7 Outdated Living Room Features That Designers Immediately Notice

It's no surprise that interior designers are very good at predicting trends before those styles officially take off and take over the zeitgeist, but they are just as good at spotting outdated elements in a home. While there are obvious signs that designers look for—like wall-to-wall carpeting and period-specific textures and features, to name a few—there are more subtle ways to tell that the living room is in need of an update. If you live in a room full of frilly lampshades and outdated, tacky lighting options, then interior designers warn that your space needs an update.

Wondering what other features professionals can use right away? We asked three experts about the different design features that will instantly define your living room, and some are sneakier—and more surprising—than you'd expect.

The lampshades are too ruffled

Believe it or not, the type of lampshades you use in your living room can serve as a clear indicator of when the room was last updated, says Lisa Simopoulos, the founder of Simopoulos Designs, who says lampshade styles are “quietly evolving.”

Just think about it, she says—in the 1980s, ruffled, pleated lampshades were all the rage, but in recent decades, cleaner silhouettes have taken hold. If you think lampshades are too insignificant a feature to upgrade, Simopoulos recommends thinking again. She says her customers sometimes change everything in a room, except for the lampshades, and it makes a worse impression than one would expect.

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The fabric colors and textures are incorrect

The fabric colors used in the living room can also give a good indication of the era in which the room was designed. “Every era has its telltale textures and tones,” says Simopoulos, adding that modern fabrics are generally linen or bouclé and feature soft neutral tones. On the other hand, ice gray fabrics immediately scream 2010s, while heavy gold tones are associated with the 2000s, says the designer.

They have a large entertainment center

Technology itself has become more sophisticated over the past few decades, and the way people set up televisions in their homes has changed as a result. Jody Jones, founder of Blue Indigo Designs, says a bulky entertainment unit is a clear, obvious sign that your living room hasn't been updated in a while. In her projects, Jones says that an entertainment center will never be “the literal big elephant in the room,” but rather that she will look for ways to make it blend seamlessly with the room's other design elements.

Your space is Super Matchy Matchy

Gone are the days of buying matching furniture sets for the living room. So if your room contains identical-looking furniture, Jones says it's a sign that it's pretty outdated. She encourages people to split up these existing sets and weave in items sourced from different retailers and made from different materials to create a more collected look. “We love combining at least one vintage piece in a living room with different fabrics and textures to give the space a layered and timeless feel,” says the designer.

They have carpets everywhere

“Wall-to-wall carpeting in the living room is another look that will instantly modernize your living room,” says Jones. Hardwood, engineered parquet or luxury vinyl have recently become some of the most popular floor coverings for living rooms. While you should always feel free to put a nice rug in your living room, the designer recommends that you shouldn't limit yourself to just one rug.

Your accessories are tied to an era

Part of the fun of designing a living room is allowing it to evolve over the years by adding new accent pieces, says Tracy Morris, founder of Tracy Morris Design. Therefore, she knows immediately that if a living room contains tons of mass-produced artwork, matching pillows, and the like, it hasn't been modernized—or will very soon appear outdated. “A well-designed living room evolves over time, and when those subtle layers of texture, lighting and proportion stop evolving, it shows,” she says.

Consider this your cue to make subtle changes over time to keep your living room looking current.

Your lighting scheme and equipment are not right

Lighting is another important indicator that a room has not been recently renovated. “The lighting temperature of a room can be a subtle time stamp,” says Simopoulos, adding that cool white lighting and brushed nickel elements were mainstream in the 2010s, but things have changed since then. These days, she says, warm, natural-looking light is the favorite, and fixtures are generally made from aged brass or mixed metals.