We Asked Designers About the Furniture They’d Never Buy Again, and They Didn’t Hold Back

From flimsy designer knock-offs to trendy items that don’t fit your lifestyle, choosing the wrong furniture can lead to years of regret. We asked interior designers to name the item they would never buy again—and what they learned from the experience—to help you avoid making a similar mistake.

Poorly Made Couch

Interior designer Valerie Darden of Brexton Cole Interiors says her “all-time biggest regret” is buying a shoddily made designer knock-off sofa as a budget-conscious newlywed.

“The fabric ripped easily and the cushion wilted quickly,” she laments, adding that it was out of commission within a year. “We ended up buying a higher-end sofa down the road which cost us more money in the end.”

Lesson learned: Choose higher-end pieces made with thicker fabric, real wood instead of plywood framing, and comfortable proportions, especially if you share your home with kids or pets.

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Matching Bedroom Set

Interior designer Sarah Goldstein from Teela Bennett Design regrets the matching pine bedroom set that she picked out in high school.

“At the time, it felt like such a ‘grown-up’ choice, something that would instantly make my space look put together,” she says. “But instead of giving my room personality, it made the space feel like a staged furniture showroom rather than somewhere that actually reflected me.”

Lesson learned: “Skip the perfectly coordinated sets and instead look for pieces that complement one another while still standing on their own,” Goldstein says. “Mixing styles, materials, or finishes creates depth and interest, and it makes a room feel curated instead of cookie-cutter.”

Heavy Glass Coffee Table

Beware of prioritizing form over function when choosing furniture.

“In my quest for the coolest coffee table out there, I scored a vintage Pace Collection glass piece off Craigslist,” says interior designer Erin Williamson. “It was also the heaviest, messiest table I’ve ever owned. I swear it weighed over 100 pounds, and every time I cleaned crumbs and fingerprints off the top I fantasized about taking it to Goodwill—if only I could get it there.”

Lesson learned: “Don’t buy things you can’t reasonably move unless you are 100% sure they are perfect for the space,” she says.

Uncomfortable Rocking Chair

We all buy furniture online, but when it comes to seating, trying before you buy can make or break a purchase.

“While pregnant with my first baby, I bought a gorgeous vintage blue velvet and chrome rocking chair off Ebay, patting myself on the back for being both practical and stylish,” Williamson says. “Unfortunately it was also the creakiest, least comfortable space hog you could imagine. It sat in the corner, a beautiful sculpture, while I rocked my baby to sleep on a sturdy IKEA stool.”

Lesson learned: “I learned to be honest with myself about how I will really use things,” she says, “because oftentimes fantasy doesn’t align with reality.”

Swivel Chair

Interior designer Monique Holland regrets buying a brown swivel chair that seemed like the perfect choice for a family room adjacent to an eat-in kitchen and sunroom to allow easy communication between spaces. 

“It was a quality piece of furniture and the perfect size for the space,” she recalls. “What I didn’t count on is the children using the swivel chair as a playground merry-go-round ride. After several years, I often find myself tightening screws at the base of the swivel as the chair was not designed to take such heavy usage daily.”

Lesson learned: When choosing furniture, try to envision how everyone in the house will use it to determine whether or not it’s a practical choice.

Wood Patio Furniture

Interior designer Joanna Landis of Eklektik Studio says her big regret was falling for aesthetics over functionality when choosing a eucalyptus wood patio set.

“It wasn’t long before I realized that looks alone won’t cut it when faced with challenging weather,” says the UK-based designer. “By the end of one season, it looked like it had aged 100 years. I spent so much time covering, uncovering, and stressing over it that it took the joy out of having outdoor furniture.”

Lessons learned: “Prioritize durability,” Landis says. “A piece that works in a dry, mild climate might fall apart in damp conditions unless it’s treated properly. In wet climates, materials like aluminum, synthetic resin, and teak are far better at standing up to the elements.”

Fast Furniture

London-based interior designer Emilie Fournet regrets allowing her parents to choose fast furniture for the nursery when she was pregnant with her first born.

“Relieved that someone was taking on this responsibility, I let them get the IKEA Diktad wardrobe, chest of drawers/changing table, and shelves,” the designer recalls. “These turned out to be the flimsiest pieces of furniture ever made. All the drawer bottoms would sag under the weight of a few baby vests, the doors were impossible to install straight.”

Lesson learned: “I sold it and invested in a vintage 1950s wardrobe which my 16-year-old son still has to date,” Fournet says. “Vintage wardrobes come in all sizes and shapes and are completely indestructible it seems. Long live the vintage wardrobes.”