Design Trends That Are Still In & Which Are Out, According To HGTV's David Bromstad

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David Bromstad knows a thing or two about design trends. The first-ever winner of HGTV's "Design Star" way back in 2006, Bromstad has been on the scene for decades. He's served his bright, colorful takes on home decor across multiple shows and hundreds of happy clients. That said, through his years in the business, he's seen a lot of different trends come and go. Even his biggest fan might look back at some of his early work with modern goggles on and wonder, "What was he thinking?!" Yet, style is constantly evolving, and there's no one more on top of it than Bromstad.

Now in its 17th season, his show, "My Lottery Dream Home," sees the star helping clients who have recently come into money choose the perfect new place. As price isn't as much of an object for many of the featured clients, plenty of the properties are totally updated — yet, there are still the straggling few that leave Bromstad with features he'd prefer to swap out. In 2025, these are the design trends that are still in and those that are totally out, as per his most recent episodes and interviews. Yes, he's been designing and giving advice for almost 20 years, but this is only his most relevant, recent takes — we promise.

Most clever tips and tricks to add curb appeal center around landscaping and trim. But there's another feature that can make your home stand out. A recent trend that Bromstad seems to be getting behind to accomplish this goal is shutters, whether they have a functional job or not. In the Season 17 episode "Hot Springs Party Place," he is quick to note the quaint shutters during his client's first inspection of their potential home. "You said you loved the shutters?" he asked, per HGTV. "Love them — absolutely," the client replied. "Oh my god, they're so cute," he added, when getting a closer look. The shutters are likely an aftermarket addition to the home, as it was recently remodeled. Based on their look alone, it's possible the shutters don't necessarily close, but still add plenty of vintage charm to the home. 

The key to nailing rustic shutters with minimal effort is to avoid solid wood options. For example, the Ekena Millwork Open Louver Shutters are made from a durable vinyl, but still appear to have wood grain etched on them. This way, you still get the storied look of a traditional shutter, but don't have to worry about rot, mildew, or chipping like you might with real wood. That said, the shape of your potential shutters is just as important as their material. You want to match your home's aesthetic, so reach for something like the Mid-America Board and Batten Vinyl Shutter if you have a more rustic or farmhouse property, but stick with louvered shutters for a coastal or colonial pad.

You won't regret an open floor plan, but there is one thing Bromstad thinks they tend to get wrong: The choice of flooring. In the Season 17 episode "Hot Springs Party Place," his client brings up her distaste for mismatched flooring in an open floor plan, and he is quick to agree. "One thing that I'm very particular about: the flooring. There's no transition strips. So 1982!" the hopeful homeowner said, per HGTV. "You are absolutely correct," Bromstad replied, explaining why he doesn't care for the style. "[Continual flooring] makes a smaller place look larger. It just feels effortless."

While Bromstad doesn't confirm whether the flooring in question is classic hardwood or LVP, the actual material isn't what's important. What matters is the continuity of the style, because it doesn't chop up the space. Whether you want large format tile, polished cement, or something else entirely, the visual flow of non-transitional flooring is what Bromstad cares about most. The key is to select an option that works in all the connected open areas, which tend to be the kitchen, living room, entry hall, etc. Because of this, carpet isn't the best choice if following this trend, as it can't work in the kitchen. However, as seen on the show, if a room has a door, it can have a different flooring type. In this instance, the bathrooms are tiled. So, in your home, you can still have carpet in the bedrooms — just behind closed doors.

Some designers might advise clients to avoid wallpaper with loud tones or bold designs, however, color-loving Bromstad is never going to be that guy. To him, wallpaper — with its endless options for creativity and flair — has never been more in. "I love wallpaper; I think it's come so far and the quality is so nice," he told HGTV. "The patterns these artists are coming up with blows my mind. It's the thing that makes me most excited about design right now. It creates dimension — and you can do it with a mural, but it's going to take forever or it's going to cost a lot of money. With wallpaper, it's already there."

Choosing the right wallpaper for your space doesn't have to be difficult. The first question to ask yourself is whether you rent or own. As a renter, peel-and-stick options like the Livebor Green Leaf Wallpaper will better suit you, as they don't tend to leave damage behind when removed. If you own, using a classic paste-the-wall product is also an option. Besides being a fan of regular wallpaper, Bromstad also occasionally uses wallpaper murals instead. If you're looking for something particularly funky, you can purchase a Bromstad-designed option from Murals Your Way. They come with custom sizing and materials, which you can change up, based on whether you want them inside or outside, etc.

To some, the vastness of tall ceilings might seem like too much open space, or at least a wasted opportunity to add one more touch of personality to a room. In the Season 17 episode "Brent's Bounty," Bromstad expresses his love of the wooden beams across the ceiling, because they do just that. "The beams are beautiful," he said, per HGTV. "I'm a huge fan of beams. I have them going in almost every room in my house that I'm renovating. They just add so much character." And for Bromstad, this feature isn't just a passing trend — he's loved them for ages, and their timeless character is one of the reasons why he recommends using wooden beams in your design whenever possible.

Yet, real wooden beams can be complicated to install. For some, it might not be possible to add something so heavy to a room without a major load-bearing readjustment. In 2021, Bromstad gave an interview with Barron Designs and offered a possible solution: beams made of high-density polyurethane foam, instead of actual wood. "[They are] incredible because they're light. They're not supporting a load like a real wood beam. Real wood beams are amazing, but [these beams] — you can use them anywhere. You don't have to have supports to hold them." By using a lightweight alternative, like the Coarse Sawn Wood Corbel from Barron Designs, or the Ekena Millwork Rustic Sawn HeritageTimber Imitation Wood Ceiling Beam, you can add character to your own home without worrying about overloading your ceiling.

