We all love nostalgia, so when it comes to interior design there are certain trends we’re ready to welcome back with open arms. Luckily, some of the coolest retro homewares from yesteryear have been given a modern reboot and look better than ever. From pink bathrooms to rattan décor and Art Deco furnishings, these old-fashioned interior design trends are back with a bang! Click or scroll on to discover how to get the look right…
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Then: textured surfaces
From cushioned seating to elaborately engraved furnishings, knobbly wallpapers and popcorn ceilings, the homes of yesteryear were all about texture – and usually all these things were thrown together in a single space, resulting in an overwhelming finish. Well, the texture trend is back, but this time we’ve learnt from our previous mistakes…
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Now: textured surfaces
Right now, the texture trend is less about extremes and more about soft shapes and a dynamic finishes. From 3D kitchen tiles to side tables with narrow grooves, and bold sofas with deep fluted backs, this trend can be introduced into the home in various ways. If you’re keen to keep things simple, opt for textured decorative elements, like bulbous vases, textured rugs and even a boucle or shearling accent chair for a subtle tactile finish.
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Then: pink bathrooms
There was nothing demure or simple about vintage bathrooms. From full avocado suites to heavily patterned tiles, vibrant bath mats and matching toilet seat covers, the bathrooms of yesteryear were not the chic and streamlined spaces they tend to be today. Yet the popularity of the simple white bathroom has slowly dissipated and in its place is the colour pink…
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Now: pink bathrooms
Thankfully, today’s pink bathroom trend is much more sophisticated, so you don’t need to buy a Barbie-inspired suite. To get the look in a subtle way, opt for a pink tile splashback or an accent wall in the shower. When paired with concrete accents, Crittall-inspired elements and gold fixtures, the pink bathroom trend is one we’re fully on board with.
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Then: Art Deco style
Synonymous with the roaring 20s, bustling speakeasys and classic novels like The Great Gatsby, the Art Deco movement was all about luxury and modernity. From shiny metal accents to eccentric shapes and polished woods, Art Deco style was playful and glamorous in equal measure. In the 20s and 30s, every home was kitted out with shell-shaped accent chairs, geometric side tables and gilded mirrors. But what does the trend look like now?
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Now: Art Deco style
Well, the comeback of Art Deco furniture is very much in-keeping with the luxurious and glamorous edge it had some 100 years ago. Yet today’s Art Deco trend is all about bold colours, zig-zag patterns and decadent detailing. This stunning setup by Audenza showcases the trend in all its Gatsby-inspired glory. Think scalloped armchairs in vibrant shades, gilded console tables with elaborate legs and opulent geometric wall art in an array of metallic hues.
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Then: 70s palettes
As far as interior design decades go, the 70s was one seriously unique time. From wall-to-wall shag pile carpets to heavily patterned linoleum floors, there are plenty of 70s design elements that we doubt will ever see the light of day again. And yet, modern homeowners have returned to the 70s colour palette to add a touch of retro nostalgia to their interiors…
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Now: 70s palettes
Luckily, the return of 70s shades has been done in a much more sophisticated and understated way. To achieve this muted and earthy look, pair a burnt orange or mustard sofa with neutral wall art and soft cream touches, for a stripped-back take on this retro style. If you’re feeling brave, then you could even paint one wall in a rich chocolate shade, being sure to keep the rest of the room as neutral as possible.
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Then: sink skirts
A popular retro kitchen accessory, sink skirts could once be found in many a home, usually in a strong floral or classic gingham print. They were designed to help us cover up unsightly plumbing, while maximising storage space. Yet as streamlined kitchen cabinets became more popular, this humble unit covering quickly fell out of favour.
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Now: sink skirts
But fear not, because sink skirts are well and truly back – this time, with a contemporary twist. In 2020, ‘Grandmillennial’ interior design was big news, as 30-somethings began embracing their grandmas’ decorating techniques. Think wicker touches, shelves filled with decorative objects, pleated furnishings and, of course, sink skirts. The key to keeping the look modern is tailoring – make sure your skirt just grazes the floor and choose your fabric wisely!
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Then: corner sofas
In the 60s, corner sofas were all the rage. With sleek profiles, geometric forms and vibrant upholstery, corner sofas were new and adventurous. As televisions began to make their way into every home, the corner sofa was sold as the ultimate family space for snuggling down to watch your favourite shows. Yet as trends changed, this once-iconic seat soon fell by the wayside.
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Now: corner sofas
Yet luckily over the last few years, the corner sofa has firmly found its way back into our interior design good books – and so too has colourful upholstery. Not only are the modern versions sleek and inviting, but they’re also a fantastic way to make the most of your living space, especially if you have less room for multiple sofas and armchairs. Many contemporary corner sofas, like this one from Home Looks, also boast adjustable backs and built-in coffee tables, making lounging even more blissful.
