The 10 Most Hated Home Trends Right Now — And What Buyers in Orange County Actually Want

Here's something most sellers don't find out until it's too late: some of the design choices they made three or four years ago — choices that felt fresh and current at the time — are quietly costing them money at the negotiating table right now.

I've been selling homes in Huntington Beach and Orange County for over 20 years. I walk through properties every week. I hear what buyers say in the car on the way to showings, what they say while standing in the kitchen, and what they say the moment we leave. And there are certain things that come up constantly, over and over, regardless of price point.

Before we get into it, I want to say something clearly: if you love any of these and they make your home feel like yours, that's what matters most. This is your home. Live in it however makes you happy. But if you're thinking about selling — in Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, or anywhere in Orange County — this is worth understanding. Because buyers are not shy about what they don't like, and what they don't like ends up in their offer price.

Let's get into it. Ten trends buyers are pushing back on right now, and three that are actually gaining real momentum.

The 10 Home Trends Buyers Are Pushing Back On Right Now

1 Gray Everything

Gray floors. Gray walls. Gray cabinets. Gray countertops. A few years ago, this palette was everywhere and buyers loved it. It read as clean, modern, and move-in ready. Now? It reads as cold and dated.

When buyers walk into an all-gray home today, they feel nothing. There's no warmth, no personality. That emotional flatness is a problem, because buyers make emotional decisions first and logical decisions second. You want them to walk in and immediately picture their life there. Gray makes that harder.

The shift right now is toward warm, earthy tones — warm whites, soft beiges, sage greens, warm wood tones. Here's the practical takeaway: paint is one of the cheapest and highest-return investments you can make before selling. A few hundred dollars on paint can genuinely move the needle on how buyers perceive your home's value. But before you pick up a brush, have a conversation with your agent first. A good agent knows exactly what's landing with buyers in your specific price point and neighborhood, and can help you make the right call before you spend a dime.

2 Vessel Bowl Sinks

You know the ones — the sink that sits on top of the countertop instead of being recessed underneath. A few years ago, people thought they were high-end and stylish. Now, most buyers walk in and immediately start thinking about how annoying they are to use and how hard they are to keep clean.

Water splashes everywhere. They show water spots constantly. And they trigger a conversation buyers should never be having when they're deciding whether to make an offer: "What else in this house was chosen for style over function?" That's not the conversation you want them having. Buyers in today's Orange County market want clean, functional, undermount sinks — and that's what they notice when they don't see one.

3 Freestanding Soaker Tubs Inside the Shower

Let me be specific here. A soaker tub built properly into the bathroom? Still debated — in a poll I ran, it was almost 50/50, with many people saying they love the idea but rarely use it once they have it. But a freestanding soaker tub literally sitting inside the shower space? That's a different conversation entirely.

Getting around those things to clean is a real challenge. Behind them, around them, under them — it adds up. And from a selling standpoint, the primary bathroom is one of the most scrutinized rooms in the entire house. Buyers spend real time in there during a showing. If that room feels high maintenance, that feeling follows them through the rest of the tour. You want it to feel like a retreat. Not a project.

4 Barn Doors — Especially on Primary Bathrooms

One barn door, done right, in the right context — maybe it works. But a barn door on the primary bedroom leading into the ensuite bathroom? Buyers notice it immediately. Zero privacy. Zero sound barrier. They hit against the wall. They feel flimsy. What felt like modern farmhouse chic a few years ago now reads as cheap and overdone.

I've shown a lot of homes over the years. Barn doors have gone from being a selling point to being something buyers are already mentally calculating the cost to replace before they've even walked out of the room. And that calculation becomes part of their offer.

5 All-White Kitchens With Zero Personality

To be precise: the complaint isn't about white itself. A white kitchen that's done thoughtfully, with contrast and warmth and character, can still be beautiful. The problem is the sterile, soulless, zero-contrast all-white kitchen where every scratch shows, every stain shows, and the whole thing feels like a hospital.

The kitchen is the heart of the home. It's one of the first places buyers gravitate toward when they walk through, and one of the biggest factors in whether they make an offer. A cold, uninviting kitchen can stop a deal before it even starts. The good news is the fix often doesn't require a full remodel — warm wood accents, new hardware, a warmer backsplash. Small changes in the kitchen can have a massive impact. But talk to your agent before you start spending. You want to make sure you're putting money in the right places for your specific market and price point.

6 Popcorn Ceilings

This one isn't really a trend buyers hate. It's something buyers simply don't want to deal with. Popcorn ceilings make a home feel old. They make buyers think about the work involved in removing them, and they almost always become a negotiating tool — either to knock money off the price or, in some cases, a reason to walk away entirely.

The first house I bought, about 20 years ago, had popcorn ceilings throughout. When we renovated, I had them all scraped and smoothed. Night and day difference — and I mean that literally in terms of how the rooms felt. Having them removed is not expensive relative to the value it adds when you're selling. If you have them and you're planning to list, this is one of those improvements that almost always pays for itself. Your agent should be able to point you toward who to call.

7 Shiplap Overload

One accent wall, done right, in the right space — it can still work. But when shiplap is on every wall, wrapping around corners, covering the fireplace, layered throughout the entire home? Buyers check out. It reads as a trend that had its moment, and that moment has passed.

The problem from a selling perspective is that shiplap overload makes a home feel decorated for a specific era. Buyers start doing the math on removal. That calculation, again, ends up in the offer. If you've got it throughout the home, it may be worth toning it down before you list — but check with your agent first, because depending on your market and price point, it may not move the needle enough to justify the expense.

