I Asked 4 Designers What Art Is Outdated for 2024, and They All Said the Same Thing

If you’re looking to refresh your walls, the world is truly your oyster. Maybe you find yourself drawn to modern, abstract pieces with a bit of edge or have even DIYed a few prints of your own. Maybe you’re looking to line your stairwell with the quirky vintage portraits you’ve been collecting at flea markets or maybe you’re eager to assemble a gallery wall featuring some of your own travel photography.

While there are a number of different routes you can take, designers suggest avoiding one style of art when decorating your home: overly literal word art, specifically pieces bearing the phrase “Live, Laugh, Love.” 

When I reached out to a few pros to ask them what kind of art made a home feel dated, the results were unanimous. As designer Taylor Johnson puts it, “No one needs to be told to ‘EAT’ while they’re in a kitchen, or to ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ while they’re hanging out at home!” Designer Dawn Ianno agrees. “The old art sayings such as ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ are extremely dated to me,” she says. “These were very popular years ago, but they had their time, and I don’t think they are coming back.” 

If you really can’t see yourself going cold turkey when it comes to word art, try to think outside the box in terms of phrases and applications. For example, look for a flag with a saying that speaks to you, as designer Kelley Gable, the founder of Gable Interiors, did in the bathroom shown above.

Or consider taking an approach that’s a bit more subtle, as designer Lauren Carranza of Seasons 4 Design suggests. “For example, you could use your wedding date in Roman numerals in a simple, clean sans serif font,” she says. “You will know the meaning behind it, yet it won’t be so literal.” 

Ubiquitous mass-produced pieces of word art aside, don’t worry too much about your wall decor selections. “If you love it when you see it, and it stirs some sort of emotion in you — or you can’t stop staring at it — don’t worry about whether it’s outdated or not,” Johnson says. “It’s your home, and you should love every single thing you bring into it.”