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Then: exposed brick
During the 50s and 60s, architects and designers couldn’t get enough of exposed building materials, particularly bricks. From feature walls to fireplaces, raw brickwork could be found everywhere in mid-century modern design, sometimes painted white and other times kept au naturel. But trends began to change in the 90s as homeowners sought sleek finishes, clean plasterwork and modern building techniques.
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Now: exposed brick
Then the industrial design movement happened and suddenly exposed brick was back in fashion. Along with raw concrete and Edison bulbs, exposed brickwork began edging its way back into our homes and the trend seems set to stay. Functional, stylish and affordable to achieve, the look provides the perfect contrast against contemporary kitchen units, especially those finished in dark hues.
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Then: fringing
Ah, fringing! Most of us will remember a room from our past where tasselled trimmings decorated everything from lamps to cushions, bedspreads and footstools. Ever since the Victorians embraced the ‘more is more’ approach to decorating, no piece of furniture has been safe from this dangling embellishment. That is, until the Scandi trend revolutionised 21st-century design and called for clean lines and simple styles, ridding homes of any elaborate decoration. So it may be surprising to learn that fringing is on the up…
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Now: fringing
That’s right, fringing can be found jazzing up modern homes, with modern designers offering everything from fringed wall mirrors, to cushions, throws and lamps. There’s a tasselled home accessory for every mood and the modern fringing trend brings with it eclectic colours, including deep greens, plums and reds, as well as rich textures like velvet and brushed brass. This is fringing but not as we know it!
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Then: primary colours
Thanks to the Bauhaus revival at the end of the 20th-century, homes of the 1970s and 80s became filled with primary colours, curved lines and chrome. Rooms were made loud thanks to vivid blues, reds and yellows, all paired together but this fell out of fashion as the neutral palette took hold in the early 2000s. Thanks in part to the growth of stores like IKEA, homeowners began opting for more muted decor and primary shades fell off the spectrum.
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Now: primary colours
Once the purveyors of 50 shades of beige, IKEA has released an amazing collection of modern, retro-inspired furniture and homeware accessories that rock their bold primary tones and cool geometric shapes. You can see the 80s influence but it still strikes a modern note. If in doubt, invest in a few statement accessories that can be easily updated when the fickle fashion of interior design changes again…
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Then: wicker furniture
When you imagine wicker furniture, you’d be forgiven for conjuring images of a 1970s home. But in reality, wicker has been gracing homes for thousands of years! Even the ancient Egyptian pharaohs loved a bit of rattan including Tutankhamen himself, who was buried alongside a wicker chair and stool. As one of the oldest furniture-making methods around, wicker’s popularity is seemingly indestructible.
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Now: wicker furniture
Proving that wicker can be modern and stylish, new styles have emerged to bring this age-old furniture right into the 21st century. Whether you’re looking to add 70s appeal to your interior, or you’re going for a laid-back Scandi vibe, there’s a modern wicker option for you. Choose a curvy satellite tub chair or an effortlessly chic rattan headboard for a really feminine look. This natural and eco-friendly material also looks fantastic alongside vibrant houseplants and an earthy colour scheme.
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Then: dark kitchens
From the dark walnut cabinets of mid-century design to the cherry red stains of the 90s, dark kitchens have morphed over the decades. The noughties saw a rise in sleek and streamlined styles in various shades of espresso but quickly fell out of popularity, in favour of crisp whites, stone greys and pastel blues. Yet in 2019, the dark kitchen is back and more seductive than ever…
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Now: dark kitchens
Dramatic and ever-so contemporary, dark kitchens come in a plethora of monochrome tones, from slate to midnight black. Dark islands are making a comeback too, with wood stains and matt finishes adding a 21st-century spin. If your space can handle it, opt for sultry emerald green or deep navy and pair your dark setup with open-shelving and a light countertop to stop the effect becoming too heavy.
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Then: wood cladding
The thought of wood panelling may fill you with dread but fear not; this vintage homeware is as versatile as it is characterful. Timber first moved into homes in the late 1940s and an orange pine finish was heavily used in the 1970s. Like so many trends, the 1990s and early 2000s really killed off the appetite for wood cladding but the look is well and truly back, offering a modern take on a vintage classic.
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Now: wood cladding
Nowadays, it’s all about subtlety. If you’re looking to add wood cladding to your walls without having to make the full commitment, opt for a statement feature or accent wall. A timber headboard, for example, allows for a retro aesthetic without overpowering your space. Mid-century modern fans may also want to add horizontal panelling to one of their lounge walls for a dramatic 1950s vibe. Pair timber tones with neutral shades for a chic Nordic finish.
