1. Indoor Living Walls (That Secretly Die Fast)
Lush green plant walls add a biophilic touch that looks great on camera, especially in bathrooms or behind reading nooks. But keeping them alive indoors is way more complex than people realize. They require grow lights, irrigation systems, and constant monitoring for pests or mildew. Within a few months, many of these walls start to thin or brown—especially without professional maintenance.
Some people replace them with artificial greenery once the upkeep gets out of hand, defeating the whole purpose. It’s another case of style over sustainability, built more for a scroll-stopping interior shot than daily serenity. Unless you’re deeply into horticulture or have a landscape team on call, it’s likely to become an expensive regret. That serene “urban jungle” vibe doesn’t last long under real-life conditions.
2. Glass Staircases That Smudge Like Crazy
Glass staircases might look ultra-modern and clean in photos, but in real life, they’re a constant smudge-fest. Every bare foot, pet paw, or sock slip leaves a mark, and unless you’re cleaning daily, it shows. They’re often installed more for that sleek architectural Instagram reel than practicality. Some even require custom cleaning products to avoid scratching the surface.
Aside from the upkeep, they can be a safety hazard, especially if you live with kids, older adults, or anyone who wears socks on hardwood floors. The visual appeal is undeniable, but the functionality is pretty limited. Most homeowners admit they wouldn’t choose it again, citing maintenance and slipperiness. It’s the kind of upgrade that screams, “I have no pets, no kids, and I live in a showroom.”
3. Coffee Stations Bigger Than Most Kitchens
Some homeowners are installing sprawling, barista-level coffee stations complete with industrial espresso machines, built-in grinders, and fancy shelving for beans. These setups look impressive on Pinterest, but unless you’re running a neighborhood café from your home, they’re overkill. The machines alone can cost several thousand dollars and require regular descaling and maintenance. Plus, most of the gear goes unused once the novelty wears off.
They’re not inherently bad if you’re a die-hard coffee lover, but most people still end up reaching for their Nespresso pods. The appeal here is all about aesthetics—matching mugs, stylish jars, and that moody, dark-wood look. In practice, it’s a lot of space and money spent to impress guests or online followers. When every morning becomes a mini choreographed scene for social media, it’s less about coffee and more about curation.
4. Open Shelving in the Kitchen
Open shelves make for beautiful photos—everything looks airy, clean, and perfectly organized. But unless you’re committed to wiping down plates and glasses weekly, they gather dust and grease fast. Most people don’t actually use them to store their everyday dishes because it’s a pain to keep things spotless. They’re great for staged cookbooks and hand-thrown pottery that never gets used.
Home cooks quickly realize they need cabinets for practical storage and protection. What starts as a trendy choice turns into a game of “hide the clutter somewhere else.” Sure, they look amazing on a kitchen tour video, but they demand a level of maintenance most households can’t keep up with. It’s a design decision more rooted in aesthetics than real-life functionality.
5. Massive Wall-Mounted Wine Racks
A full wall of wine bottles—backlit, temperature-controlled, and housed in floating glass panels—looks luxurious. But most of the time, those bottles are cheap blends or empty collectibles from Napa trips. Many homeowners don’t even drink wine regularly; the racks exist to suggest a lifestyle of leisure and taste. And unless it’s climate-controlled, it’s actually a terrible way to store wine.
The ideal wine storage is cool, dark, and humidity-stable—not in full view of the living room sun. Plus, large installations often require custom framing and come with a hefty price tag. It’s a flex more than a function, and even sommelier friends will raise eyebrows. For anyone who knows wine, it’s clear when the wall is more about the vibe than the vino.
6. Projection Mapping for Holiday Displays
Using high-end projectors to create animated holiday scenes on your home exterior is a growing trend—and a very expensive one. Systems can cost thousands and require careful calibration, setup, and software updates. While it’s undeniably impressive for trick-or-treaters or caroling visitors, it’s really made for TikTok and viral shares. You might only use it for a few weeks each year, assuming you don’t live in a rainy climate.
The scenes are often pre-designed, meaning your creativity is limited unless you hire a designer. Plus, neighbors can get annoyed by the brightness or audio if it’s running all evening. It’s one of those upgrades that looks like fun but quickly turns into a tech headache. Most people just want a few lights and a wreath—but online, you’re competing with theme parks.
7. Hidden Rooms With Bookshelf Doors
Secret rooms disguised behind swinging bookshelves are a childhood fantasy turned design trend, often featured in luxury home videos. But they’re mostly impractical and rarely used for more than novelty. Some hide panic rooms, some lead to tiny offices, but most are just there for the “wow” factor when someone pulls out a book and the wall swings open. Building one requires custom carpentry and space most homes don’t have to spare.
They’re cool, sure, but the function is often forced—like a wine cellar in a basement that floods. After the first few reveals, the surprise wears off, and it becomes just another door you forget exists. It’s not about security or utility—it’s about that moment of impressing someone, probably online. A regular home office with a lock is more useful 99% of the time.
8. Designer Fridges With Glass Doors
Glass-door refrigerators make everything inside visible, creating a clean, high-end look when filled with perfectly aligned drinks and produce. But real people have leftovers, ketchup bottles, and maybe a takeout container or two that don’t exactly enhance the aesthetic. These fridges require constant organizing and are less insulated than their solid-door counterparts. Plus, they cost significantly more without offering better cooling performance.
What you gain in showiness, you lose in energy efficiency and convenience. Unless you’re running a content kitchen or have a personal assistant restocking coconut water, it’s hard to keep them photo-ready. For most households, they just turn into stress boxes that reveal how often you don’t go grocery shopping. They’re built to impress your followers—not feed your family efficiently.
This post 8 Domestic Upgrades That Only Exist to Impress Strangers Online was first published on Greenhouse Black.
