Furniture Styles HGTV Stars Can't Stand Seeing In Homes

When designing any space, there are tons of choices to make, from choosing the perfect wall color to deciding on the types of lighting to incorporate. However, your furniture picks can also make or break both the aesthetics and functionality of an area. Whether you're creating a perfect entertaining space or setting up a serene bedroom, choosing the right mix of pieces is a must. Not making thoughtful choices can leave you with results that don't meet your needs at best, or that look like a design disaster at worst. 

Luckily, some of the top HGTV stars have redesigned tons of rooms, and they've collected some tips on what to avoid when it comes to furniture choices along the way. From opting for the just-right-sized pieces to creating an intentionally curated look, these experts have shared their advice to guide you in your search. So, take note of their don'ts and focus on what to do instead to give your home an optimal vibe and enhanced functionality.

Joanna Gaines knows a thing or two about designing rooms, especially ones that provide enough space for a big family. However, even though plenty of seating is a must, she doesn't like to see a room filled to the brim with sofas and dining tables. The "Fixer Upper" star told Realtor, "Trying to put too much furniture in one space makes it look smaller than it really is. Try to stick with three large pieces at most per room to keep the house feeling big and open."

Now, that doesn't mean you need to sacrifice seating and your ability to host a crowd. Just limit your room to two or three major pieces, like a sofa, a loveseat, and maybe a large chair. Then, look for more compact options that still add functionality. Poufs, nesting tables, and accent chairs with small footprints can all provide flexible ways to accommodate more people.

Hilary Farr is known to not sugarcoat things. So, of course, she kept it real with her clients in Season 1, Episode 4 of "Tough Love with Hilary Farr." The dining room was crammed with inherited items and the bedroom featured clunky wood furniture that homeowner Michele loved. Knowing people were attached to their antiques, Farr treaded carefully, explaining, "There's always room for one or maybe even two little pieces that have sentimental value because there is something to that, I believe it." However, she didn't think several large antique storage units fit into that exception.

"We could really improve the function here by you being able to let go of some of the pieces that you're attached to." So, during her overhaul, Farr replaced the bulky furniture with fewer streamlined picks that gave the home more breathing room. 

If you're struggling with paring down pieces that aren't the right scale for your home, consider how they're impeding the functionality. If getting rid of them for good is too permanent of a decision, put them in a storage unit and replace them with options that are better suited for your space. As months go by, you'll likely feel relieved by the improved flow and will find that you aren't as attached to the inherited items as you thought. This phasing-out strategy might just make it easier to finally part with Grandma's hutch or your aunt's sideboard.

When her client, Mike, wanted a bedroom inspired by a showroom design in Season 4, Episode 1 of "Windy City Rehab," Alison Victoria was quick to veto his request. He began to explain, "I've seen pictures of bedrooms with couches and stuff like that..." But Alison cut him off, saying, "Why do you need it? If you put more furniture, you're going to throw more clothes on it. You don't need to do a lot of things in the bedroom. You need to literally sleep."

And, the HGTV star isn't alone. Deemed the "clothes chair," bedroom seating often becomes a catch-all for "not dirty enough for the hamper" garments and pieces that didn't make the cut for the day's outfit. So, some designers and organizers feel that eliminating the chair altogether is the best way to prevent this habit.

To create a peaceful, sleep-ready bedroom that's also functional, use minimal furniture. A comfortable bed and nightstands with storage are key. However, if you truly want a spot to sit and put on your shoes or just to relax, look for more compact options. A small pouf or an ottoman with storage improves your room's functionality without creating a prime spot to collect clutter.

Nate Berkus has a unique style that's reflected by the carefully curated pieces in which he and Jeremiah Brent have filled their home. Because of this careful curation, Berkus thinks it's a faux pas to buy furniture that you plan to use only for a few years, whether that's because it's part of a passing trend or you think you can eventually upgrade to something more special.

"I think the most common design mistake people tend to make is that they buy things they don't really like and don't have a connection to, and then they're tired of them a month later, six months later, sometimes even a year later — that's not good enough," the designer explained on Instagram. "When you buy something for your home, you should really love it, and you should love it for the next 10 years."

So, don't rush to fill your home with furniture. Shop with patience and keep an open mind when it comes to browsing various retailers. For major components like couches, dining tables, and beds, avoid the temptation to go too trendy. Instead, invest in foundational pieces that you can be confident you'll love for decades to come. Then, if you still want to add a pop of that in-the-moment color or the micro-trend sweeping TikTok, do it using lower-cost items like throw pillows, wall art, and decorative accents.

When it comes to the warm and rustic decor style, Erin Napier has provided endless inspiration over the years. So, it's no surprise that when it comes to furniture, the "Home Town" star is wanting to see more raw looks. The designer explained to PopSugar, "I hope we'll finally see people stepping away more from painted furniture and toward the warmth of natural and stained wood. The organic movement in wood grain is art!"

The good news is, the au naturel look can be simple (and budget-friendly) to pull off. For instance, International Concepts' Solid Wood Nightstand comes unfinished, allowing you to choose any color stain you'd like to highlight the wood grain. For a ready-to-use option, Devoko Home's Natural Stained Dining Table features a sealed top complete with natural wood variations and knots that ooze character. 

