, here, and here.

#1

Steps That You Can't See

Steps That You Can't See

Paarnahkrin Report

#2

Up The Drain It Goes

Up The Drain It Goes

Winsthorne Report

#3

My Uncle's House Got A Bathroom Without A Door, Literally The First Thing You See When You Enter The House

My Uncle's House Got A Bathroom Without A Door, Literally The First Thing You See When You Enter The House

muurilin Report

Designer Dieter Rams is one of the world’s brightest experts when it comes to design that’s done well. Back in the 1970s, he said that the world was full of “an impenetrable confusion of forms, colors, and noises” and then went on to create his 10 principles for good design. In our opinion, he expressed timeless rules that are as important now as they were back then.

For Rams, good design has to be innovative but also useful. It can’t sacrifice form or function for one or the other: it has to be a blend of both. If a product is self-explanatory, even better! That goes for designs everywhere—if something is over-designed, it can create confusion.

#4

My Friend's Under-The-Stairs "Bathroom" Where The Toilet Is Diagonal And Partially Installed Into The Carpeted Wall

My Friend's Under-The-Stairs "Bathroom" Where The Toilet Is Diagonal And Partially Installed Into The Carpeted Wall

dbqbbq Report

#5

Can't Stop Thinking About This Sink

Can't Stop Thinking About This Sink

aprilcotz Report

#6

Kitchen Made By A Sofa Maker

Kitchen Made By A Sofa Maker

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Similarly, Rams argues that good design is honest, long-lasting, friendly to the environment, has a shelf life longer than current trends, and does away with non-essentials. In short, aim for purity. Show the essence of the design. Do away with what’s unnecessary. More is less.

However, we’re not the only ones who think that bad designs can be a lot of fun (and not just a warning about what to avoid doing). The founders of the Ugly Design Instagram page, Jonas Nyffenegger and Sébastien Mathys, told Bored Panda in an earlier interview that bad designs jump out at people from the screen and grab their attention.

#7

At Least You Don't Have To Reach For It

At Least You Don't Have To Reach For It

Henry Franks Report

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#9

All It Needs Is A Jukebox And A Soda Fountain

All It Needs Is A Jukebox And A Soda Fountain

Czechs_out Report

What’s more, atrocious designs also keep on surprising people. Just when you think you’ve reached the bottom of the (Un)Aesthetic Abyss, you realize that it was just the tip of the Iceberg of Bad Taste. What’s more, the founders pointed out that the world would be a very boring place if everything looked tasteful and nice.

#10

Imagine Having To Scrub Or Clean It

Imagine Having To Scrub Or Clean It

IdahoePotatoe Report

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Truth Monster
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

so if you filled in the gaps with an epoxy resin, it might be cool, but this looks impossible to keep clean as it is.

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#11

I Almost Fell Down And Rolled My Ankle On This

I Almost Fell Down And Rolled My Ankle On This

I_am_lazy_15 Report

#12

New Kitchen Style

New Kitchen Style

DrFetusRN Report

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Troux
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate this, but not as much as I hate how much I like this.

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#13

Why Is There Wood Separating The Hallway In Half

Why Is There Wood Separating The Hallway In Half

a-random-pasta Report

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Slinkman
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Something was not thought through here. Guess they thought they could ditch the bearing beam.

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#14

Yup, The Fridge Fit Boss

Yup, The Fridge Fit Boss

waconcept Report

#15

My Parents Have A Bathroom With Carpet That Goes Up The Bathtub Walls. Bonus Points For The Terrible Wallpaper

My Parents Have A Bathroom With Carpet That Goes Up The Bathtub Walls. Bonus Points For The Terrible Wallpaper

jbird2525 Report

#16

Who Says Crown Molding Is Overdone?

Who Says Crown Molding Is Overdone?

buckleybuilds Report

#18

Middle Class Fridge. Lower Class Aesthetic

Middle Class Fridge. Lower Class Aesthetic

AcousticHigh Report

#19

It's Not A Mirror, It's A Doorway

It's Not A Mirror, It's A Doorway

daekaz Report

#20

A Shower Designed To Be As Hard To Stand In As Possible

A Shower Designed To Be As Hard To Stand In As Possible

Djuna Ivereigh Report

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Kisses4Katie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lemme just cling to this rock like a derpmaid while water runs over my body

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#21

This Bathroom Covered In Carpet

This Bathroom Covered In Carpet

whyangelinawhy Report

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Chris B
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not plain ugly. Somehow it's appealing in a very strange 70s softcore adult movie master bedroom druglord nightmare.

