50 Terrible Home Designs That Look Impossible To Clean
Home decor is a fun way to express your personality and online shopping has made it easier than ever to buy unique pieces. However, sometimes designers and homeowners forget that besides the look of an item, we also need to focus on the practicality of owning it.
Below are photos of real pieces that, while they make a stylish statement, are impossible to clean and maintain. Others are just downright bizarre. Take a look and let us know if you would put these in your home.
A Tumbleweed-Inspired Light
If you ever wanted to capture the beauty of a ball of dried sticks moving through the desert, this lamp is for you! Not only will it remind you of a Western ghost town, but it is also guaranteed to be impossible to clean effectively. Who wants one?
Have You Ever Seen A Big, Green Gorilla Chair?
A big, green gorilla chair is not a home decor item we have ever come across, let alone something we even knew existed. While it is a cool concept (if you're into green gorillas), there is no way that keeping that shaggy fur clean is worth owning this. In just a few months, that fur is going to be covered in crumbs and other gross debris.
A Toilet That Needs A Saddle
Finally, the perfect toilet for the horse-lover in your life. Maybe there's somebody out there who really wants to replicate the feeling of riding a carousel in the bathroom, but our guess is that number is pretty small.
It Looks Like Miss. Piggy's House
Don't get me wrong, the fuzzy pink walls and bannisters are fabulous, but how does one keep them clean? Are they vacuuming the walls? Shampooing the banisters? I just have so many questions and absolutely no answers.
A Gardener's Dream, A Nightmare For Everyone Else
It's clear that this live plant wall is extraordinary. It looks like the scenery out of a whimsical movie. But, how on Earth would anyone keep this clean? This is one of those home decor projects that would take over your entire life just to keep it looking this good.
No One Needs This
People swear that toilet cozies keep you warm and protected from the cold seat, but we're here to tell you that no one on the planet needs one of these. If you have one, just take it off and burn it. There's no need to risk coming in contact with all that bacteria.
Where Do We Even Start With This Lamp?
Hand-blown lamps like this are a true testament to an artist's creativity and craftsmanship, but just looking at this photo is giving us a bit of a headache. I'm sure it is gorgeous, but dusting each individual coil must take ages. There's a professional cleaning person out there cursing this design right now.
A Decorative Tire Cover
Call us crazy, but we never really understood why people decorated the outside of their cars. They are bound to get dirty because of the elements and grime on the road. This is a cool concept but we have a bad feeling it won't last long.
A Princess' Dream Room
Every princess (and wannabe princess) would love to sleep in this room with its upholstered bed, frilly canopy, and floral accent wall. But, for the maid cleaning this room, it is probably their life's burden. There is way too much laundry, vacuuming, and dusting that would need to happen to make this room clean enough to sleep in.
Dusty Dragons Aren't Part Of A Magical Home
The fantasy genre isn't very common in modern homes, and seeing this table explains why. Our inner nerds are loving the realistic dragon sculpture, but we can see the caked-on dust from the photo, meaning that we're going to need a wizard's magic wand to get this thing fully cleaned.
A Reminder That Beauty Doesn't Trump Function
At first glance, this seat looks like a stunning flower made of intricate, overlapping petals. Once you get over its beauty, it's clear that owning this chair would be a major headache. Imagine trying to clean the crumbs out of all those crevices?
This Is Why We Hire Professionals
Every homeowner goes through a phase where they want to DIY all their renovation projects. Let this photo serve as a warning as to why you shouldn't. Unless you want a lopsided, uneven brick fireplace, just let the pros do their jobs.
As If Cleaning The Stairs Wasn't Hard Enough
Even if this weren't carpeted, it would still be a nightmare to clean. A floating, spiral staircase can easily become a death trap if you don't watch your step. Just what were they trying to achieve here?
Cuddle Up In A Shag Bed
We thought everyone agreed that shag carpets were a short-lived trend that we shouldn't repeat. It looks like some people didn't get the memo and decided to take things a step further by installing a shag-covered bed. Yuck.
Is There Even A Toilet In There?
