Im An Interiors Editor – Uaetodaynews

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Some design pieces become so famous they stop being furniture and start being shorthand for taste. They appear in every photoshoot, every influencer’s living room, every ‘dream home’ Pinterest board. But then they stop feeling iconic.

As an interiors editor, I’ve seen the same silhouettes, finishes and brand names so many times they’ve lost their sparkle. Here’s my take on the seven icons I’d happily admire in a museum (or someone else’s house) but wouldn’t actually buy for my own home.

The curly sofa

For the past few years, bouclé has been everywhere – the influencer fabric de jour. It photographs beautifully: tactile, creamy and cloud-like. But in reality it traps dust, and doesn’t play nicely with pets or red wine. Not for me!

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Bouclé sofas also risk making every living room look identical. The soft curves and mushroomy silhouettes can read ‘2021’ at a glance and in my experience, trends that depend on one hero texture burn bright but fade fast.

Instead:Keep the sculptural shape of a bouclé sofa, but choose a fabric with longevity – textured linen, mohair, or tightly woven wool. You’ll keep the tactility without the déjà vu effect. Or the lint roller. I recommend the mohair Smooch sofa from Loaf.

The Ghost Chair by Philippe Starck for Kartell

When the Ghost Chair, a Louis XVI silhouette made from polycarbonate, first arrived in the early 2000s, it was a style revolution. It made everything look design-led, modern and cool. Now it’s become the office event chair of choice, and that once-clever invisibility now really stands out. But for the wrong reasons.

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The issue isn’t the transparency of the chair, but overexposure. Entire dining rooms of Ghost chairs feel sterile; they remove personality instead of adding it. Not to mention they show every fingerprint and are not that comfy to sit on!

Instead:I would rather choose seating that celebrates the material rather than hides it. And the warmer the better – cane, timber, bent metal. A mismatched set of vintage finds adds far soul than another see-through throne. Check out the Hoxton dining chair from John Lewis for something that is iconic but also comfy.

The Smeg fridge

It’s charming. It’s colourful. And yes, if I were ever gifted a Smeg fridge I would donate my current basic and boring white model to charity and pop this in its place within seconds. BUT, the Smeg fridge uses a lot of energy, has narrow shelves and would take up half my kitchen.

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Instead: Integrate your appliances. Hidden fridges and dishwashers make even small spaces feel calm and cohesive. Add personality through lighting, tiles, or a bold countertop instead of a 1950s-style centrepiece that hums louder than your kettle.

The burl wood side table

Burl wood – that swirling, knotted veneer of brown and gold is enjoying a massive resurgence of late. Which means you will see it in high-end boutiques to fast-furniture copies. What was once rare and luxurious has become the Instagram prop of choice, inevitably topped with a Diptique candle and a coffee table book.

Instead:Channel that warmth with honest timber pieces. Look for oiled oak or walnut with visible grain and solid craftsmanship. They will age gracefully and feel grounded rather than glossy.

The Tom Dixon Melt pendant light

Once a show-stopping sculptural statement, now a fixture in every new-build lobby. The mirrored, molten surface looks great but casts a surprisingly low glow that can be too dim in many spaces.

Design fatigue aside, the Melt’s metallic sheen dictates the whole palette of a room. Unless your aesthetic is futuristic or contemporary, it’s hard to live with long term.

Instead:Explore soft opal glass globes or linen-shaded pendants. They provide flattering illumination and timeless form. I love the Leo Swirl pendant light from Dusk.

The Dyson fan

It looks like modern art and costs like it too – but its just a fan. Dyson’s sculptural loop has become shorthand for ‘tech luxury’ but in design terms it is a large plastic ring that refuses to blend in.

Instead:Choose quiet, minimalist fans that disappear into the background or, better yet, focus on natural ventilation. Good curtains, shade and cross-breezes do for comfort (and aesthetics) than a buzzing status symbol.

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The wingback armchair

Few pieces of furniture carry as much old-world gravitas as the wingback velvet armchair. Its the stuff of period dramas and roaring fires. But for all its splendour, I wouldn’t have it in my home. The high back and rigid wings look imposing rather than inviting; its the kind of chair you sit in properly, not the one you collapse into with a book and a blanket.

Instead:Go for rounded armchairs in textured weaves or linen blends. The Relaxed armchair from Cox & Cox is high on my list.