The Fierce Debate on Home Decor Trends: What Screams “Bad Taste”?
The vibrant world of social media offers endless opportunities for inspiration and connection, but it can also serve as a platform for heated debates about aesthetics. Recently, interior designer Bergen Flom ignited a storm on TikTok, challenging her 44,000 followers to identify home decor choices they believe scream, “I don’t have taste.” This led to an intense dialogue, with over 9.7 million views and 16,800 comments, resonating around one key theme: Money doesn’t equate to taste.
The Digital Landscape of Design Disputes
Flom opened the floodgates by sharing her pick for bad taste—a Tom Ford coffee table book—and prompted her followers to share their thoughts on notorious decor choices. The responses quickly pinpointed several brands and items that face major backlash in the interior design community.
High-End Offenders: The Brands Under Fire
MacKenzie-Childs
One of the most mentioned brands was MacKenzie-Childs, renowned for its whimsical checkerboard patterns applied to various home items like teapots and plates. Originally popularized in the late 2010s via social media influencers, its aesthetic, described as "cottage glam," has drawn criticism for being exorbitantly priced. With teapots ranging from $170 to $300, many commenters labeled it a “paint your pottery studio” for the suburban lifestyle.
Hermès Avalon Throw Blanket
Another hot topic was the Hermès Avalon throw blanket, which has become a trendy accessory among celebrities such as Meghan Markle and Kylie Jenner. Priced at an eye-watering $2,000 to $5,000, this wool and cashmere blanket has garnered accusations of being a status symbol devoid of real taste. Nearly 50,000 commenters chimed in, denouncing it as emblematic of bad decor choices.
Affordable Yet Unpopular Designs
It wasn’t only luxury brands on the chopping block. The Rae Dunn homeware line, known for its simple cream-colored ceramics featuring whimsical sayings, faced scrutiny. Once a staple of farmhouse-chic decor, its pieces—often found at retailers like T.J. Maxx and on sale for as little as $6 to $12—now symbolize a lower taste threshold. Many TikTok users classified owning any Rae Dunn products as a red flag for bad taste.
Beyond Brands: General Design Offenses
Diving deeper into the aesthetics, commenters expanded the conversation beyond specific brands. Common interior design faux pas included:
- Ceiling lights without lamps
- Painted bricks
- Absence of books or real plants
- Overuse of the color gray
- Trendy “white-beige-blob” furniture
Many respondents critiqued the obsession with newness over history, with sentiments suggesting a lack of vintage pieces indicated a less refined taste.
Cultural Reflections on Home Decor
Interestingly, the conversation also touched on broader themes that surpassed mere aesthetic disagreements. Comments ranged from quips about decor choices not matching the home’s location—like overly beachy or Parisian themes—to social observations, indicating that having “a man in your house” might also signal bad taste.
Conclusion: Authenticity Over Trends
In essence, the overwhelming sentiment in this TikTok debate is clear: Trends for trend’s sake are unwelcome. The backlash against excessive costs without intentionality highlights a desire for authentic decor reflective of personal style. So, whether it’s about branding, overarching themes, or simply personal taste, the conversation is an essential reflection of contemporary design principles.
At the end of the day, while opinions may vary—and humor might intertwine with critique—one user summed it up beautifully: it’s less about what’s in your home, and more about embracing your unique aesthetic…unless it’s Rae Dunn, where judgment seems inevitable.
For more insights about stylish home decor, visit our blog at ChatbiHouse or explore topics like 10 Timeless Interior Design Ideas.
