On Wednesday, Aug. 26, a new reality show called Totally ’90s House will premiere on HGTV, hosted by someone who couldn’t be more ’90s if he tried: Jaleel White, aka Steve Urkel.
On the show, two teams of ’90s celebrities will search the nation for houses that are “stuck in the 1990s.” And while fans of ’90s interior design will surely get a kick out of seeing all the time capsule homes, their hearts may break a little as they watch the teams completely tear apart, renovate and modernize the houses. Here’s hoping they’ll retain at least a few beloved ’90s features in each home.
In anticipation of the show, we wondered if any ’90s home trends were making a comeback—so, we turned to Pamela O’Brien, luxury interior designer and the founder of the Texas-based Pamela Hope Designs, and Paige Garland, interior designer and the founder of the Chicago-based Paige Garland Interior Design.
The designers shared five of their favorite ’90s trends having a renaissance—as well as four ’90s trends that would be best left in the past. Keep reading for their insights!
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The 5 Biggest ’90s Home Trends Making a Comeback, According to Designers
1. Warm woods
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“Warm wood has returned in force across the home goods market from furnishings to cabinetry to accent walls,” O’Brien tells Parade.
“Many of us grew tired of the black and white trend and the natural tendency was to warm homes up with more wood,” she continues. “Today’s lighter oak and natural finishes give us the cozy feel of wood without looking dated.”
2. Soft seating
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In recent years, living room furniture has trended toward sleek and streamlined—but O’Brien says that’s changing. One of her favorite ’90s trends that’s on its way back in fashion is all about getting cozy: big fluffy armchairs and couches.
“The 90’s was all about comfort at home. Big, rolled arms on sofas and chairs were welcoming and felt delicious,” she says.
“They are attractive again today as a counterpoint to the low, flat and minimalist modern furniture that has been prevalent in the market,” she continues. “Go ahead and indulge in a softer cushion and more padding on the arms. Your body will thank you!”
3. Plate walls
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“When it’s done wrong it’s cheesy and dated, but when it’s done right it is so good,” Garland says about a plate wall. “It feels like a 3D chinoiserie gallery wall: antique, collected, just the right amount of home-y.”
Garland adds that she’s currently designing a plate wall for a client’s mudroom, and that her favorite plates to use for plate walls are plates featuring Fornasetti’s faces of Lina Cavalieri, which makes for an “eclectic and bold” look distinct from the plate walls of the ’90s.
Related: DIYer Creates Unique Gallery Wall Using Vintage Plates and Faux Food, and It’s So Whimsical
4. Wallpaper
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“Wallpaper was fun in the ’90s but it’s even better today,” says O’Brien. “Ten years ago, we had a hard time talking clients into wallpaper but once we did, they’d call and ask how many other rooms they could paper.”
O’Brien recommends thinking outside of the box when it comes to wallpaper and using it on places other than just walls.
“Let the paper take center stage by blurring the lines between the paper and the walls,” she suggests. “Consider using paper on the ceiling, too; or, paint the ceiling and trim a color found in the paper to avoid slicing up the room with white ceiling and trim paint.”
5. Warm neutral paint tones
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When it comes to paint, Garland says that warm, neutral and earthy colors are on their way back in fashion.
“The days of millennial grey have passed and we are oscillating back to the warm terracotta tones, butter yellows and sages of the past,” she declares.
“I think these can be really timeless in well designed spaces with contrasting elements,” she adds. “I love pairing terracottas with pinks and reds or butter yellow with a cobalt blue. You don’t want a space to feel drab and muddy. I think these colors feel current when they’re paired with exciting or bolder accents.”
Related: Sorry, Mushroom Lamps—Designers Say These 10 Home Decor Trends Are Already Overdone
The 4 Home Trends From the ’90s That Designers Hope Never Make a Comeback
1. Glossy wood sealers
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Even though O’Brien is embracing natural wood tones making a comeback, she warns homeowners to keep things natural in terms of color and sealers.
“Avoid heavy honey or golden wood hues, smothered in glossy sealer,” she says. Instead, choose wood with “light natural hues,” and if you need a topcoat, opt for something matte rather than glossy.
2. Furniture skirts and ruffles
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Although O’Brien is happy to see the big cozy couches and chairs of the ’90s coming back into fashion, she warns homeowners not to take the trend too far.
“Don’t go too fussy by adding skirts and ruffles unless you really want an old-fashioned room,” she says. Instead, she recommends opting for “clean, tapered legs or an exposed wood trim sofa,” which will help “keep your super comfy seating looking smart and stylish.”
3. Wallpaper borders
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“I’ll admit, I used [wallpaper borders] in the ’90s,” says O’Brien. But now, “they just seem a bit silly.”
If you do want some sort of trim on a wallpapered wall, O’Brien suggests doing so by painting a solid color that compliments the wallpaper. “It’s an elegant approach and gives the room more gravitas than layering paper on paper,” she says.
4. Faux Tuscany
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“Please no faux Tuscany,” says Garland. “You know what I mean—I don’t want to be transported to Olive Garden. No jars filled with peppers as decor! I think we as a society have moved past the need for this.”
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Sources:
Pamela O’Brien, luxury interior designer and founder of Pamela Hope Designs Paige Garland, interior designer and founder of Paige Garland Interior Design.Hence then, the article about 5 90s home trends making a major comeback according to interior designers was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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