Purchasing a pre-bundled set may seem like a simple and convenient way to furnish a space. However, design power couple Ray and Eilyn Jimenez of HGTV's "Divided By Design" disagree. Speaking about these furniture sets, Eilyn told Parade, "It's not going to age well." Ray agreed, saying, "There's zero creativity there. There's just no pizzazz. There's no taste. They're just beyond cookie cutter."

Instead, mix and match furniture to create a space that's uniquely yours. Take time to source items from different stores, websites, or even secondhand shops to curate a one-of-a-kind look that speaks to you. The key to keeping it cohesive without opting for a bedroom set is looking for unifying elements to tie pieces together. This could look like sticking to one color family or focusing on furniture with the same design style. If you're struggling to imagine various options from different places together, cut and paste images of them onto a digital vision board using a program like Google Slides or an app like PicCollage.

"Design Star" winner Emily Henderson thinks there is one specific piece of furniture that can really make or break a room, and that is a cheaply made, generic sofa. But how do you know you're looking at a basic couch? She explains what to avoid on her blog, writing, "There are some sofas that transcend bad in a way that is hard to come back from; bad fabric, bad shape, weird curved legs or winged arms, multiple fabrics and just what I like to all 'try-hard' details. Those are the details that are screaming at you, saying 'HEY!!! I'M FANCY! LOOK AT ALL MY TUFTS AND NAILHEADS AND CONTRASTING SEAMS, AND SHINY FABRIC, ETC'."

These generic sofas are often offered at discount stores with quick availability, making them appealing to buyers. However, as Henderson points out, you don't have to spend a ton to get a quality and stylish couch. Just look for options within your budget that have more streamlined features and refined details. Stores like Crate & Barrel and West Elm offer moderately priced choices. But if you're looking for budget-friendly options, the Mid-Century Modern Upholstered Sofa by Busaurus is a neutral piece that can blend with a variety of decor styles. Or if you would like a bit more detail, Poly & Bark's Essex Leather Couch features tufting that gives the piece interest without resorting to the "try-hard details" that Henderson dislikes.

Every room in your home should blend form and function. However, "Fixer to Fabulous" star Jenny Marrs thinks that many people forget that in one key room. She explained to Homes & Gardens, "One of the biggest design mistakes I see people make in their bedrooms is not choosing furniture or design pieces that are functional and have multiple purposes."

When you utilize specialized items, like a clunky jewelry armoire, artsy bedside table, or funky accent chair, they take up valuable space but serve only one purpose. Sure, your bedroom should be a retreat filled with beautiful furniture that you love. However, a lack of storage will inevitably lead to clutter, which is less than peaceful.

"I like to find pieces that can hold and store various items that you want nearby but want to keep out of sight," Marrs said. So, when it comes to bedside storage, look for options that allow you to stash books, reading glasses, and nighttime meds, like this Set of Two Rattan Nightstands. If you'd love seating in your bedroom, opt for a piece like this Teddy Velvet Storage Stool that gives you a great place to store extra blankets or shoes.

The stars behind "Unsellable Houses", Leslie Davis and Lyndsay Lamb, know how to make a home appealing. So, when they encountered a living room with a dysfunctional layout in Season 5, Episode 5, they immediately pinpointed the issue. Davis explained to the homeowner, "In here, the furniture was just really oversized for the space, so making it more appropriate for the room and leaving a lot of ground room, too, helping it feel airy."

If you feel like it's tough to walk comfortably through a room, you likely have too bulky furniture for the area that you have to work with. Luckily, there are some simple measurements you can use to gauge how close pieces should be to each other. Between 14 and 18 inches is an ideal clearance between your sofa and your coffee table. As a rule of thumb, try to keep at least a two-foot-wide walkway around all major pieces, like sofas and accent chairs.

If you can't arrange your space to make this work, it's time to make edits and remove items or replace them completely. When you're shopping for furniture, collect the dimensions of all of the options you're considering. Then, use painter's tape to mock up a layout on the floor. Not only will this help you envision how the flow will feel, but it will take the guesswork out of checking the measurements between potential purchases.

When it comes to crafting dynamic spaces, the "Property Brothers" have proven that furniture can make a big impact. So, it's no surprise that one of Drew Scott's furniture pet peeves is sticking to a too-strict color scheme. He explains to Good Housekeeping, "People think you have to match things in open floor plans. Matchy-matchy is really boring."

Designing an open area with tons of sightlines can be challenging. This leads some people to be tempted to lean on a solid neutral color palette like whites, beiges, and grays. However, this can lead to a cold and sterile look, zapping any character from the space.

Instead, Drew recommends to "find things that complement [each other] and even [introduce] some nice contrast throughout the space to bring more personality." So, even if you stick to neutrals for your foundational furniture like your sofa and coffee table, look for budget-friendly ways to add color. For example, the Chenille Armchair from Cinkehome can liven up a neutral color scheme with its wide range of colors like teal, orange, and olive green. Or, if most of your furniture happens to be in a super light or dark hue, opt for a rug on the opposite end of the spectrum to create contrast and visual interest.