Professional Home Stagers Say These Things Make Your Home Look Tacky — & How To Fix Them

Taylor Lucyk, lead of the Taylor Lucyk Group, suggests offering an exciting way “to illuminate a space while adding a contemporary touch.” These stylish square night-lights feature dusk-to-dawn sensors so they’ll automatically turn on when it’s dark — just set and forget. They have a dimming switch so you can adjust the brightness so you can create a safer and more inviting space.

“Lighting fixtures can dramatically impact a room's ambiance,” Lucyk says. This floor lamp can instantly upgrade a room to make your space look more modern with its sleek appearance. You can adjust the brightness and the color temperature to set the mood. Plus, it includes a remote control with a 50-foot range so you don’t have to get up to turn it on or off or to tweak the settings.

Lucyk suggests adding a statement fixture like this spiral bedside lamp. This accent piece not only provides lighting, it also looks like a work of art and can add some personality to an otherwise boring space. It’s dimmable and designed with LED strips so you won’t have to worry about replacing bulbs.

According to Lucyk, gray and black tones throughout a home are overdone and “their overuse has left many spaces feeling cookie cutter and predictable.” Consider this oil-based brown paint to refresh various areas around your home. It can be used to paint wood, metal, concrete, and more, which makes it especially great for window frames and trim. It dries in as little as two to four hours, and it’s resistant to various weather conditions, corrosion, chipping, and fading.

Lucyk suggests you “update old hardware with matte black or brushed finishes.” These stainless steel cabinet pulls feature a timeless rounded design and a matte black finish that makes them suitable for various styles of cabinets, drawers, and doors. By the way, they’re available in other colors if black doesn’t suit your style.

If you want to update your old hardware, Lucyk notes, “We are even seeing silver accents come back into play.” These silver cabinet and drawer pulls feature a T-bar shape that adds a modern touch to upgrade your home in a snap. Best of all, reviewers confirm that they’re easy to install.

Lucyk suggests “refreshing walls with warm neutrals or bold accent colors.” This peel-and-stick wallpaper makes it easy to create an accent wall to add a pop of color and personality to any area in your home. It features a stunning gold floral design and comes in several jewel tone colors, including trending cherry red.

“Outdated or mismatched furniture can make a room feel stuck in the past.” says Lucyk. Add these matching end tables on the sides of your couch or bed to bring a room together and make it look more cohesive. With steel frames and particleboard panels, they provide an industrial look that’s modern and refreshing.

“Many of the new homes are doing woodwork accent walls that freshen up the space,” says Lucyk. If you’re looking for a simple way to incorporate her advice, this peel-and-stick wood grain contact paper is a great option. Reviewers are thrilled that it has a realistic wood texture and is easy to install.

“The 2025 style emphasizes a harmonious blend of minimalism and warmth, featuring natural materials, neutral palettes, and cozy accents like soft textiles and warm lighting,” Lucyk states. These slate drink coasters are an easy way to bring natural materials into the home with a minimalist, modern feel and dramatic black color. Bonus: you can even draw or write on them with chalk to create unique, custom designs.

To add more natural materials to your home like Lucyk suggests, consider this braided jute rug. It can be placed by your entryway to create an inviting and refreshing atmosphere. This rug can brilliantly work in any space thanks to its neutral hue. Reviewers are thrilled that it’s soft and easy to clean.

Adding neutral palettes and cozy textures to your home can make it look less tacky according to Lucyk. These decorative corduroy pillow covers are available in a bunch of neutral and warm colors that can add a modern touch to your home to easily update your couch or bed. Customers are impressed by how soft these covers are too. One shopper wrote, “I purchased the cream white . They are soft and the texture feels and looks fabulous. It was easy to get my pillows in, no struggle. I also love the fact that they are washable. I would recommend.”

For those cozy, soft textiles that Lucyk suggests, nothing is better than this super soft and plush throw blanket. It features a stylish textured stripe design and is made of a high-quality and soft fleece microfiber that’s warm yet breathable and lightweight. It’ll look great draped over a chair or couch to create that blend of minimalism and warmth that Lucyk mentions.