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#22

This Single Square Inch Of Raised Carpet Complete With Lining

This Single Square Inch Of Raised Carpet Complete With Lining

fourskincheeze Report

#23

I Can Just Imagine The Whole House Shaking Like Crazy

I Can Just Imagine The Whole House Shaking Like Crazy

Pashunder Report

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Slinkman
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, the air refreshner and toilet paper where placed there with a lot of optimism.

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#25

Imagine Trying To Piss While Drunk

Imagine Trying To Piss While Drunk

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#26

These Stairs Leading To A Bedroom Loft

These Stairs Leading To A Bedroom Loft

zillow.com Report

#27

My Friend Just Finished A Kitchen Remodel

My Friend Just Finished A Kitchen Remodel

SirCadwaladr Report

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Anne
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

they made do with the existing cabinets, so.. it was like this before

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#28

Prayers For The Contractor Who Had To Call These Homeowners And Explain They Needed A Second Set Of Front Doors Because. Math

Prayers For The Contractor Who Had To Call These Homeowners And Explain They Needed A Second Set Of Front Doors Because. Math

F. C. Tucker Company Report

#29

Today My Mom Hit Her Toe With This And Was Bleeding. I Hate This Kitchen So Much

Today My Mom Hit Her Toe With This And Was Bleeding. I Hate This Kitchen So Much

reemathenerd2 Report

#30

Why Is The Big Face Bleeding, Why The Monkey, Just Why

Why Is The Big Face Bleeding, Why The Monkey, Just Why

pleasehatethesethings Report

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#31

This Shower Has Blinds Instead Of Curtains

This Shower Has Blinds Instead Of Curtains

TrixoftheTrade Report

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Luuta
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Psycho would have been a completely different movie with these in place.

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#32

This "Form Over Function" Kitchen In My Apartment

This "Form Over Function" Kitchen In My Apartment

chefmacari Report

#33

Social Distancing Looking A Lot Like Being Married For 10+ Years

Social Distancing Looking A Lot Like Being Married For 10+ Years

trautwein-gmbh.com Report

#36

This Staircase Bathroom

This Staircase Bathroom

bagniorrendi Report

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TTorrest Author
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All I can picture is my knucklehead sons trying to hit that toilet from the top step.

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MrsPossum
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A shower as well?? Imagine the combo of shiny steps, no handrail, and water everywhere?!

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B Jones
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hope they don't have boys. You know they would hold a contest on how far up the stairs you could stand and still pee in the toilet...aww heck, I'm old and I would do the same

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Sergio Serg
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Add a bathroom. It will increase property value" they said...

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Philly Bob Squires
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I got hammered, Tried to wash my hands, I fell down the stairs, landed in the bidet and puked on the toilet... Thank God I didn't go out the window.

carolereid avatar
Carole Reid
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No hand rail. And if you've really got to pee, you might be out of luck.

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Leslie Hill
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A broken hip, but hard to explain. Wait, why would stairs be in the bathroom itself, says the physician and every single person.

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Wyndmere
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is that a window at the bottom? This just keeps getting worse.

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Nina
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Space is in the smallest den.. ahem ... 🤦‍♀️

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BananaAnna
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am impressed by the shower head over the bidet. If one is careful they will never have to clean either toilet. Highly functional.

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Stephie Silva
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This looks like something from a horror movie. Someone get locked down there? Creepy.

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Lisa Kelly
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hope the hubs never drops the hair dryer while wifey is showering

chelfedd7 avatar
Chelsea Kelley
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At least this toilet is at the bottom of the stairs, not ON the stairs...😁

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Kate Gunelkan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like it, instead of bending over to wash my face, I just step to the right! Step to the left and I can wash my feet!

dana_jackson avatar
Dana Jackson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is how a person can give themselves a swirly. No instructions needed.

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Andrea Hall
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Did they start to make a dungeon than realize this is an exquisite torture by itself, so they just stopped building?

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Micaela Morrigan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Try potty training the kid who is scared to go down in the basement there.

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Julia Wadensjö
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This looks exactly like the bathrooms in my wildest dreams... Like many nights ago I dreamed I had a toilet inside a wall, whit a staircase leading up to it.

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Veronica Connelly
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Totally didn't pay attention to the sink before I posted that. Lol at least the TOILET isn't at the top like the others. You might still accidentally eat crap washing your hands but at least you won't go potty in your pants trying to scale a friggen wall to get to the pot like the other post

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Gail Nicholson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not great, but to be fair, at least they've thought about use of space and marking the stairs out decently so you have a good chance of not tripping.