Don't make this homeowner's mistake and conceal the toilet. After all, in an emergency, people need direct access to it, and having thousands of seashells in the way is a recipe for disaster.
A Festive Tree Mug That's Bound To Be Regifted
If you're out shopping for a Christmas gift and feel tempted to buy this mug – don't! What might look like a cute gift is about to become a nightmare for whoever has to clean it. Over time, it's guaranteed that grime is going to build up around that tree, and there isn't a dish brush in the world small enough to clean it.
Let Sinks Be Sinks
We can see the vision that the designer was going for here, but sinks are too practical for these elaborate designs. Most people need something simple that works well enough to wash their hands in, brush their teeth, and rinse dishes in.
A Beautiful But Questionable Mural
An artist decided to layer these beautiful ceramic plates to make a one-of-a-kind mural, and the result is stunning. On a more practical level, though, this art project is going to attract so much dirt and dust. We don't envy the person who has to clean this.
It's Cute And Creepy
Someone decided to use hot glue to attach these stuffed animals to their mirror's frame, and the end result is... slightly unhinged. We're all for reconnecting with your inner child, but this seems a bit off to us.
Can You Even Take This To A Car Wash?
There's a reason why you don't see many cars covered in faux fur on the roads. Besides looking a little strange, they have to be extremely difficult to maintain. Imagine having to use your Saturday afternoon to shampoo the outside of your car? No thanks.
Another Problematic Lighting Fixture
We understand why so many designers want to change up the look of the usual lighting fixture, but sometimes, simplicity is best. Not only are these intricate designs challenging to clean, but let's not forget that they are usually hung up in high places, making the task something of a death wish.
What Happened To Regular Toilets?
Someone decided to turn their porcelain throne into a real throne, and while the final result is... unique, most people would prefer a regular, old toilet. After all, why would you want to make more work for yourself when it comes to cleaning the bathroom?
Let's Just Stick With Regular Straws
As someone who owns regular reusable straws and despises cleaning them, let me talk you out of buying these wacky designs. The truth is, you'll use it once and wonder why you wasted your money before throwing it out.
A Homemade Crystalized Book
Here's another example of an object that looks beautiful and can improve the aesthetics of a home, but begs the question, "At what cost?" Apparently, people can make these crystalized books to display and while they are eye-catching, all I can think about is how the dust is going to get in every nook and cranny.
A Confusing Chair
We can't tell if this chair was inspired by a ball of yarn or ground beef, but either way, it's a design that offers no benefits. It doesn't look comfy and it's ugly as sin. Just stick with a nice La-Z-Boy.
When The Thrift Store Find Backfires
Lots of people love thrifting because you can find unique pieces at low prices. But, sometimes, those bargains are worth it. Case in point, this cat statue with textured fur that is practically inviting dust bunnies to live inside.
When Aesthetics Become Unattractive
One Reddit user recently saw this sink at a winery and decided to share it online. While it's clear that the winery was going to a rustic vibe, the truth is that no one wants to see a pile of wet and potentially dirty stones at the bottom of a public sink.
Who Wouldn't Want A Lumpy Vase?
When an object is stylish and difficult to clean, at least we can give it some credit for being aesthetically pleasing. In this case, the vase looks like it has contracted some sort of skin condition in addition to being nearly impossible to keep clean. Hard pass.
Maybe Not The Best Decoration For A Store
Having dozens of floating decorations is a cool idea in theory, but what are the chances that the employees are actually cleaning them? Pretty soon, these are going to become floating dust magnets that dangle over people's heads while they try to shop for groceries.
A Bathroom That Is 100% Mirrored
You know what every person wants in their home? The ability to see themselves in the bathroom from every possible angle. Actually, wait, no one wants that. And let's not even get started on the amount of Windex that will be needed to keep the fingerprints at bay.
Cute Idea In Theory, Terrible In Actuality
As far as knife blocks go, they really only come in one standard design, so we understand the need to find another, creative solution. I don't think this is the winner, which is why those boring knife blocks remain the standard.
Why Make Backsplashes More Difficult To Clean?
Backsplashes are designed to protect walls from the splashes that come from cooking and cleaning. We know they need to be cleaned, so why would you pick one with a detailed design that is just going to be harder to scrub?