The true best type of countertop material is a controversial topic, as many designers and HGTV stars alike have very different, often conflicting opinions. For some, something like butcher block is a classic option, but for others, it's an old-fashioned, cheap choice. However, for Bromstad, there is one steady, durable material that's always going to be in: manufactured quartz. In the Season 17 episode, "Brent's Bounty," Bromstad sings the praises of the material. "I love the island. I love this," he said per HGTV, fawning over the countertops. "This is manufactured quartz, which is indestructible. I'd repeat that on the counters here," he continued, pointing to the rest of the kitchen.

The reason behind why manufactured quartz is so durable lies in how it's made. Unlike "natural options," such as marble or granite, engineered quartz is made of around 90% ground up quartz dust combined with roughly 10% of polymer resins. The two of these together make the stone very strong because it's been completely reconstituted. A slab of marble is going to have points of tension, etc, but, thanks to the bonding properties of the resin, the strength of manufactured quartz is going to be the same throughout. So, It's harder to crack or scratch, which makes quartz a great option for busy people who don't want to baby their countertops. Since it's man-made, it also comes in plenty of different colors and designs too, allowing it to match nearly any aesthetic.

Islands can be a great way to add more counter space to a kitchen and offer a place to eat or gather. If you don't want to do a full kitchen remodel, you can even add something portable like the Vasagle Kitchen Island with 3 Shelves as a more temporary solution. However, if you don't have the space, cramming an island in can simply make things more cramped. Instead, try a peninsula that, when opened into the living room, functions almost exactly the same way. In the Season 17 episode "Jacksonville Jackpot," Bromstad explores this idea. "You wanted an island. I gave you a large peninsula instead," he said to his clients, per HGTV. "You good with that?" "Yes, 'cause it has an area for the barstools," they reply. "That's really what it's all about," he emphasized.

Kitchen islands have been a popular trend for years, but it's clear Bromstad is more concerned with replicating what the island can provide for the kitchen, rather than installing one just to follow the crowd. For example, those who want to entertain guests while cooking, or favor an eat-in kitchen, could set up a pair of stools against the peninsula to instantly transform the space. Something like these Natural Rattan Counter Height Stools that have backrests can give more of a dining space feel versus plain barstools. You could also consider a portable peninsula piece — such as the Mobili Fiver Evolution Peninsula — that you can extend from your existing counter, or even a wall. While the clients ended up choosing a different property, for those at home, you don't need a major kitchen renovation to stay on trend — you just need a few pieces of carefully-placed furniture.

Whether or not white kitchens are classic, boring, or overdone is one of the popular home design choices HGTV stars just can't agree on, with hosts often coming down on either side of the issue. It's the same with open shelving in the kitchen, many love it — but some think it's a home feature that's a dated dust magnet. And, Bromstad is never one to shy away from speaking his truth, even if it's different than most. In the Season 17 episode "Starlicious Gazing," he guides clients through a property, telling them the rest of the first floor is "all cozied up to this deliciously white kitchen," indicating his approval for the trend, per HGTV. "I love the white cabinets, even with the open shelving," said the client. "Oh good," David said, nodding his agreement. 

The trick for all-white kitchens (and open shelves!) is moderation and attention to detail. You can see here that this kitchen isn't a stark, hospital white. Instead, it's a mixture of whites, creams, and grays to give the space real visual texture. That said, the designer also used wooden shelves and even a range hood to add natural warmth to the space — something that is easy to replicate in your own home. Plus, there is a mixture of cabinets and open shelves. Use cabinets for unsightly items and shelves for more decorative pieces. Yes, it's really that easy.

Flooring trends are constantly evolving, and while hardwood has long been a favored classic, there is another often less-expensive and more durable option on the market: luxury vinyl planking, or LVP for short. It's a great material for busy families, because it's scratch-resistant and harder to dent, whether from pet claws or moving heavy furniture. "Because it's a new build, everything is set up for how we live today," Bromstad said in the Season 16 episode "Low Country Comfort," per HGTV. "This is a vinyl planking, which is wonderful. It's indestructible."

Plus, another one of the major perks of LVP is just how low-maintenance it is. A quick sweep and occasional damp mop are usually all it takes to keep it looking like new. Unlike hardwood, there's no need to worry about refinishing it or any water damage. It's a smart long-term investment for people who love the look of wood, but who don't want to sacrifice style for practicality, or due to a smaller budget. If you would like to save even more money, LVP is also easy enough to install on your own. Most planks have a type of click-lock system that kind of floats over your subfloor. You can skip the glue or nails entirely, which makes it not only faster to install, but also easier to replace individual boards if needed down the line. If you want to lay down LVP yourself, here are our best tips for a flawless vinyl plank flooring installation. 

Something that will always be in style for Bromstad is uniqueness. The loud, proud HGTV host is all about living authentically and styling your space to match. "I like antiques that are weird. I like new things that are weird," he told HGTV about how he really makes his house feel like a home. "I like things that make people go, 'What the heck is that?'" For example, he has a life-size sheep statue in his entryway, which tends to freak people out, but he loves it. But the sheep isn't just art, it's also somewhere that guests can store their shoes while visiting.

Your personal style might not be as far-fetched as Bromstad's — which is totally fine. If it is, however, you can use Facebook Marketplace as the ultimate shopping tool for hunting down funky finds, as well as your local craft fairs or flea markets. Even the most classic or minimalist spaces can benefit from small touches that reflect your personality. Think eye-catching wall art, like the Anerza 16-Piece Set of Framed Eclectic Wall Art, or maybe a collection of colorful, favorite books. The secret to success here is intention: Whether your style is loud or low-key, choosing pieces that mean something to you will always elevate your space. It's not just about being weird — it's about being you.