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P.A.B.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

By the time you reach the bottom, it’s toooo late! Kiddie wipe, please.

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Crybaby’s Universe
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

nromans2 avatar
Nancy Romans
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the shower is also on the bottom of the stairs in front of the toilet ? Why bother with a bidet?

cccarter69 avatar
Cheryl Carter
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

WHY?? None of these should even pass code let alone functional.

zalexi avatar
Z Alexi
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The toilet is in the shower? Going upstairs on wet steps w/o handrails? This is an accident~~not a design.

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Bonny Saxon
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Did he attempt suicide or just slip while shaving. The world may never know.

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katboxjanitor
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I fell up stairs while..... Oh, Doc - you gotta see it to believe it!

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T W
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Legit question - was this place once a church? Because that looks identical to a baptismal pool but with stray toilets in it.

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Amy Jo Buchanan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ewww! That shower head would be spraying water onto at least part of the toilet bowl and washing piss and gross feces onto the floor across the feet 🤮

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HarperTheCentaur (they/them)
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I weirdly really like the bathrooms with awful stairs. It's like a "so bad it's good" type thing. Edit: upon further reading (of this article) I have decided I have a thing for awful, ugly, and inconvenient stairs is general, no matter the room in which they are located.

kkathleen517 avatar
kkathleen517
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What the hell is that square shaped hope behind the toilet??? Trap door..window??

marymaney avatar
Mary Maney
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My 9 and 14 yr old bothers would have WAY too much fun on those stairs!! 😂

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Loki’s Lil Butter Knife
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now just imagine if poor Harry Potter had to live in a bathroom under the stair. We would certainly have quite a different story.

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#37

Why: 1. They Put In A Sliding Door To A Bedroom. 2. They Placed Curtains On The Outside Of It. 3. They Also Placed The Lock On The Outside

Why: 1. They Put In A Sliding Door To A Bedroom. 2. They Placed Curtains On The Outside Of It. 3. They Also Placed The Lock On The Outside

Eeve3_Lord Report

#38

This Entire Kitchen’s Counters And Backsplash Are Covered With This “Faux Mold” Tile

This Entire Kitchen’s Counters And Backsplash Are Covered With This “Faux Mold” Tile

iheartcatsandcoffee Report

#39

Imagine Being A Firefighter And Entering A Dark Smoke-Filled House From The Outside Through This Window

Imagine Being A Firefighter And Entering A Dark Smoke-Filled House From The Outside Through This Window

thenewyorkgod Report

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#42

Neck Pain And A Head Injury Anyone?

Neck Pain And A Head Injury Anyone?

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#43

My Grandma’s Bathroom

My Grandma’s Bathroom

Maxxerzz Report

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Stephanie Did It
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I bought a used mobile home with the garden tub carpeted exactly like this. They attached the carpet with a staple gun and 49,000 staples. Took me forever to get them all out and toss the nasty carpet.

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#44

The Bathroom Door Of The New Place My Girlfriend And I Just Moved Into. I Was Sat At The Dining Table When I Took This

The Bathroom Door Of The New Place My Girlfriend And I Just Moved Into. I Was Sat At The Dining Table When I Took This

Humphiee Report

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Stephanie Did It
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's clearly an exterior door on that bathroom, it even has a deadbolt lock!

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#45

The Queen’s Seat

The Queen’s Seat

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#46

Clean Entrance

Clean Entrance

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Helen Haley
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This looks practical for farmhouses and the like for a back door, walk in, wash off all the mud, keep moving. It is like next level mud room.

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#47

The Raised Cutout Of This Ceiling Doesn’t Allow The Fan To Suck In Any Air

The Raised Cutout Of This Ceiling Doesn’t Allow The Fan To Suck In Any Air

Rexmatt Report

#48

These Tiles That Are Designed Pre-Worn And Dirty

These Tiles That Are Designed Pre-Worn And Dirty

toppstiles.co.uk Report

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MrsPossum
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ugh, they don't even look like they've been put in properly straight. Why do this, when the rest of the kitchen looks clean and lovely?! 😟

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#49

How Would Any Of This Work

How Would Any Of This Work

DogWhistlersMother Report

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wandile dludlu
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's a horrible design, but it will work. steam doesn't care if something is perpendicular or what

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#50

Creativity

Creativity

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Note: this post originally had 143 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.

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