Wood finishes offer warmth, texture, and beauty to any interior. However, like all interior design elements, tastes and preferences evolve, and styles inevitably fall out of favor. Some finishes can inadvertently date a home, whether it’s the bold, orange-toned pine popular in the 90s, the high-gloss wood finishes of the 80s, or the heavily stained woods that once dominated cabinetry. 

“The common theme?” says Rosanna Bassford, founder and principal designer of Memmo Interiors.  “Finishes that are not naturally found on wood. They are trendy, and once the trend is over can easily date your house.”

Read on for the top seven wood finishes that make your home look outdated, according to interior designers.

Orange-Toned Maple

The 1990s and early 2000s saw heavy use of orange-toned maple finishes in furniture, cabinetry, flooring, and trim. This look was achieved by using an orange or gold-toned stain to exaggerate the maple wood’s naturally warm undertones. 

“While it was a staple in traditional designs, it can feel out of sync with today’s more neutral and modern preferences,” says Paulina Carcach, founder and principal designer of Paulina Carcach Interior Design.

While warm-toned wood finishes are still desirable, many homeowners and designers prefer a more refined and subdued warmth. This can be achieved by choosing wood with warm undertones and simple finishes for a more natural look.

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Dark Cherry Wood

Dark, red-toned wood is another common offender, Carcach says. Cherry stains were popular in the 1990s and early 2000s, but today, they can feel overly formal and heavy. 

If you love the look of a dark stain but want to avoid dating your home, it’s best to avoid overly red—or even purple-toned hues such as cherry or mahogany. Instead, opt for shades with neutral undertones, such as dark walnut or chestnut, which offer a more natural, chocolatey-brown color.  

Rustic Oak With a Faux Patina 

This wood finish is an excellent example of an overly “finished” look that doesn’t work well in modern applications.

According to Sarah Hargrave, owner and principal designer of The Collective, this heavily distressed look was popular in the 90s, but today it feels outdated and tired. It’s often seen on cabinetry and furniture, although it can also be found on trim and flooring.

Skip the faux patina and opt for a more natural oak finish to bring this wood into the modern design era. 

Red- or Yellow-Toned Pine and Cedar

The modern preference for neutral and subtle wood tones means that red- and yellow-toned pine and cedar have also fallen out of favor. 

“These tones, reminiscent of mountain cabin decor, often feel out of place in current interior design…especially in city homes,” Hargrave says.

Instead, opt for more neutral finishes that highlight the wood’s natural warmth and character. For example, lighter woods, natural grains, and matte or satin finishes.

Almost-Black Espresso 

Popular in the early 2000s, dark, almost-black espresso stains dominated furniture, cabinetry, and flooring trends. They were adored for their formal, refined, and high-contrast look.

Today, however, this finish feels heavy and outdated. The desire for lighter, airier spaces and the trend towards more natural, nature-inspired finishes have left this look firmly in the past, says Bassford. 

Gray-Washed Finishes 

Gray-washed wood finishes were once prized for their neutral, rustic appeal and were often seen as a lighter alternative to black or dark espresso stains. They were big in the 2000s and early 2010s as the industrial and farmhouse styles reigned supreme. Gray-toned finishes were commonly used on furniture, flooring, and cabinetry to evoke a sense of weathered, reclaimed charm.

However, as preferences have shifted towards more refined, minimalist, and contemporary designs, gray-toned wood finishes have fallen out of favor, Bassford says. Today, these finishes feel cold, artificial, and uninviting.

Like espresso and the overly distressed faux patina look, gray-washed wood finishes can be chalked up to a fleeting design trend that doesn’t stand the test of time.

High Gloss Finishes

Lastly, avoid high-gloss wood finishes if you want to keep your space feeling timeless. These sleek finishes were popular during the 1980s and 90s for furniture and flooring in particular. They often symbolized wealth and prestige. 

But today shiny finishes can make wood feel overly processed and artificial, lending to uninviting and sterile spaces. Instead, opt for more natural, matte, and satin finishes, which showcase the beauty of the wood without the high shine and evoke a sense of warmth, comfort, and understated elegance.