Do YOU have middle class furniture regret? The fixtures that cost the most and never live up to the hype – from white sofas to £10,000 bookcases

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From white sofas that are ‘never a good investment’ to ‘tacky’ glass dining tables, an interior designer has revealed the mid-range furniture most buyers will end up regretting.

Jordana Ashkenazi says there are certain types of furniture that look ‘fabulous in the showroom or on Instagram’ but don’t always pay off at home.

These include elaborate bookcases like the one owned by influencer Lydia Millen, which are quickly becoming an undesirable ‘never-ending style exercise’.

‘As an interior designer, I see this all the time,’ the London-based founder and design director of Element One House told the Daily Mail. Pieces that people are initially excited about quickly become high maintenance, impractical, or don’t actually fit their lifestyle.

“And if you have kids or pets, some of these choices can quickly become a very bad idea,” the expert insisted, adding: “Trends come and go, and some of these choices can be expensive.”

He continued: ‘You invest in something thinking it will last you a long time, but after a few years you lose love for it and then feel stuck with it unless you have the budget to replace it.

‘Many of these trends are not bad per se, they’re just overrated or used in the wrong places.’

Read on for some of the most common culprits of mid-range furniture regret that Jordana recently identified…

white sofas

Jordana said: ‘White sofas are the ultimate fantasy purchase. They look flawless in showrooms and on Instagram, and the idea of ​​white or cream at home feels effortlessly sublime.

‘I’d love a white sofa too, but being a single mother with two kids has its challenges and if you have animals you’ll know exactly what I mean. Do I need to say more?

‘In reality they are incredibly high maintenance. Even if you don’t have kids or pets, you’re still a little paranoid about going anywhere near them. One coffee, one spill, one pair of jeans and it’s game over.

‘They may work in very controlled, low-traffic areas, but in most homes people end up living around them rather than actually resting there. A sofa you’re afraid to sit on is not a good investment.’

grandfather clocks

Jordana said: ‘Grandfather clocks can work beautifully in the right period setting where they feel appropriate to the architecture.

‘But in many modern homes, it can feel oversized and difficult to place. These are large, imposing pieces that you often work on instead of naturally putting them together.

‘In many homes in the UK, large furniture can feel like a burden rather than a feature.’

Show shelves

Influencer Lydia Millen shows off her elaborate home library on her Instagram account

Jordana said: ‘Open shelving can look beautiful when styled well and kept minimal. The problem is that this is rarely the case in real homes.

‘It quickly turns into a mixture of books, cables and random objects with nowhere else to go. What starts as a design feature turns into a never-ending style exercise. You’re constantly rearranging, restyling, and buying new pieces just to keep it looking presentable.

‘Then there is dust. Each item needs to be cleaned individually and you can easily lose an hour just dusting.

‘You constantly notice that it looks cluttered or disorganized, which defeats its purpose as a feature. ‘This is less of a casual job and more of a part-time job.’

swing chairs

Jordana said: ‘Swing chairs can work as a fun feature piece, especially in larger or more entertaining spaces. The problem is that for most homes, especially in the UK where space is tighter, innovation quickly wears off.

‘They are rarely used after the first few weeks and tend to be decorative rather than functional.

‘You often find yourself wondering if someone is actually using it or if it’s just there for show. ‘It’s one of those pieces that sounds great in theory but doesn’t always translate into everyday life.’

matching furniture sets

Jordana said: ‘Matching furniture sets may sound like a safe and easy option, and for some people, simplicity works. The disadvantage is that they often leave a flat and impersonal space.

‘Essentially it means I’ll walk into a showroom and buy all of these without any real thought. Real homes are not showrooms; They should reflect how you actually live.

‘The interiors depart from this harmonious look. The best homes feel layered and collected over time. This is the design equivalent of putting a full outfit on a mannequin. ‘It’s safe but not particularly stylish.’

boucle

BBC Radio 1 presenter Mollie King sits in a large Bouclé cream chair

Jordana said: ‘Bouclé really had his moment when he first arrived. It felt fresh, textured and quite high. Now it’s everywhere.

‘Almost every place on the high street sells it, which is good, but it’s taken away much of what made it feel special in the first place.

‘There’s also a tendency to add some bouclés and just because it’s on trend, suddenly the space feels design-led.

‘When overused or exaggerated, it can start to feel a bit typical rather than taken into consideration.

‘It’s still very popular and can work beautifully in the right environment, but it’s definitely a case of less is more now.’

sun loungers

Jordana said: ‘Lounge chairs can look beautiful and work well in larger homes where there is plenty of space and other seating available.

‘The problem is that these are expected to serve as daily seating. They take up a lot of space and aren’t always the most practical choice.

‘In many homes, especially where space is limited, these can feel like a luxury rather than a necessity. You often find yourself questioning whether it’s actually being used or whether it’s just sitting there looking pretty.’

shiny furniture

Jordana said: ‘High-gloss furniture can still work in more modern schemes, especially when used in softer tones or in more organic shapes. Older, extremely slick styles are where it starts to feel outdated.

‘They show every bit of dust and every fingerprint, so you’re constantly aware of keeping them clean. This becomes difficult to maintain in real life, especially in crowded homes.

‘If not done carefully, they can look cold or a bit tacky rather than sophisticated.’

rice everything

Reality star Stacey Solomon shows off her bathroom with brass taps in the sink

Jordana said: ‘Brass is everywhere again now, it looks a lot like curls. It has become a place frequented by everyone. You see this in faucets, handles, furniture legs, lighting, light switches, just about everything. That’s when it starts to dilute the trend.

‘When you see so much you naturally start to get a little bored. It can quickly feel overdone and even verge on seeming a bit ostentatious.

‘ However, it certainly still holds its own. I like rice, but I don’t like anything with rice. The shift is now towards mixing metals, surfaces, natural woods and stone to create a much more layered and considered look.

‘Interiors are becoming more experimental again, making them feel much more interesting and timeless.’

glass dining tables

Jordana said: ‘Glass dining tables can look stylish and minimal in the right setting, especially in more contemporary spaces. In reality, they come with a lot of maintenance.

‘Fingerprints, smudges and dust show up instantly and you can clean the whole house and still spend a full hour just polishing the table.

‘You start noticing each sign as it appears. In busy homes this is not practical. They also lack warmth, so the space may feel colder than intended.

‘Depending on the base, they can even verge on looking a little tacky rather than high.’

Fully upholstered wall headboards

Jordana said: ‘Fully upholstered wall headboards have had a big moment, especially with the luxury look of the hotel. They may seem impressive at first, but they are a big commitment.

‘You’re essentially designing the entire wall around one trend. People often add brass details, mirrors, lighting and even electrical points and suddenly it becomes a very expensive feature.

‘The problem is, when trends change you get stuck with them. It’s not a quick swap. It is a completely redesigned design.

‘Things that once felt luxurious can now start to feel extravagant and even a little ostentatious. ‘There’s now a move towards more relaxed, layered bedrooms with simpler headboards that can evolve over time rather than locking you into one look.’

mirrored furniture

Jordana said: ‘Mirrored furniture can be effective in small doses to add light, especially to dark areas. The problem occurs when it is used excessively.

‘Fingerprints reflect everything, including clutter and casual wear. When you add kids to the mix, it starts to look less attractive and more high-maintenance very quickly.

‘You end up constantly noticing signs and things reflecting back at you, and it’s not always in a good way. ‘Too much and it can start to look a bit dated rather than extremely decorative and elegant.’

And now… furniture you won’t regret buying