7 Home Design Decisions Redditors Say They Deeply Regretted

Building, renovating, and decorating a home can be incredibly exciting and fun—but it can also be wildly stressful. The number of decisions, both large and small, can significantly affect how the home functions and looks. On top of the surplus of choices, all those Pinterest-worthy trends can quickly go out of date within a few years.

In a popular thread, Redditors share the design choices they once loved—and now regret. From trendy vessel sinks that make major messes to barn doors that fail to deliver privacy, we're adding these seven home features to the “never again” list. Read on for the candid confessions and cautionary tales that might save you from making the same mistakes.

1. Above-Mount and Vessel Sinks

What can look like an impressive statement design decision can quickly become a daily annoyance. Case in point: above-mount and vessel sinks. Many Reddit users admit to deeply regretting installing above-mount sinks—especially the vessel-style ones often found in bathrooms. 

The biggest complaint about both above-mount and vessel sinks is that they’re difficult to clean. Because these sinks sit on top of the counter rather than being flush with it, grime tends to accumulate around the base, which is notoriously hard to clean. They can also create awkward seams where toothpaste, soap scum, and water can easily collect. One Redditor says, “It’s impossible to get the gunk out from under the lip. I have to use a toothbrush just to clean it.” Also, since the bowl is on the counter rather than within it, vessel sinks can take up a lot of counter space, leaving little usable room for daily essentials.

Countertop sinks like these can also be challenging to use, especially for children or those on the smaller side. Vessel sinks can add 4–6 inches of extra height above the countertop, which might look great, but users say it often results in an uncomfortable experience. One Redditor says, “I feel like I’m hunched over trying to splash water into a birdbath. It’s awkward and splashy.” The shape of vessel sinks also makes them prone to splashing, especially when paired with high-arc faucets or intense water pressure. This combination can turn daily, simple tasks like washing hands or brushing teeth into an entire cleaning session. “No matter how low we keep the pressure, water ends up all over the counter," a Redditor says.

2. Cabinets That Don't Go to the Ceiling

While it does save on costs, leaving kitchen cabinet tops exposed and not taking them all the way to the ceiling is a major regret for many Redditors. Kitchens require constant cleaning, as dust and grease build up on cabinet tops. Neglecting to clean them consistently can create a nightmare cleaning scenario in the long term, as one Redditor says, "You don’t realize how gross that space gets until you try to clean it. It’s a greasy dust trap.” This is especially true when homeowners try to decorate that space with plants, baskets, or decor. The items collect dust, and the space is rarely revisited after the initial setup until the holidays come around.

Not only is this space difficult to clean, but it’s also relatively unusable. In contrast, ceiling-height cabinets offer extra room for rarely used items like holiday dishes, infrequently used appliances, and even overflow pantry items. “That foot of wasted space could easily fit all my baking tools, which now take up a whole lower cabinet,” one Redditor says.

3. Poorly Placed Electrical Outlets

This mistake might not be as top-of-mind as other, more decorating-focused mistakes, but it’s equally essential: electrical outlets either in the wrong place, not enough of them, or are missing entirely where you need them most. Not surprisingly, kitchens and offices are the most frequently referenced spaces, with many Redditors saying there aren't enough outlets for their daily appliances and machines. Bathrooms are often worse, with some users reporting only one outlet for the whole space, shared between toothbrushes, hair dryers, and electric razors. 

If you’re planning a build or reworking your kitchen, bathroom, or living space, remember to consider your electrical needs. The best outlet layouts are based on how you actually live in your home. When planning, walk through each room and imagine where appliances, electronics, and furniture will go. Install outlets on kitchen islands, inside cabinets (for hidden charging), and in closets (for vacuums and routers). If you can, use USB combo outlets where tech is charged. And finally, always add more than you think you need—you’ll rarely regret having too many.

4. Glossy or Shiny Flooring

While those sleek, polished high-gloss floors can look absolutely incredible, they’re often not worth it. Whether it’s porcelain tile, polished marble, or shiny hardwood, many homeowners report daily frustration and relentless upkeep. Glossy floors—especially in darker colors—reflect footprints, pet hair, dust, and dirt. Just walking across them barefoot can leave smudges, and even clean shoes can leave visible marks. Even worse, scratches, dents, and imperfections can stand out dramatically. 

