The fashion world has seen a resurgence in trends from the 1990s, and interior designers have noticed the same with 90s home decor. While it might be easy to recall decorating trends from other decades, some aspects of the 90s can be more difficult to grasp.
Luckily, this guide will help inspire you - either with design ideas or just nostalgia - by highlighting the very best home decor trends from the 90s. Here’s what was all the rage:
Solid primary colors
Decorators in the 90s did not shy away from mixing hues from across the color palette, as is evident in the prevalence of solid primary colors in interior design. Whether using large blocks of solid color to paint walls or adorning furniture with throw pillows, it wasn’t uncommon to see an entire rainbow of saturated red, blue and yellow.
Artificial houseplants
The quality and variety of artificial plants exploded in the 1990s, offering homeowners amazing new ways to bring greenery inside without the hassle of keeping it alive. These modern artificial trees, flowers and ferns were advanced enough to seem lifelike from across the room, and only needed dusting to maintain.
White wicker furniture
Wicker furniture has been around since long before 1990, but truly became a style staple during this decade. White wicker furniture was especially popular, and the trendiest spaces had entire matching sets including couches, armchairs, ottomans, coffee tables, end tables and more.
Paired with floral upholstery, white wicker is the epitome of a summery 90s home - both indoors and as patio furniture.
Folding screens
Decorative folding screens were a stylish way to divide a space while also serving as a standalone art piece. Typically inspired by Chinese and Japanese decor and aesthetic, folding screens made of lacquered wooden panels or semi-translucent paper were all the rage in living rooms.
Turquoise
While bold colors were at the forefront of 90s style, turquoise was the center of attention. All shades of turquoise were present in 90s interior design and fashion, creating a bright note of contrast when combined with magenta, violet and even yellow.
Wallpaper borders
Wallpaper was out in the 1990s, but wallpaper borders applied to the tops of walls were in. The most popular motifs included vines, flowers, fruit and other botanical elements, and came in every color scheme imaginable. Wallpaper borders were especially popular in kitchens and bedrooms, and provided style-savvy homeowners with a simple DIY decorating option.
If other decor trends like blow-up furniture, canopy beds or beaded curtains are not to your liking, you can always consider these 90s interior design elements. While trends don’t always fit everyone’s personal taste, a trip down memory lane might yield surprising insights into your next home decorating project.
About the Author
Kimberly Hering
Kimberly Hering's devotion to helping people achieve their real estate goals stems from her genuine enjoyment of the process. Whatever the task, Kimberly makes it her mission to get it done, however she can, without compromising her client's needs. Often, that means thinking outside the box. After working with Kimberly, clients describe her as being Trustworthy, Creative, Patient, Highly Skilled, Attentive to the Process and having a lot of Integrity.
After spending more than 15 successful years working on Wall Street, Kimberly transitioned into Real Estate, joining Alain Pinel Realtors, then moving to Zephyr, now Corcoran Global Living, in 2018. During her career on Wall Street, Kimberly was a Vice President working as an Institutional Equity Salesperson for Montgomery Securities for 10 years. She covered the top money managers throughout the US and Canada. She joined Jefferies & Co as a Senior Vice President managing the Western Region Institutional Sales group, while continuing to cover the top money managers.
Kimberly leverages her extensive experience selling equities to top money managers throughout the US and Canada, to successfully negotiating any Real Estate transaction seamlessly for her clients. Kimberly is well versed in Marin's neighborhoods, towns, cities, and education system.
Living in the Bay Area for 35 years, 25 years in Marin and having 2 sons in local Marin schools, Kimberly spends a lot of time volunteering in the community and serving on various local Boards. Kimberly has a collection of resources ranging from the best local breakfast spots to vetted contractors. With her reliable list of valuable resources, Real Estate experience and unsurpassed knowledge of Marin's many communities, Kimberly can guide her clients through every aspect of a Real Estate transaction seamlessly.
Relocating to Marin, downsizing, upsizing, first time home buying, final home purchase or sale, or a lot to build a dream home, no matter the undertaking, Kimberly works seamlessly until the job at hand is completed with 100% satisfaction.