Interior design is an art. Or at least it’s supposed to be. But for every Pinterest-worthy living room, there’s a monstrosity that defies logic, taste, and basic human decency.
Here are 10 interior design fails that will make you laugh, cringe, and seriously question humanity’s decision-making skills.
1. The Bathroom Carpet of Doom
You step into a bathroom, expecting sleek tiles or maybe some hardwood, and instead, your feet sink into… carpet?
Who thought this was a good idea? Nothing screams “breeding ground for mold” like wall-to-wall shag carpet in a room dedicated to water, humidity, and toothpaste spills.
Bonus points if it extends around the toilet. The only thing worse than wet socks is realizing the wet wasn’t water.
2. The Kitchen with 47 Cabinets and No Countertops
Storage is important, sure. But some kitchens have gone so overboard with cabinets that they forget to leave room for, you know, cooking.
Who needs a workspace when you can store seven different sets of plates, ten rolls of aluminum foil, and an air fryer you haven’t touched since 2017?
And if you need to chop vegetables? Do it in the living room, peasant.
3. The Mystery Door to Nowhere
Ever seen a door in someone’s house that doesn’t actually lead to anything? Open it, and you find… a blank wall or a 3-inch-deep closet.
These aren’t design features—they’re existential crises. Is it an escape route for spiders? A portal to another dimension? We’ll never know.
4. The Light Fixture of Eternal Danger
We all need lighting in our homes, but installing one two inches above your head is a cry for help.
Nothing ruins the relaxing dinner you’re about to have quite like not being able to see your loved ones. And let’s not forget the blinding light that keeps you from enjoying a delicious meal.
5. The Outrageous Open Concept Bathroom
Open-concept living rooms? Chic. Open-concept bathrooms? A crime against privacy.
Who decided it was acceptable to place a toilet in full view of the bedroom with no walls, no doors, and no shame?
Nothing says romance like locking eyes with your partner while they brush their teeth and you, uh, multitask.
6. The Overly Themed Room
Themed rooms can be fun—until they’re not. Pirate-themed bedrooms are adorable for kids but unsettling for adults.
Nobody wants to sit in a dining room with faux sand, fishing nets, and a plastic parrot judging their life choices.
And don’t even get me started on “medieval” home offices complete with fake torches. We get it, Gerald, you went to one Renaissance fair in 2003.
7. The Overhead Lighting Assault
Lighting can make or break a room, but there’s a special place in design purgatory for the unholy glow of fluorescent overhead lights.
Too dim, and you feel like you’re in a haunted house. Too bright, and your home suddenly has the ambiance of a hospital waiting room.
Pair this with popcorn ceilings, and you’ve got a sensory experience no one asked for.
8. The Couch That Eats You Alive
Modular furniture is trendy and practical—until it’s not. Some couches are so deep you need climbing gear to sit on them.
Others have cushions so soft you sink into the void, never to be seen again. These “cloud-like” couches are less furniture and more quicksand for your Netflix marathons.
9. The Glass Stairs Nobody Asked For
Glass stairs look cool in theory but are a nightmare in execution.
First, they’re terrifyingly slippery. Second, they require constant cleaning because every fingerprint and speck of dust shows. And third—oh, right—they’re see-through.
Did you forget that stairs are inherently a spot where someone might accidentally glance upward? Glass stairs are the design equivalent of inviting your guests to trip, fall, and sue you.
10. The Rug on Rug Crime
Area rugs are great for adding warmth to a room. But when someone throws a tiny rug over an already carpeted floor, it’s like putting a hat on a hat.
It doesn’t make sense, it doesn’t look good, and it’s an OSHA violation waiting to happen. Slippery rugs on slippery surfaces are how Aunt Marge ends up with a broken hip.