10 Home Decor Choices That Are Suddenly Cool Again

Interior designer Alexandra Kaehler says that brown is definitely having a moment, “and I for one and am so excited about it.” For many years, everyone seemed to steer clear of the dark hue. “Now I’m seeing brown everywhere,” she says. “Brown lacquered walls, brown upholstery. It offers such richness and warmth while still feeling neutral and fresh.”

White oak wood floors have been a go-to for many designers in recent years (Shannon Eddings, principal at Shannon Eddings Interiors, included), but some designers and homeowners are now gravitating toward dark hardwood floors. “I find myself drawn toward a richer stain on floors and a thinner plank size,” says. Eddings. She specifically calls out 2 to 3” planks stained in a mid to dark finish as flooring that will be a popular choice in the coming years.

Red paint was a top design choice in the late 1990s and early 2000s, which means it’s primed for a comeback—and Eddings predicts that rich, red paint colors will soon be ubiquitous. “The dining room in my childhood home was a beautiful shade of red in the 1990s and eventually got painted over,” she laments. “Now [the shade is] fresh again. Everyone in our office is over the moon about red, especially on cabinets.”

Black-and-white checkerboard floors were a mainstay of 1950s kitchens, “but as tastes shifted toward more neutral palettes in the late 20th century, they were often replaced with plain tiles, wood, or modern flooring,” Reinhard says. Now, people are embracing the old-school appeal of these floors. “Checkerboard patterns offer a timeless yet playful design that fits well with the current desire for more dynamic, personality-driven interiors,” she adds. “It introduces a graphic element that can make a bold statement in both modern and traditional settings.”

Designer Gray Walker says that old-school florals are returning, something that she is particularly excited about. “Everything old feels new to me,” she says. Kaehler agrees. For the past few years, she’s noticed a rebirth of floral print fabrics, specifically floral chintz. “I think that it’s tied to nostalgia for a lot of people,” she says. “Their grandparents’ house growing up was covered in it, then their parents went all beige, the kids went gray, and they’re ready to get back to their roots and cover everything in florals.”

Talk about a blast from the past. “Conversation pits, made popular in the 1970s, are such a fun and inviting way to bring people together in a laid-back, relaxed atmosphere,” Peck says. “Once the ’80s rolled around, the focus shifted from peace and love to corporate America and achieving success in business, so our interiors became more buttoned up, modern, and sleek as a result. In this post-pandemic era, there is such emphasis on gathering with friends and loved ones as we realized what matters to us most, and there is a sweeping feeling that there is more to life than work.” In other words? Conversation pits are back.—and we think that’s pretty groovy.

It’s easy to picture a 1970s home with wood paneling, since it was such a staple back then, but Peck actually thinks it’s a “beautiful design element” and is becoming popular again. “Wood has a natural warmth and texture that enriches any space, and I find my clients are drawn to the depth it brings,” she observes.

Wallpaper used to be a gold standard in homes back in the day, but people are starting to weave it into their spaces once again. Designer Ethan Greenfeld says that, at one point, wallpaper got a “bad rep” for its old-school reputation. “Through the technology that we have nowadays, wallpaper manufacturers can create these incredible rolls of material that look and feel like wood, have mother of pearl panels, or are embroidered with these beautiful patterns with amazing textures,” he says. “Technology was able to take something that became synonymous with the words ‘old and stuffy’ and create something that feels completely current and modern.”