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Then: colourful kitchen appliances
It’s hard to remember a time when kitchen appliances were anything other than white. In fact, the term ‘white goods’ is used to describe large domestic appliances, because they usually only come in one shade! Yet between 1950 and 1980, colourful ovens and fridges were all the rage, adding character to kitchens across the globe. Key shades such as petal pink, baby blue and canary yellow livened up interiors until around 1984, when homeowners sought a cleaner look.
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Now: colourful kitchen appliances
Gone are the days of all-white kitchens and seamless finishes, because colourful kitchen appliances have found their way back into the hearts of homeowners. Adding some playfulness to our cooking spaces, brands like Kitchen Aid and Everhot are leading the charge, with statement goods that add serious wow-factor. From neon toasters to pastel coffee machines and vibrant stoves, it’s hard to believe that this awesome retro trend ever fell out of fashion.
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Then: succulents and cacti
From bonsai trees to miniature cacti, succulents and houseplants have always been interior design staples. During the 70s, the humble cactus took over our living rooms, along with macrame, velvet and mustard fixtures. For many, hanging planters were a must-have accessory, especially in large numbers! While plants can never really go out of style, succulents are well and truly back in favour.
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Now: succulents and cacti
For the past few years, the cacti trend has been growing like wildfire! So enamoured are we with this humble houseplant that designers are going all-out with succulent-inspired homewares. You can now buy everything from themed cactus glassware to cushions and wall prints. Pair your accessories with a couple of carefully selected pot plants to add a natural Scandi look to your home.
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Then: square tiles
Thanks to the popularity of the Metro tile, square tiles found themselves falling out of favour with homeowners. Yet back in the 80s, these symmetrical little wonders adorned the walls, floors, bath panels and steps of almost every bathroom around. From avocado to baby pink, grid tiles came in every shade and usually decorated every corner of the washroom, leaving no section spare! These days, the humble box tile is working its way back into fashion…
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Now: square tiles
That’s right, boxy grid tiles are back, and they’re cooler than ever. Creating clean lines with grey or coloured grouting, square tiles are easy to install and can make a real statement. Opt for white if you’re looking for a sleek and contemporary finish that will age beautifully, or go bold with block or combination colours, to create a wow-factor bathroom or kitchen.
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Then: neon lights
Since the 1920s neon could be found on almost every street in America and by the 1960s had made its way into our homes. The 1980s was its biggest time for interiors, where lights could be found in everything from wall clocks to radios. Yet for reasons we can’t quite fathom, our love for neon faded away, along with spandex and balloon valances. But it’s surely no surprise to discover that neon is back…
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Now: neon lights
In a generation where people want to be seen and heard on social media, neon has found its place in modern homes. Yet its contemporary awakening comes with a more sophisticated and stylish look, as brands create our favourite quotes and slogans in bold lettering. Perfect for a statement wall or room feature, modern neon is both chic and subtle. Neon shapes, including cacti, love hearts and cocktail glasses can also be found, adding some childlike fun to your grown-up interior.
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Then: rotary dial phones
From the classic rotary dial of the 1960s to the wall-mounted Murphy, phones have taken on many forms over the years. We all remember wanting a telephone shaped like a pair of lips or a hamburger! The 90s even saw a rise in clear plastic phones, where the colourful cables were visible inside, but since the dawn of mobiles, the humble house phone has taken a back seat but maybe that’s about to change…
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Now: rotary dial phones
The modern take on an old-fashioned telephone. From rose gold to bright red, there is a hue to suit your tastes and interior style. Go for a wall-mounted handset and pretend to be Monica Geller, or opt for a rotary dial for a really vintage look.
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Then: macrame
Coming off the back of the 1970s focus on nature and crafts, everything from wall décor, to plant hangers and handbags were made using this intricate knotting technique. Whether using string, cord or jute, macrame made the homes of the time incredibly groovy. Just a decade later and macrame disappeared from our pads, that is until recently…
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Now: macrame
Today, a new swathe of makers are creating incredible homewares. From statement wall hangings in complementary colours, to plant hangers to brighten a living space, modern macrame makes a truly attractive addition to a home. Macrame is made of strong stuff, meaning it can also be used to hang shelving, too. Best of all, you can learn how to make your own projects with free patterns available online.
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Then: decorative tiles
Since the 1950s, decorative tiles have been a popular design choice in homes around the world particularly in North America. Coming in a range of vibrant colours and hypnotic patterns, decorative tiles allowed homeowners to create a unique space. From hallway floors to kitchen backsplashes, ornamental tiles have found their way back into the limelight.
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Now: decorative tiles
Whether you create a wow-factor statement wall in your bathroom or use colour and patterns to transform your kitchen or hallway floor, there’s a decorative tile for you. Go for boldly graphic styles with white accessories to allow your tiled accent to do all the talking, embellish your shower cubical in vibrant shades or decorate the rise of your staircase for a dramatic entrance.