8 Fully Open Concept Floor Plans

This one might be the most surprising on the list. For years, open concept was the thing everybody wanted. But something shifted around 2021 and 2022, when everyone started spending a lot more time at home. People realized open concept means no privacy, no noise separation, and nowhere to escape.

Families with kids, people who work from home, multi-generational households — they're all looking for some separation now. Some defined spaces. What I'm seeing more buyers gravitate toward is a hybrid: open in some areas, but with purposeful rooms throughout the main floor. If you have an open concept home, there is still a strong market for it. This isn't a death sentence. It just means the universal love for open concept has cooled, and it's worth understanding where buyer preferences are moving in your specific market.

9 The Overdone Modern Farmhouse Aesthetic

When the shiplap, the barn doors, the black hardware, the wood accents, and the farmhouse sink all get layered on top of each other in a builder-grade house, it feels cliché. Buyers who would have gone crazy for this look four or five years ago are now walking through and seeing a trend that peaked and dated the house.

Here's where I'll push back slightly though. There's a meaningful difference between a home that was dressed up in a trend versus a home that has genuine, authentic character. An older craftsman with original details, a true farmhouse with architectural history — those are different. Don't tear out authentic character trying to modernize. Buyers still love that. What they don't love is a tract house wearing a costume. Know the difference before you start making changes, and when in doubt, talk to your agent.

10 Open Shelving in the Kitchen

Save the best for last — or in this case, the most consistently complained about. I hear this from buyers constantly. Open shelving looks incredible when it's staged perfectly. The problem is you actually have to live with it. Everything on those shelves has to look like it belongs in a magazine, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The moment it doesn't, it just looks like clutter sitting out in the open. And open shelving gets greasy. It collects dust. It takes real effort to maintain.

Buyers walk in and immediately start thinking about the work involved. That mental overhead shows up in how they feel about the kitchen, which shapes how they feel about the entire home. If you have open shelving and you're preparing to list, make sure it is absolutely immaculate before every single showing. Pair it way down — less is more, always. First impressions in a showing happen fast, and open shelving that looks cluttered or dirty can set the wrong tone for the entire kitchen before a buyer opens a single cabinet.

3 Trends That Are Actually Gaining Momentum Right Now

Now let's flip it around. If you're going to put time and money into updates before selling, you want to know what buyers are actually gravitating toward. These are the things generating real, positive reactions in showings right now.

1. Warm, Earthy Interiors

Buyers right now want to walk into a home and feel something. They want warmth. They want to feel like they can actually live there, not just look at it. And this is good news for sellers, because most of these changes are cosmetic and relatively affordable. Swapping cool gray tones for warm neutrals, adding natural wood elements, bringing in some texture through textiles — these are not expensive changes, but they can completely transform how a buyer feels when they walk through the door.

At the end of the day, buyers make emotional decisions first and logical decisions second. Your job as a seller is to make them feel at home the second they walk in. Warm, earthy interiors do exactly that.

2. Multifunctional Spaces

Buyers today aren't just looking for a home — they're looking for a home that works for their life. This trend accelerated after 2020 and hasn't slowed down. People are spending more time at home than ever, and they want their space to reflect that.

If you have a room in your home that doesn't have a clear purpose, think about how you can stage it to show its potential before you go live on the market. Buyers should never walk into a room and wonder what it's for. Give every space a purpose, and you'll get more offers. This is something a good agent and a good stager can help you with before you list.

3. Upgraded Outdoor Living

In markets like ours here in Southern California, the backyard has become a full room of the house. Buyers in Huntington Beach and across Orange County are willing to pay for it. I've seen well-done outdoor living spaces completely change the conversation on a home — a buyer who was on the fence walking through the interior will step outside, picture themselves out there on a Saturday evening, and that moment can push them from interested to making an offer.

You don't have to spend a fortune here. Sometimes it's as simple as cleaning up the space, adding outdoor furniture, some string lights, and making it feel intentional. Buyers want to see a lifestyle. Outdoor living is one of the easiest ways to show it. Before you invest in anything major, though, talk to your agent about what buyers in your price range are actually expecting to see. Smart money is targeted money.

What This Means If You're Selling in Orange County or Huntington Beach

The Southern California housing market is still highly competitive, but buyers here have options. They walk through multiple homes. They compare. And when they walk into a home that feels warm, functional, and move-in ready — versus one that feels like it's stuck in a trend cycle from 2018 — they notice. That feeling shows up in offers.

Here's the thing though: not every change makes financial sense for every seller. That's the important piece. The decision to repaint, remove popcorn ceilings, replace shelving, or invest in outdoor upgrades should always be weighed against your specific market, your price point, and your timeline. A change that generates a strong return in one neighborhood might not move the needle at all in another.

That's exactly why the first call you make before doing anything to your home should be to your real estate agent. A good agent — one who works your specific market every day — will tell you what's worth doing, what isn't, and where to prioritize your money. They'll give you the honest answer, not the one designed to get a listing signed.

I've been doing this in Huntington Beach and Orange County for over 20 years. I walk through homes every week. I hear what buyers say in real time. And the gap between sellers who come to market prepared and those who don't is significant — not just in sale price, but in days on market, stress level, and overall experience.

The Bottom Line

To each their own. If you love your gray walls, your barn doors, your open shelving — your home is your home and you should enjoy it. There's nothing wrong with any of these choices from a living-in-your-home perspective.

But if you're in the camp of thinking about selling — whether that's in six months or two years — it's worth knowing what buyers are saying behind closed doors. Because I hear it every single day.

The sellers who do the best are the ones who take a step back, get an honest assessment, make the right targeted improvements, and come to market in a position of strength. That's not about spending a ton of money. It's about spending the right money, in the right places, at the right time.

That's the conversation I have with every seller I work with before we ever talk about a list price.