At Least You'll Always Know Where The Remote Is
Even in the age of modern technology, most people still struggle with keeping track of the remote. Here is one unique solution that doubles as bathroom decor. Now, just imagine having to clean all those little buttons... ew.
When DIYs Go Wrong
Someone wanted to add some more natural touches to their bathroom, and this was the end result. In general, gluing rocks to a home's surface never turns out the way you would expect. Just leave the rocks outside where they belong.
It's Beautiful But Incredibly Impractical
Someone took the time to make this dainty creation out of building blocks but even they admitted that their project is so delicate that cleaning it is a real pain. Let this be a lesson for all you LEGO enthusiasts out there.
This Floor Is A Triple Threat
Not only would cleaning this 3D rock floor be a long and tedious process, but it looks painful to walk on, and if we're being honest, ugly, too. This floor has three strikes against it, but someone, somewhere, still went ahead and installed it. We're guessing they regret that choice now.
Seashells Don't Work As Lampshades
We understand that beach-themed decor is very popular, especially in coastal areas, but this is taking things too far. We have a hard time believing this would survive the trip from the store to someone's house before breaking into a million pieces and making a huge mess.
The Beauty Of Upholstery In The Kitchen
Have you ever looked at a sofa and thought, "What if this beautiful design was part of my kitchen cabinets?" Well, one homeowner did and this is the final result. Honestly, we just have the urge to squish all those cabinet doors.
No Matter How Much You Clean, It Will Never Be Enough
These spiral cabinet handles look elegant, but upon closer inspection, it's clear that cleaning them will be nearly impossible. Maybe their never-ending design is a clue that tells us how likely they are to cause a downward spiral in someone attempting to wipe them down.
At Least This Sink Looks Like A Sink
We could almost ignore the hideous brown and green color scheme going on here, solely because it looks like this sink is still functional. Why anyone would attempt to do this to their sink is beyond us, but we guess someone had a specific vision.
How About A Rug Carved Directly Into Your Floor?
If you have hardwood floors, you know how easily dust and crumbs can build up in the crevices. This person decided to make their life more difficult by going ahead and carving a rug into their floor. Good luck vacuuming that!
Beautiful Design, Impractical Execution
Yes, in a fantasy world, this whimsical kitchen sink would fit right in. In reality, though? Not so much. Any homeowner who installs this is going to find themselves sacrificing hours and a ton of cash to keep it looking pristine.
We Have So Many Questions
While the average coffee cup can be a bit boring, it does the job. We aren't sure what's going on here, but it looks like it can barely hold the coffee. We don't even want to think about what happens when someone tries to take a sip.
Just... No
This is taking the idea of bringing natural elements to your decor too far. Most people do not want to sit on a pile of rocks when they need to use the bathroom. Plus, cleaning this toilet would be another challenge altogether.
Stunning, But At What Cost?
Of all the items on this list, this might be one of the most gorgeous. Who wouldn't want delicate crystals hanging from their stairwell? Well, try cleaning those crystals without breaking your neck, and get back to us.
An Indoor Beach?
One ambitious homeowner decided to create an indoor beach, complete with a real sand floor. You just know that sand is getting tracked through the rest of the house. There is no way they can contain it to one room.
A Grand Mistake
One Reddit user spotted these floating rocks in the atrium of a business center. According to the user, the ceiling was easily 100 feet high, and most of these rocks were covered in a thick layer of dust. Yup, that makes sense.
Only Install This If You're Brave
This wall features dozens of real, dried leaves. We know what you're thinking: "Don't dried leaves eventually become really fragile and crumble to dust?" Yes, yes, they do. We hope this person has a really good vacuum on hand.
Just Hold It Until You Get Home
Some people might be stoked to use these shark urinals, but others would rightfully turn right around and decide to wait until they can use a real urinal. The truth is, no one wants to relieve themselves on Jaws.
When Nature Wins
It is kind of cool that a restaurant was built near this natural rock formation and included it in the final bathroom design. But we all need to understand that there is zero chance that the surfaces in that bathroom are being cleaned properly.
