Have you ever walked into a room and been drawn to that slightly odd lamp or unusually shaped chair that somehow just *works* in the space? Welcome to the world of "pretty ugly" design – a refreshing departure from picture-perfect interiors that's breathing new life into homes across the country.
I'm starting to think that I have embraced this style for a very long time. Some people might call it "Eclectic Design", which I feel is a better description although I suppose "Pretty Ugly Design" captures more attention.
Since at least 2017 I've been posting annual design trends on this blog. Last year's post was "Upgrade Your Home With These 2024 Design Trends". As I'm looking it over, the maximalist design is the closest thing, although it doesn't consider itself ugly. It's more deliberately big, bold, colorful, and artsy. Since I'm not an interior designer, it has been difficult to find photos that aren't copyrighted that embrace this design, so I tried my best.
I always learn something by researching annual trends, but I truly don't think people completely change to a specific style quickly. People choose what they love and maybe their preferences morph into a particular design. For most of us, we have furniture and art that falls into multiple design trend "titles". Who makes this stuff up to begin with? Designers, I guess! Just like with clothing and hair fashion trends that change over the years.
When Unconventional Becomes Beautiful
The "pretty ugly" movement, also called **Jolie Laide** (French for "pretty-ugly"), isn't about filling your home with genuinely unattractive items. Rather, it celebrates the beauty found in the unconventional, the slightly off-kilter, and the pieces that make you look twice. It's design with personality and soul – something increasingly rare in today's Instagram-filtered world.
My furniture and design is a hodgepodge of new and used (I love shopping thrift stores), including hand-me-downs from bygone relatives (Aunt Annie's buffet and Grandma's china as a couple of examples, and I do use the china, although it's not on display). When we made our first purchase (a Scottsdale townhouse), we had fun going to the resale shops throughout the town.
As someone who's spent years helping sellers rearrange furniture and changing up my own home decor, I definitely love to create my own design atmosphere that makes me love where I live. Since I come from Illinois and now reside in Arizona, my design has definitely changed over to southwest decor. And it's not because I feel the need to do so, it's because I absolutely love it. Bringing Spanish and American Indian design into my home mixed with other decor makes me feel very happy. I don't just pick something because it is southwestern, I pick it because it hits me in the heart.
The Rebellion Against Pinterest Perfection
Let's face it – we've all fallen down the Pinterest rabbit hole, pinning immaculate, impossibly tidy living rooms with identical neutral sofas and carefully curated coffee table books. These spaces look beautiful in photos, but they often lack the warmth and character that make a house feel like a home. I personally don't like matchy-matchy furniture.
The "pretty ugly" trend is essentially a rebellion against this cookie-cutter approach to design. It's about creating spaces that feel lived-in and loved, not staged for a magazine shoot. Think of it as the design equivalent of choosing authenticity over filters.
"People are tired of homes that look like everyone else's," says a friend who works as an interior designer. "They want spaces that tell their unique story, not someone else's idea of perfection."
The living room above is a beautiful, classic design with a matching sofa, loveseat, and it appears to be a chair to the side. For me it is too formal looking, but I know many people would love it. The same goes for the sleek Scandinavian look - some people love minimalism. It's great that people love different styles of home decor because it adds personality to spaces, fosters creativity, and ensures there's something for everyone to feel at home.
Key Elements That Define the "Pretty Ugly" Movement
1. Embracing Unconventional Pieces
The cornerstone of this trend is incorporating items that might initially raise eyebrows but ultimately add character to your space. This could be:
- That oddly-shaped ceramic vase you found at a flea market
- A vintage chair with slightly unusual proportions
- A bold light fixture that makes visitors do a double-take
- Sculptural objects that defy easy categorization
I don't know what it is about me and lamps, but I've gotten many compliments from this odd table lamp I found at a resale shop in Scottsdale. I will catch myself staring at it with love. It's so weird! It almost has a reptilian feel with the green color, the scales on the glass lampshade and the weird scaly designs of the metal base. If anyone has ever seen anything similar please let me know! If I were to bring anything to the Antiques Roadshow, this might be the piece.
2. The Art of Mixing Styles and Eras
Gone are the days when everything in a room needed to match perfectly. The "pretty ugly" approach celebrates the juxtaposition of different periods and styles:
- Mid-century modern chairs paired with an ornate antique table
- Sleek, contemporary lighting above vintage furniture
- Traditional architecture mixed with unexpected modern art
- Industrial elements alongside delicate, feminine pieces
This mixing creates tension and visual interest that purely matching sets can't achieve. It also allows pieces to be appreciated individually rather than blending into a homogeneous whole.
Imagine a style with someone's grandmother's traditional floral sofa with stark, minimalist side tables and an abstract art collection. The contrast makes each element stand out and creates a space that feels collected over time rather than purchased all at once.
3. Finding Beauty in Imperfection
The Japanese concept of wabi-sabi – finding beauty in imperfection – is central to the "pretty ugly" aesthetic. I wrote about it in the blog post titled "5 Interior Design Styles From Around the World". This style might include:
- Weathered wood with visible knots and grain
- Vintage furniture with a patina that shows its age
- Textiles with subtle irregularities or mending
- Handmade items with the charming inconsistencies that come from human creation
These imperfections tell stories and add depth to our surroundings. A scratch on an old table speaks to family dinners past; slightly uneven hand-thrown pottery reveals the artist's touch. These "flaws" create connection in a way that factory-perfect items cannot.
