It's no secret that working from home has become much more common since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
More time at home, coupled with high interest rates and a sluggish housing market, has led to a surge in attention to home renovation and decorating projects, with Americans spending an average of $1,599 per year on decorating their homes, according to a 2024 Opendoor survey.
While the internet is full of sharing tips and hot takes on how to spend your money and incorporate the latest design trends into your space, Los Angeles-based content creators Robert Gigliotti and Ethan Gaskill are taking a different approach.
The friends and collaborators have taken to TikTok in a viral series called “home decor icks” by sharing the home decor trends they hate, with videos featuring everything from food-themed decor and washable rugs to retro appliances and “quirky” art prints.
While Gigliotti and Gaskill are not designers, they are self-taught and have honed their design sensibilities through family experiences — Gigliotti's mother renovated homes when he was growing up, Gaskill's mother was a real estate agent and his father built custom homes — and their strong opinions have resonated with TikTok users, garnering more than 3.5 million views.
“Again, this is something we've done ourselves, or our siblings or parents have done, so I think it's stuff we can all agree with or relate to or laugh at,” Gaskill told Business Insider.
“We're not just saying, 'Don't buy this ugly chair, it's pathetic,' but we're trying to find ways to make everyone's life easier, create spaces that last, don't throw stuff away, are good for the environment and make people happy,” Gigliotti added.
Business Insider spoke with Gigliotti and Gaskill about what to avoid when decorating your kitchen, from overzealous DIY projects to perfectly finished countertops.