Lucyk recommends warm lighting to quickly transform any space. This adhesive LED light strip is easy to install and it can create a cozy environment thanks to its warm white glow. It’s flexible and can be cut to size. It features six brightness levels and a control box so you can adjust the settings and turn it on and off easily.

“Unique woodwork details in ceilings and moldings add character,” Lucyk mentions. This molding wall trim is easy to apply on walls — just peel and stick — and it can add that vintage charm without breaking the bank. It can also be used to frame doors, as skirting, or to update picture or mirror frames. It features a 3D design that makes it stand out and adds dimension. Plus, it’s durable, waterproof, and resistant to mildew.

“Earthy tones are taking center stage,” says Lucyk. This duvet set is available in a several colors, including earthy tones like olive green and taupe to add a refreshing modern touch to your bedroom. This set includes one duvet cover and two pillow shams. The duvet cover is designed with eight corner ties and a zipper to secure your comforter.

Lucyk is noticing “an increased focus on maximizing outdoor living spaces for a seamless indoor-outdoor lifestyle.” Consider adding this tabletop fireplace for your patio table because it’s portable and easy to set up. It’s made of sturdy stainless steel and features two chic glass panels. It’s perfect for creating a cozy vibe and roasting marshmallows. Plus, shoppers mentioned that it provides warmth, making it great for chilly weather.

To maximize your outdoor living space like Lucyk suggested, this outdoor rug is a great way to create a stylish area to relax outdoors. It’s waterproof and has a UV coating that prevents it from fading. Plus, it’s reversible so it’s like getting two rugs for the price of one. Oh, and reviewers mentioned it’s really easy to clean with a broom or a hose.

Lucyk recommends adding this large Vaseking ceramic vase with a rustic look to your home. It easily adds a modern touch that’ll elevate any space and make your home feel refreshed. It can be used for faux, dried, or fresh flowers. Plus, it’s available in several earthy tones that are on trend right now.

These Heleze artificial olive branches are recommended by Lucyk to add some natural elements to your home. Although they look realistic, they don’t require water or any additional care so you can set and forget them. They’re crafted with iron wire so they’re easy to bend and adjust to arrange them the way you like. They’re also easy to trim so you can adjust them to fit in any size vase.

Add these ChefBee candlestick holders recommended by Lucyk to your dinner table to create dimension. They come in a set of three in different heights, and each piece features a sturdy round base with a velvet nonslip bottom to prevent them from sliding or damaging surfaces.

Lucyk recommends this Zoocatia round wooden tray, and it’s a versatile piece that can be used to display, plants, candles, or anything else that needs a home. It can help keep your home clutter-free by providing a designated spot for items instead of sprawling them all over your countertops, all while adding a touch of height and some natural wood elements.

Using store bottles can make your home look tacky. Lucyk recommends these Egg Sound glass soap dispensers for a more elevated look. They include two gold and two black stainless steel pumps and pre-printed labels that are waterproof for a coordinated, organized look. They also come with a funnel for easy filling and a matching tray to catch spills.

Knickknacks can transform a boring space without much effort. Lucyk recommends this Rool wooden chain link. It’ll add some personality to a shelf, counter, or table. It also helps you to incorporate more natural elements and neutral tones in your home to make it feel modern and fresh.

Lead designer at Awning Elissa Hall calls “large, elaborate draperies in living rooms” a bit mistake. She says, “By substituting simplified, semi-sheer panels for them, your house will have a more modern air and let in natural light through the windows.” These sheer curtains will make your space look brighter, airier, and open. Although they’re sheer and allow natural light in, shoppers mentioned that they still provide a decent amount of privacy.

Hall suggests swapping outdated door knobs to update your home. This door knob offers a modern touch with a matte black finish, a round knob, and a square plate. Plus, it’s treated with an antimicrobial technology that helps it stay clean. One reviewer wrote, “The modern, minimalist design instantly upgraded the look of my doors, and the matte finish gives it a premium feel.”

These cabinet pulls feature a timeless design with a flat back cup style, which makes them a seamless looking addition to your furniture. They’re available in three finishes that would look great on any cabinet. By the way, they have a near-perfect 4.8-star rating, and reviewers mentioned that they’re easy to install, durable, and well-made.