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Then: vinyl record players
Back in the day, if we wanted to listen to music we couldn’t simply ask Alexa to play our favourite tune. Nearly everybody had a collection of music on vinyl and a corner of the living room set up with a record player. In fact, this is how people listened to music as far back as 1877 before cassettes and CDs took over in the 1970s and 1990s respectively.
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Now: vinyl record players
Today, records are having a full-on renaissance and sales of the format were up 12 per cent last year. Cashing in, audio manufacturers like Technics, Crosley and Audio Technica are borrowing the suitcase-style record player that looks like it was straight out of the 1960s. Ultra-stylish and compact, these updated machines boast the latest sound technology, so you’ll still be able to play your old records with a brand new crisp sound.
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Then: smoked glass
The sixties gave us plenty of awesome interior design touches, from the Tulip Chair to pop art. During this immensely vibrant decade, smoked glass had its moment in the limelight. Glass was smoked using a flame to add a layer of darkness to the surface, making it black or brown and translucent in appearance. Everything from coffee tables to light fixtures was adorned with smoked glass, but in later decades the fad all but faded away…
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Now: smoked glass
Yet fast-forward 60 years and smoked glass is making a contemporary return to our homes. This time around, the material is being used to create stylish light fixtures, streamline walk-in shower screens and sleek side tables. Accompanied with chrome, smoked glass can have a really modern and unique look, adding a feature to a neutral hallway, minimalist living room or stylish bedroom.
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Then: blousy florals
Thanks to the likes of Liberty of London, blousy floral patterns were once big business in interior design. Back in the 1950s, floral upholstery was huge, with skirted sofas and dressed curtains adding petals to every living room. Then came ‘Flower Power’ in psychedelic colours, before the 1970s turned florals mustard and orange. The 1980s offered English country appeal, with a rise in chintz and cabbage roses, before excessive floral motifs fell off the radar…
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Now: blousy florals
This year, bold florals are back and better than ever. Get that classic feminine look with a statement couch, armchair or wallpaper in an array of gorgeous shades. If you want to incorporate flowers without going overboard, opt for patterned scatter cushions, wow-factor wall art or even a colourful floral rug.
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Then: pink kitchens
The 1950s brought with them some of our best interior design trends, including the Eames Lounge Chair and open-plan living, but it was during this decade that our kitchens exploded with some questionable colour. The most popular of the lot was Mamie Eisenhower Pink, a delicate pastel shade that gave kitchens a sickly sweet finish. Other hues such as green, turquoise and brown were also popular, yet in recent years coloured cabinets have lost their edge, in favour of sleek and glossy whites and greys.
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Now: pink kitchens
The rise of Instagram has launched millennial pink back into the spotlight. Oozing style, modern-day pink kitchens offer toned-down pastels in matt finishes. Choose streamlined cabinetry with barely-there countertops for a minimalist Scandi vibe, pairing your rose palette with light wooden details and open shelving. Plus, pink works fantastically with teal tones, stainless steel appliances and bold flooring, allowing you to create a wow-factor space that’s entirely on-trend.
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Then: rattan kitchen cupboards
The 1980s have a lot to answer for when it comes to interior design. Remember glass block partitions and wallpaper borders? Yet there are a few 80s trends that certainly have a place in modern homes. Back then, when Margaret Thatcher sat in No.10 Downing Street and Ronald Reagan occupied The White House, rattan kitchens were hot stuff. So much so, that every single cupboard would be adorned with the stuff. In this home, even the dishwasher has been given the rattan treatment!
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Now: rattan kitchen cupboards
Luckily, the modern rattan kitchen trend is much more low-key. Contemporary homeowners are bringing this chic material into their cooking spaces in subtle but effective ways. This home by CAB Architects boasts barely-there marble counters, gold fixtures and rattan-covered top units for a hint of texture and contrast. We don’t know about you, but we’re definitely sold on this retro homeware trend!
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Then: maximalism
Thanks to interior designers like Dorothy Draper, the 60s and 70s saw a whole host of wild and wonderful décor choices in homes around the world, and there was nothing pared-down about it. In fact, these two decades were all about maximalism. Think eye-watering wallpapers adorning every wall, vivid carpets and contrasting patterns all rolled into one. Then, as tastes changed, homeowners began turning to minimalism, but that trend has slowly drawn to an end…
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Now: maximalism
That’s right, the maximalism trend is back – and it’s almost too bold to be true! This time around, it’s not about cramming your living spaces with as much stuff as possible, though. In fact, it’s all about beautiful colours, rich textures and bold patterns, paired together to create an eclectic and warm space that truly feels like home. Decorate with conviction and get playful with prints and palettes.
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