Taste might be subjective, but there’s still a difference between having an actual sense of style and just throwing things together and hoping for the best.
People who lack good taste often don’t even realise it—they’re too busy announcing their preferences with misplaced confidence and clinging to trends, labels, and outdated ideas like they’re status symbols. From fashion to interiors to everyday choices, these phrases are dead giveaways that someone’s more flash than finesse. If you’ve heard them tossed out unironically, there’s a good chance good taste left the building a while ago.
1. “It was really expensive, so it must be good.”
This line is the go-to for people who confuse price with value. They don’t look for quality or design—they just assume that the higher the cost, the more impressive it must be. Taste isn’t about how much you spent. It’s about how you put things together, whether it’s a jacket, a living room, or even a dinner party.
Throwing money at something doesn’t mean it looks good. In fact, the most stylish people know how to mix high and low effortlessly. Good taste is in the choices, not the receipts.
2. “I just buy whatever’s trending.”
This is the equivalent of putting your entire personality on autopilot. Trends are fine—fun, even—but when every decision is based on what’s currently popular, you end up blending in instead of standing out. Taste is about picking what suits you, not copying what everyone else is doing. People with style know how to filter trends through their own lens. People without it just mimic what they saw on a fast-fashion homepage.
3. “I don’t really care how it looks, as long as it works.”
This might sound practical, but often it’s just code for “I don’t have the energy to try.” Function matters, but so does intention. The problem isn’t being casual—it’s being careless and then acting like it’s a virtue. People with taste find ways to make the useful look thoughtful. The ones without it usually live surrounded by lumpy furniture, tech cables in every corner, and zero sense of vibe.
4. “It’s not that deep.”
This one gets dropped whenever someone realises they’ve made a truly questionable style choice and don’t want to talk about it. It’s a way to brush off feedback without reflecting on the actual problem. Of course, it’s not always deep, but good taste pays attention to the little things that shape how we feel in our spaces and clothes. People who dismiss that usually just don’t know how to articulate it well, or don’t want to.
5. “That’s just how I’ve always done it.”
Sticking with tradition is one thing. But using it to justify every outdated, clunky, or chaotic decision? Not a good look. Taste evolves. Hanging onto a questionable sofa or awful haircut just because it’s familiar is how people end up stuck in 2003 decor purgatory. Good taste is flexible—it grows with you. People with none treat the past like a style bible that can’t be questioned.
6. “It’s funny because it’s tacky.”
Irony can be charming—until it becomes your entire aesthetic. There’s a fine line between “fun kitsch” and “this room looks like a novelty shop exploded.” People who lack taste often pretend they’re being quirky when they’re actually just decorating in the dark. If everything’s a joke, it’s hard to know what you actually like. Good taste doesn’t mean taking yourself too seriously, but it does mean having a point of view that isn’t just “lol.”
7. “I don’t see what the big deal is.”
This phrase tends to show up when someone’s been gently (or not-so-gently) told their outfit, playlist, or interior choices are a little chaotic, and they can’t be bothered to care. That’s the thing about good taste: it’s not about being showy. It’s about understanding context. People who shrug off feedback with this line usually just don’t want to admit they’re out of their depth.
8. “Everyone else liked it.”
Ah, the crowd-sourced defence. Just because something is popular doesn’t mean it’s tasteful. A million people might own it, but if none of them have actual style, does it count? People with taste don’t rely on groupthink to justify their choices. They choose things because they fit, resonate, or elevate, not because they’re safe bets.
9. “I don’t get art.”
You don’t have to be a gallery regular to appreciate expression. But when someone dismisses all creative work as pointless, boring, or overrated, it’s often a sign they’re not used to looking beyond the surface. Good taste isn’t about knowing all the names or the history. It’s about being open enough to engage with what’s in front of you, even if it’s unfamiliar.
10. “I just like big logos.”
Brand obsession isn’t the same as having taste. If your entire outfit screams designer from every visible corner, it’s more about showing off than styling well. Taste whispers. Flash yells. Wearing big labels head to toe can actually cheapen a look. It says, “I want to be seen,” not “I know what I’m doing.”
11. “Matching everything makes it look expensive.”
Matching everything used to be a thing. Back in the day. But now, it’s often a sign someone decorated their space by buying an entire display room without thinking twice. Real taste knows how to mix tones, textures, and eras. When everything matches too much, it starts to feel sterile and soulless—like a catalogue you can’t sit down in.
12. “If it’s not brand new, I don’t want it.”
This one is low-key tragic. It overlooks craftsmanship, charm, and stories in favour of shiny and new. Some of the most stylish homes and wardrobes are filled with vintage, pre-loved, or handmade pieces that carry actual character. Good taste sees potential. Bad taste just wants the receipt still attached.
13. “I just like things that look expensive.”
Wanting things that look expensive is not the same as having an eye for quality. Often, it leads to shiny surfaces, gold accents, and a lot of faux-luxury pieces that don’t actually feel good to live with. Taste goes deeper. It’s about feel, design, longevity, not just whether it looks like it cost a fortune.
14. “It had five stars, so I bought it.”
We all love a good review, but if your entire sense of decision-making comes from what the internet told you to buy, you’re not building taste—you’re just compiling bestsellers. Taste involves trial, instinct, and a little risk. Not everything worth having comes with a five-star rating and 3,000 likes.
15. “It’s just decor—who cares?”
People who say this tend to live in houses that feel like hotel lobbies or forgotten Airbnbs. The space is technically fine, but it’s missing soul—and they’ve convinced themselves that doesn’t matter. However, the truth is, how your space looks impacts how it feels. And people with taste know that even small touches can create a mood, a vibe, a sense of place. It’s not just décor. It’s an atmosphere.
16. “No one’s ever said anything before.”
This is usually said defensively when someone finally points out that maybe the neon sign above the bed or the zebra-print dining chairs are a bit… much. Just because people haven’t commented doesn’t mean it’s a hit—it might just mean they were being polite. Good taste doesn’t rely on other people staying silent. It has an internal compass. One that doesn’t need constant external validation to know when something’s off.
