Tacky is a harsh word, but we all know what it means. It’s something that makes you raise your eyebrows or wince as you look at it. It’s an item that may feel a little dated or cheap (not necessarily cheaply priced, I might add). And it’s a term we often apply to home decor.
While we don’t intend it, we can all end up adding tacky items to our homes. It’s easily done as tastes change over the years and sporadic purchases get thrown into the mix, resulting in a free-for-all and not what we initially intended.
Plus, what you call tacky, I might call meaningful. So, who can really make the judgement? Interior designers can’t really be questioned in this department. They make up homes as part of their living and have seen it all. Here’s what they’d class as tacky, so you know what to look out for:
1. Overdoing the decor
It’s easy to collect meaningful and pretty items that we want to proudly display. The problem with that is you end up with an overwhelm of decorations that pulls focus and moves into the realms of clutter.
Swati Goorha, principle interior designer and founder of Swati Goorha Designs, says: ‘One thing I see regularly is a bunch of small decorative items that cover up all surfaces. Each of those items could have been meaningful to you, but there’s so much going on visually. When you edit down your collections and show fewer intentionally placed pieces, it will make your space look cleaner, more thoughtful and refined.’
Edit your display down to a few key items to make them more distinctive. If you have lots to display, rotate them regularly to update the space and give a fresh perspective.
2. Matching furniture
Matching furniture was repeatedly cited. While purchased with the intention of bringing the room together, it can have the reverse effect, according to Samantha-Jane Agbontaen, interior designer and founder of House Designer:
‘In my opinion, matchy-matchy is a tacky move. Furniture, rugs and curtains all from the same collection; it can look like a showroom, not a home. The fix is mixing designs, don’t buy everything from one shop.’
While showrooms may appear to be the ‘ideal’ state, they are limited in personality. Mixing things up will add more character to the room and it gives you a chance to vary the tone. She goes on to point out that brand logos don’t help the situation either:
‘One of the biggest tacky decor mistakes has to be logo heavy or very branded soft furnishings, for example, multiple designer logo cushions arranged on a crushed velvet sofa. Instead, opt for quality textured cushions in neutral or complementary tones that add depth to your space.’
3. Inspirational wall art
Walls look naked without art, so we love to fill them. But if we opt for inspirational quotes, interior designers say that’s not much better!
According to Seymen Usta, interior design specialist and co-founder of Seus Lighting: ‘Interiors can feel impersonal or overly staged if they’re too decorated with quote signs or if the decor is too theatrical. A home should have a personality, but not an overly imposed one. Artwork or collected objects, books or meaningful personal items typically lend a more refined and personal touch.’
Opting to hang pictures and items that are less commercial and more personal can avoid a tacky aesthetic, plus it has more meaning for you and creates talking points for guests. It opens the scope for what you can hang on your walls, too.
4. Intense lighting
Bright lighting was singled out by many interior designers – intended to be bold and striking, but leading to a tacky and glaring display.
Swati continues: ‘Some homeowners like to use bold, colour-changing LED lights in many of their living spaces. Although these types of light fixtures are fun and provide expression, they can make a room feel overwhelming when used excessively. A way to avoid this is by keeping dramatic lighting (such as colour changing) limited to entertainment rooms, while using layers of warmer lighting for your daily living area.’
Aim for around 2000-4000 lumens in the bedroom and living room (in total across all lights), going brighter in the kitchen (up to 8,000 lumens). Although this does depend on the size of the space. Here are 7 clever ways to brighten a dark room – without painting it.
5. Oversized furniture
This mistake is easily done, especially if you don’t measure up the space beforehand, or you’re lured in by a sale. Oversized furniture can dominate a room and make it feel small, stuffy and overbearing.
Swati goes on to say ‘Tacky looking design decisions are made when you choose to follow current trends over being proportional or balanced. Trends such as large statement items in smaller spaces are perceived as forced rather than impressive. Sophisticated design is about working within your space. As long as all elements are properly scaled and have an obvious reason for their presence, a space will look better overall.’
If you’ve got more than one piece of oversized furniture, consider breaking them up and moving things around the home. This works alongside the point on avoiding matched furniture as mentioned earlier. Always measure your furniture before you buy, and make sure there’s apt circulation around it so the room doesn’t appear cluttered or messy.
6. Faux gold
Gold accents add warmth and a sense of value to a space, but they can end up contributing to tackiness, especially as they age.
Samantha-Jane goes on to say: ‘Tacky gold accessories tend to look more yellow rather than polished brass. It is very clear when it is cheap. My expert tip – never mix chrome and brass together. Stick to one finish and don’t let it be overwhelming.’
Fake gold can yellow as the surface wears away to reveal the metal beneath (often brass). Everyday handling and cleaning will contribute to this, so there’s not a lot you can do to prevent it. But, if you are dealing with solid brass, we recommend polishing with a proprietary cleaner, such as Brasso Metal Polish Wadding or try rubbing with a half lemon dipped in salt.
7. Fake plants
Fake plants aren’t bad in themselves; in fact, if there’s limited light in your home, sometimes we have no choice! But the quality of fake plants does vary and some are much more obvious than others.
Samantha-Jane makes a point that: ‘Fake plants that look very rubbery are another [tacky item]. There seems to be a rise of white roses in glasses on the market right now. Real plants in the home are always a better choice.’
However, if real plants aren’t possible, assess the quality of your fake plant (top to bottom) before you make the purchase. Look at everything, including the soil, stem and petals; does it look overly shiny, or are the flowers too uniform? It’s also worth considering how easy it will be to clean the leaves that will soon gather dust. An old sock over a hand is a great way to quickly wipe them over.