4. Bold, Conversation-Starting Art
Art within the "pretty ugly" movement often challenges traditional notions of what belongs on our walls:
- Oversized pieces that dominate a room
- Works that provoke thought or even slight discomfort
- Unusual subject matter or unconventional representations
- Pieces that prioritize emotional impact over matching the sofa
5. Experimental Color Choices
The safe, neutral palette that dominated design for years is giving way to more adventurous color choices:
- Rich, earthy tones like ochre, rust, and olive
- Unexpected color combinations that shouldn't work but somehow do
- Moody, saturated shades in place of bright whites
- Colors that evoke emotion rather than just fading into the background
My one son loves blue so he painted some of his main rooms in a blue color. That isn't my favorite decor color and I've had buyers comment negatively after viewing properties with a blue-walled living room. They are more accepting of it for one bedroom or a bathroom.
Why We're Embracing the Unconventional
The growing popularity of "pretty ugly" design reflects broader shifts in how we think about our homes and ourselves:
Craving Authenticity in a Filtered World
As our online lives become increasingly curated, many of us crave spaces that feel real and personal. A home filled with perfect, trend-following furniture can feel more like a showroom than a sanctuary. The "pretty ugly" approach allows for genuine self-expression rather than adherence to external standards.
Sustainability and Thoughtful Consumption
There's an inherent sustainability to this trend. By valuing unique, often vintage pieces with character, we're moving away from the disposable furniture cycle. Items chosen for their distinctive qualities and personal resonance tend to be kept longer and treasured more deeply than those selected merely to follow current trends.
Finding Joy in the Unexpected
There's something undeniably delightful about spaces that surprise and intrigue. A room designed with "pretty ugly" principles invites exploration and discovery in a way that perfectly coordinated interiors rarely do. It creates moments of joy when you notice an unusual detail or find beauty in an unexpected place.
How to Incorporate "Pretty Ugly" Into Your Home
If you're intrigued by this approach but unsure where to start, here are some accessible ways to experiment:
Start Small with Accessories
You don't need to overhaul your entire home to embrace this trend. Begin with smaller items that can be easily changed:
- Add an unusual vase or sculpture to your coffee table
- Frame an unconventional piece of art for your wall
- Introduce a single piece of furniture with unique character
- Experiment with textiles that add unexpected texture or pattern
Mix One Old Thing with New Things
Creating interesting tension can be as simple as incorporating a single vintage or antique piece among your contemporary furnishings. The contrast will highlight both the old and the new in interesting ways.
Follow Your Genuine Reactions
The most important aspect of this trend is authenticity. Choose items that genuinely speak to you, even if (or especially if) your reaction is "That's so weird...I love it!" Trust your personal response over what design rules might dictate.
This is how I shop in resale stores. I quickly look around for something that is going to catch my eye. It doesn't always happen, but when it does I feel like I found a treasure. Well, usually. A painting caught my eye and we bought it. When we put it up in the Scottsdale townhouse we once owned it didn't strike the same chord with me. I never did like it and now it's hanging in our garage - not even in a good spot. I need to get rid of it!
Consider Scale and Proportion
Playing with unexpected scale is a hallmark of this trend. Try an oversized art piece in a small space, or a delicate vintage chair next to a substantial modern sofa. These juxtapositions create visual interest and conversation starters.
When "Pretty Ugly" Goes Wrong
I apologize if any of you like this room. Like any design approach, there are pitfalls to avoid:
Confusing Genuinely Ugly with "Pretty Ugly"
The key word in "pretty ugly" is still "pretty" – there should be something compelling and attractive about your choices, even if they're unconventional. Items that are purely unattractive without redeeming qualities probably won't stand the test of time in your space.
Creating Chaos Instead of Character
While this trend celebrates mixing and matching, successful "pretty ugly" spaces still maintain a sense of intention. Without some connecting elements – a color palette, recurring materials, or consistent scale – a room can feel chaotic rather than characterful.
Chasing the Trend Instead of Your Taste
Ironically, forcing yourself to embrace "pretty ugly" design because it's trendy defeats its purpose of authenticity. The most successful interpretations come from following your genuine attractions, not forcing yourself to like something because it fits the trend.
Looking Forward: The Evolution of Beautiful Spaces
The "pretty ugly" trend represents a significant shift in how we think about our homes. It signals a move toward more personal, expressive spaces that prioritize character over conformity. It asks us to reconsider what makes something beautiful and encourages a more thoughtful, individual approach to our surroundings.
As we continue to navigate a world of increasingly homogenized visual content, creating homes that reflect our true selves becomes even more valuable. The ability to find beauty in the unconventional isn't just a design skill – it's a life skill that opens us to new possibilities and perspectives.
So the next time you come across a piece that's a little strange but strangely appealing, consider bringing it home. That slightly awkward lamp or unusually proportioned chair might be exactly what your space needs – a touch of authentic character in a world of picture-perfect interiors.
After all, isn't it our quirks and imperfections that make us interesting as people? Perhaps it's time our homes reflected that same beautiful truth.
Posted by Judy Orr on
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