Are you ready to decorate like it’s 1999? If you love retro decor, this is your year to shine. Nostalgia is making a comeback, and people are finding creative ways to incorporate vintage design into their homes.
“We’re having a backlash against highly curated, Pinterest-perfect interiors. They want homes to be ‘fun’ again, and the 90s were maximalist vibes, over-the-top shapes, and unconventional material combinations,” says Magda Callery, Interior Designer and founder of Style by Magda.
If you’re ready to embrace this throwback trend, our experts share how to bring ’90s decor into your home, without making it look like a time capsule.
Glass, Chrome, & Futuristic Flair
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Callery notes that nothing screams “cool ’90s kid” like smoked glass coffee tables, metal finishes, and shiny chrome accents.
For a subtle touch, she suggests adding a glass-and-metal shelving unit. It’s a simple way to introduce a slick, retro-inspired look without overwhelming your space.
Loud Color Palettes
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Bland and neutral tones are taking a backseat seat in home decor. Callery says that this year, it’s all about bold color palettes to embrace the ’90s decor trend. Think jewel tones, deep burgundies, hunter greens, and electric blues. “The secret is using them in ‘doses’ — a head-turning chair, an accent wall, or color-blocked accessories,” she explains.
Checkerboard patterns are also returning with a vengeance, and they’re being used on everything from floors to rugs to kitchen backsplashes.
Big Bulky Furniture
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Sectional sofas and puffy chairs were all the rage in the ’90s. The trend was to combine comfort and style, which is great for those with families or who enjoy entertaining guests.
“Adieu to sharp, clean angles — the ’90s were all about curves and natural shapes. Gigantic, rounded-cornered sofas, chubby armchairs, and lumpy coffee tables bring that snuggly nostalgia without making your living room a McDonald’s Play Place,” Callery says.
Specialty Detailing
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Tassels, fringes, and ruffles adorned all aspects of home decor in the 1990s. Everett Chambers, an Interior Designer at Wasatch Peaks Design Studio, says he is seeing increasing interest in clients’ desire to personalize a statement piece in their room.
“Most notably, this is accomplished by incorporating a contrasting color rope fringe detail along the bottom edge of sofas or chairs. This design element provides a historical nod to the ’90s ruffled pillow edges and scalloped upholstered corners but with a modern flair,” he explains.
Oversized Macrame
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Chambers says that small macrame and lace doilies are now being replaced by much larger, oversized wall-hanging macrame and braided textiles. This is an excellent way to add a dramatic texture layer to your space. Macrame plant holders are perfect for plant lovers who want to add a touch of retro decor to their homes.
“If macrame isn’t for you, consider adding a woven cane finish, perhaps via an accent chair or artwork frames, to still get that added texture,” he suggests.
Tech as Décor
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I remember when three-piece stereo systems were a main part of the living room decor. That’s why it’s not a shock that Callery says that ’90s home design welcomed technology instead of hiding it. Stereos stacked up, multi-hued iMacs, and giant entertainment centers were basically “status symbols.”
“Tube TVs are something we do not wish to go back to, but a vintage record player or a display-stopping game station can be a great means of indulging in the era’s tech-is-designophilia,” she adds.
Mix & Match Furniture Styles
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Retro has no room for rigid rules, especially when it comes to furniture. Mixing and matching items was part of an eclectic style that is coming back into homes this year.
Chambers says that it’s fine to mix and match different furniture styles—in fact, many interior designers encourage it. Designers often curate a room with different vocabularies of furniture styles to help it look like you didn’t panic-buy an entire showroom in one afternoon.
Combine Metal Finishes
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In the spirit of mixing things up, you can also combine various types of metal finishes. Chambers says that designers are officially approving mixing metals within the same space, so you don’t need to worry about matching all your metal finishes.
“Feel free to mix it up—but stay away from that ‘yellow brass’; instead, opt for un-lacquered brass, which is a living finish that will oxidize and age over time,” he advises.
Retro-Inspired Accessories That Won’t Overpower Your Home
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Maybe you desire to have a bit of ’90s flair but aren’t thrilled with the idea of redecorating your entire home in it. Callery says if you just want a “sprinkle” of ’90s flavor, start small by adding items such as lava lamps, pastel neon signage, wavy-edged mirrors, or even a novelty martini glass set. Bonus points if you can find a funky beanbag chair.
Memphis Meets Minimalism
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According to Callery, the ’90s borrowed as much from the ’80s Memphis Design movement as it could — ridiculous patterns, asymmetry, and geometric motifs. She says the modern way to do it is to keep it low-key. For example, use coasters with a zany terrazzo print, hang up a wavy-edge mirror, or add a piece of zany neon art to the room.
Add ’90s Decor with a Modern Twist
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Callery states the best way to make a retro comeback is by mixing it with contemporary design. “It’s such a playlist — you wouldn’t merely listen to ’90s pop (okay, maybe sometimes), but when you mix them up with new tunes, they feel new again. That’s exactly how you can approach this trend—pick some statement pieces, mix them with your own look, and the nostalgia will take care of itself,” she advises.
Indoor String Lights
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Hanging string lights indoors adds a touch of ’90s decor with a cozy feel. It’s a blend of Hygge meets retro, and there are so many types of lights to choose from now. You can get them in various colors, shapes, and sizes. There are even string lights shaped like insects and animals. Something as simple as string lights can change the feel of a room and make it fun and cozy.