Hall suggests sculptural planters, like this terracotta footed planter, to “create a setting that seems well-curated without being overpowering.” It adds a modern touch to your home and incorporates a natural element thanks to an organically shaped edge for a handmade feel. Best of all, it’s the perfect size for small spaces.

Hall mentions that another way to make your home look well-curated is by adding handcrafted pottery. Each one of these handmade ceramic bowls is unique, and they stand out due to their stunning patterns and colors. Plus, they’re non-toxic and safe to use in the oven, microwave, and dishwasher.

“Perfect for doors, minimalist peg or hook sets give a contemporary touch to storage,” says Hall. These wall-mounted hooks are perfect for hats, purses, coats, towels, and more to help keep your home organized and tidy. Plus, their minimalist design provides a modern and natural element that will quickly elevate any space. They’re made from walnut wood, so they’re sturdy and can hold up 25 pounds each.

“To rapidly update a room, consider sleek, basic pendant lights,” Hall says. This hanging pendant light adds a touch of nature to your home because it’s made with natural, hand-woven rattan. It allows light to stream through and create a beautiful pattern on walls and ceilings. It features a long cord that’s just over 16 feet so you can easily adjust the height to suit your needs.

Hall also recommends “sconce-style illumination” to update your home. These wireless sconces are easy to install with adhesive backings. Since you don’t have to worry about a cord, they can be placed just about anywhere. They attach to the metal adhesive wall mounts with strong magnets so they can be removed to charge or to use as a flashlight. They’re feature three color temperatures and are dimmable.

Hall suggests adding organic textiles to your home for a modern touch. These rope and wood curtain ties are a great way to incorporate her advice. Unlike other curtain ties, they don’t need to be mounted on a wall and are easy to install directly onto curtains. Just wrap the rope around your curtain and use the wooden stick to secure it in place.

Hall suggests “Swapping brass vanity lights with frosted glass shades with matte black or brushed gold rods.” This three-light fixture adds a modern aesthetic to your home with frosted lamp shades and matte black hardware, just like she suggests, and it’s so budget-friendly. By the way, you can mount it on a wall with the shades facing up or down.

Hall suggests Edison-style bulbs for an easy way to update your home. These Edison light bulbs feature a classic teardrop design and emit a warm, soft glow that creates a cozy atmosphere. Oh, and they’re dimmable so you can adjust the brightness. One reviewer wrote, “I love these [bulbs]. The color is so calming and ambient.”

Hall says to avoid shiny brass fittings because they “seem more Hollywood than domestic.” Consider this four-piece bathroom hardware set with a matte black finish. It’s crafted from durable metal that’s resistant to tarnishing and corrosion. This set includes a towel bar, a hand towel ring, a toilet paper roll holder, and a two-prong hook, so you truly have everything you need in one coordinated set.

Hall says, “The all-white farmhouse look has had its day and is starting to seem a little boring.” She suggests creating more depth with “gentler earth tones.” This all-in-one paint has built-in primer and top coat paint so it’s easy to use and saves time. It has a chalky matte finish and it’s available in a variety of colors, including earthy tones, that can add a pop of color to update an all-white home to make it look more modern.

Another way to break up the outdated all-white farmhouse look is by adding jewel tones, Hall mentions. Use this peel-and-stick wallpaper to add a pop or color or to create an accent wall. It features a stunning sapphire background with a gold trellis design that’ll make a space feel more modern and updated. One shopper wrote, “This is just as pretty and vibrant in person as it is online. It was easy to apply and thick enough that it wasn't prone to bubbles, though the few it got were easily smoothed out.”

“If your couch appears weary but is in good condition, slipcovers in a clean linen mix will make it look brand-new at a fraction of the expense of reupholstering,” Hall says. This cotton slip cover is available in a variety of styles and sizes so you can use it to cover chairs, loveseats, and couches that are stained, worn, or feature an outdated pattern. Plus, it’s easy to clean — just toss it in your washing machine.

“To easily modernize a dated bathroom or kitchen without consulting a contractor, use self-adhesive backsplash tiles,” Hall explains. This peel-and-stick backsplash tile is textured and crafted from high-quality vinyl so it looks like real tile and is resistant to cracking, yellowing, and water. It’ll allow you to quickly and easily update your bathroom or kitchen without spending a lot of money and time.