So, you’ve hit the big 4-0. Congratulations! You’ve earned the wisdom of the ages (or at least, you’ve learned not to trust your body after 9 p.m.), but there’s one thing you absolutely must avoid now that you’ve crossed this milestone: bad home decor.
No more filling your space with remnants of your younger, more reckless self.
At this point, your home should reflect the maturity you’ve worked so hard to cultivate (and by “maturity,” we mean less floral print and more “I actually know how to pick a color palette”).
Here are 5 decor no-gos after the big 4-0—because you deserve better than what you had when you were 20 and “just figuring things out.”
1. Using Floral Print Furniture (Unless You’re in a Victorian Parlor)
Floral print furniture, while whimsical in its own way, should never have a place in your post-40 home.
Sure, it might have seemed like a great idea back in the day when you thought you were a “boho-chic goddess,” but now? It’s giving “grandma’s guest room” vibes, and not in a cute way.
You’re not hosting a garden tea party; you’re living in a space that should evoke calm sophistication, not the feel of a flower shop that got stuck in a time machine.
Go ahead and keep your floral print curtains if you must—but the armchairs and couches? It’s time to let them go, dear friend.
2. Keeping Old Electronics (That VCR Isn’t Going to Watch Itself)
Let’s face it: The thrill of keeping an old VCR player or that dusty boom box from the ‘90s is long gone.
Sure, they remind you of simpler times, like when you spent hours rewinding tapes or trying to remember the last time you used a CD.
But now that you’re over 40, it’s time to embrace the wonders of modern technology. Keeping old electronics is like holding onto your flip phone because it still works. Just because you can still use that old TV with the giant back doesn’t mean you should.
Invest in a sleek smart TV or upgrade your sound system, and let go of the tech that’s basically a museum exhibit at this point.
3. Making Everything Match (You’re Not a Showroom, You’re a Person)
In your 20s, maybe you went wild with matching everything—coordinated throw pillows, matching lamps, and let’s not forget about those perfectly aligned curtains and rugs that looked straight out of a catalog.
But here’s the thing: perfection is overrated, especially after 40. In fact, making everything match is so last decade.
You don’t need everything to be a matchy-matchy moment. Instead, embrace the beauty of contrast! Mix textures, patterns, and colors to create a space that feels lived-in, warm, and interesting.
Think of it like you: not a perfectly coordinated set of matching items, but an eclectic blend of experiences, wisdom, and mature choices (that still know how to have fun).
4. Keeping Old Wallpaper (Unless You Want to Live in a Time Capsule)
Wallpaper is great if it’s used in a statement-making way, but that wallpaper from the ‘80s that has somehow survived every trend since then? It’s time to say goodbye.
Old, outdated wallpaper isn’t “charming”; it’s like a relic from the past that refuses to accept that the future has arrived.
The florals, the gold accents, the mismatched borders—it’s all gotta go.
Peel it off, and replace it with something fresh, whether it’s a sleek coat of paint or a modern wallpaper design that adds personality without screaming “I haven’t updated my decor since Friends was on TV.”
5. Laminate Countertops (Unless You’re into Time Travel)
Once upon a time, laminate countertops were the unsung heroes of kitchens everywhere. But after the big 4-0, we’re all about upgrading—because you deserve better.
Laminate countertops might be affordable, but they also scream “budget chic,” and not in the way you want. It’s 2025, my friend!
You’ve made it through the chaotic years of adulthood, and now it’s time to elevate your space. Go for durable, beautiful surfaces like granite, marble, or even sleek quartz.
Laminate countertops? Let them live in the past, where they belong—right next to the old popcorn machine and that 90s corded phone that still works if you really need it.