There’s a fine – and often subjective—line between “vintage” and “dated” when it comes to home features. Buyers tend to be willing to pay more for a contemporary-looking property. But how do you    determine whether to invest in an update? Here are a few features it’s pretty safe to say are long past their expiration date.

  1. Popcorn ceilings
    Also known as acoustic, or cottage cheese ceilings, they were styled using a popular spray-on ceiling finish for decades. Fortunately, the finish is easy enough to remove using a variety of DIY methods.
  2. Tiled countertops
    Even if they’re not from the 40s or 50s, once you’ve wasted time scrubbing grout clean, you’ll under stand why these should go.
  3. Brass
    Back in the 80s, brass fixtures shone from everywhere they could be screwed or plugged in. That kind of home bling worked back when everyone wondered who shot J.R. To appeal to today’s buyer, update to a more neutral shade such as black or gray, or you can go with the very trendy copper.
  4. Mauve
    Also known as dusty rose, in the 80s this color infested everything from walls and carpets to Don John son’s “Miami Vice” blazers. Try swapping out for more neutral colors.
  5. Short backsplashes
    Popular in the 90s, colored glass and funky tile short backsplashes added color to kitchens. But they al so visually shortened the kitchen walls. Replace them with tiles that reach all the way to the ceiling to make the space look larger.
  6. Light wood cabinets
    They were everywhere in the 90s, but are a quick, inexpensive update. Just grab some paint or stain from the hardware store.
  7. Wood paneling
    Generally speaking, if you can envision Marsha, Cindy and Jan giggling in front of it, it needs to go.