After Years of Being a Fan of This Home Trend, I'm Officially Over It

A few years ago, I couldn’t have been a bigger fan of lucite furniture. My former apartment featured a classic, clear waterfall coffee table in the living room while two lucite end tables stood proudly in an upstairs sitting area. Had I come across an affordable lucite bar cart, I would have scooped it up in seconds. And don’t get me started on the lucite console I scored for a mere $25—as soon as I saw it listed on Craigslist, I knew I had to have it. 

As my style has evolved, though, I’ve found myself veering away from lucite and toward more traditional pieces, such as vintage wood and marble buffets or grasscloth tables.

For one, I’ve found that many lucite pieces don’t age extremely well. Unfortunately, many of the items I enthusiastically bought for my old place began to show signs of use and scratching quite easily. While some marks can easily be covered with books and accessories, I’m pretty attuned to wear and tear and would prefer to invest in a piece that can better camouflage signs of day-to-day use.

As I live in a small apartment, my coffee table, for example, serves as everything from a makeshift workstation to a dinner table to a space to enjoy drinks and appetizers with friends. With limited square footage, there is no room for pieces that are too delicate or bound to get scraped up just from essential use. 

Of course, I’ve encountered designers who style lucite pieces—particularly those that are actually vintage from the 1970s—incredibly well and truly make them shine among more classic elements. I’ve just personally found this to be more of a challenge and don’t want to make styling more difficult on myself.

At the end of the day, what matters most is that your space is filled with the pieces you love, trends aside. However, it’s always important to take into account the pros and cons of a furniture item before placing an order, particularly if you plan to feature such a piece in your space for a significant period of time.