However, safety is the top concern among users in the Reddit thread, with many reporting that their glossy or ultra-smooth floors are incredibly slippery, especially when wet. Whether it's water from the kitchen sink or the bathroom shower, or just having on damp socks, smooth flooring becomes a constant fall risk. This risk is hazardous for households with children, elderly residents, and pets with low traction (especially larger dogs). Some Redditors even report having to add area rugs or runners to create safe walking paths—destroying the clean, modern aesthetic they originally wanted.

5. Overly Trendy Design Choices

As much as we love them, trends age quickly—but your home doesn’t. Reddit users say they learned this the hard way, as trendy ideas can often lead to expensive, time-sensitive regrets. From vessel sinks and barn doors to gray-on-gray interiors, homeowners reflected on how fast these features can date themselves. And as time passes, you're left with spaces that feel out of sync with the times. Unlike throw pillows or artwork, big-ticket trends like tile, cabinetry, and custom features are expensive and time-consuming to change.

Several Redditor regrets stem from trends that prioritize looks over livability. Examples include: floating shelves that don’t hold much, barn doors that don’t close tightly, wall-mounted faucets that are hard to maintain, and dark matte finishes that show smudges and scratches. “We installed matte black fixtures and now spend half our lives wiping off fingerprints and water spots," says one Redditor. 

Another key theme is chasing that trendy, magazine-worthy look, often at the expense of how they actually live in the home and use the space. One user regrets following the minimalism trend, setting themselves up in a house that lacked function for real, daily life. “We went all in on minimalism—no upper cabinets, clean lines, no visible storage. We have a toddler now. That was dumb.”

6. Low-Quality Fixtures

Finishes and fixtures—like faucets and lights, to door hardware and drawer pulls—might seem like an easy place to save on cost, but experts, designers, and Redditors alike often warn that cheap fixtures will quickly reveal their flaws. One of the most talked-about regrets involves bargain-brand faucets, especially in kitchens and bathrooms. While they might look similar to the expensive model you really want, cheaper faucets often have plastic internal parts, weak water flow, or leaky seals that give out within a year or two. And replacing a faucet isn’t just an annoyance—it’s a full-on project that often requires disconnecting plumbing, shutting off water, and risking damage to surrounding finishes like tile or countertops. 

“We bought a no-name faucet to save $80. It started leaking after six months and was a nightmare to replace,” one user says. The same goes for light fixtures. Cheaper options or knock-offs tend to come with flimsy sockets, buzzing ballasts, or unreliable switches, which can make rooms look cheap or dated far sooner than expected and even create fire hazards. One Redditor says, “We put in these trendy brushed gold fixtures from a discount site. Half of them started flickering within a year.”

Cabinet hardware is the same story. In high-traffic areas like kitchens and bathrooms, cheap hardware wears out fast. Users describe drawer pulls bending, cabinet hinges sagging, and doorknobs loosening or falling apart, especially on frequently used doors and drawers. One user says, “I bought cheap handles online, and they stripped out the screw holes on my drawers. Had to patch and redrill everything.” Another regret included low-quality finish coatings, especially on matte black, bronze, or brushed gold items. Redditors report that finishes often flake off, scratch easily, or discolor with regular cleaning. In contrast, users who splurged a little more on solid metal or brand-name hardware say it has held up beautifully over years of use.

7. Sliding Barn Doors—Especially on Bathrooms

Sliding barn doors were one of the most popular design trends of the mid-2000s, popping up in everything from farmhouse-style kitchens to modern bedrooms. But many homeowners in the Reddit thread and beyond regret installing them, especially in bathrooms. Privacy, sound control, and functionality are top of mind in bathrooms, and unlike traditional swing doors, barn doors hang slightly off the wall and don’t sit flush with the frame. This means there’s a noticeable gap on all sides that can completely fail to block sound, light, odor, and even privacy from some angles. “It looks cool, but I can hear—and smell—everything when someone’s using the bathroom. Never again,” says one Redditor.

While they are a great space-saver, barn doors in homes with shared bathrooms or powder rooms near the main living areas can become a daily source of discomfort for residents and guests alike. Not only is visual privacy a concern, but some barn doors don’t come with locks. Their tracks can accumulate grease and grime, are notoriously difficult to clean, and, when used in a bathroom, can lead to rust, mildew, or warped wood over time.