Home decorating trends that are making a comeback

Interior design moves in cycles, just like fashion. Styles that once looked dated return a generation later, usually updated with new materials and a lighter touch. If you missed these looks the first time around, now is your chance.

Which home decorating trends are making a comeback? The biggest revivals are Art Deco glamour, rattan, wicker and cane, retro kitchen appliances in color, warm 1970s earth tones, chrome accents, bold geometric patterns, brutalist textures, curved furniture, dark wood and patterned wallpaper. What ties them together is a move away from the all-white, all-gray rooms of the past decade toward warmth, color and character. The trick is to borrow one or two elements of each era instead of recreating a period room.

Why Old Decorating Trends Come Back

Trends in home decor last longer than in fashion, but they follow the same pattern. A style dominates for years, people tire of it, and designers look back to an earlier era for something different. Mid-century modern is a good example: it has been popular for well over a decade and has become the standard look in many homes, so designers are now reaching further back or sideways for new ideas.

Sustainability plays a part too. Buying vintage and antique furniture keeps good pieces in use, and many younger buyers enjoy the hunt for secondhand finds. That has brought older styles and materials back into everyday homes.

Home Decorating Trends Making a Comeback at a Glance

Art Deco Furniture and Details

Mid-century modern’s clean lines were partly a reaction to the ornament of the decades before it, so it makes sense that Art Deco is returning as mid-century fades. The style is known for symmetry, geometric shapes, rich materials and a touch of glamour. Today it shows up as shell-shaped or channel-tufted velvet chairs, fluted wood, arched mirrors and brass or gold hardware. One statement chair or a fluted sideboard is often enough to bring the Gatsby-era feel into a modern room.

Bamboo, Rattan, Wicker and Cane

On many Southern porches, wicker never went out of style. Now natural rattan, wicker, bamboo and cane are moving indoors again, recalling the relaxed look of the 1960s and 1970s. You will see them in bar stools, headboards, pendant lights, chests and cane-front cabinets. They add a casual, coastal note and soften rooms full of hard surfaces. Keep them in their natural color and pair them with plain fabrics so the room does not look like a beach shack.

Retro Kitchen Appliances

Stainless steel has been the standard for high-end kitchens for years. Retro-style appliances offer an alternative: rounded fridges in pastel or bold colors, ranges with chrome trim and enamel finishes, and even wood-burning stove designs. Modern versions combine the old look with current technology. A single colored appliance works best as the focal point of an otherwise simple kitchen.

1970s Colors and Earth Tones

After years of white and gray rooms, color is back, and many of the popular shades come straight from the 1970s: olive and avocado green, rust and terracotta, warm browns, tan and mustard yellow. Going all-in on a full 1970s palette can look heavy. Instead, use one or two of these earthy tones with warm whites, cream or soft pastels, for example a rust sofa, an olive accent wall or mustard cushions.

Chrome Accents

Many new trends react to an overused one. Brass and gold have been the go-to metals for lamps, cabinet hardware and chair legs for years, so polished chrome and silver tones are returning. Chrome recalls both the Art Deco era and 1950s diners, when steel and chrome furniture was common. Tubular chrome chairs, glass-and-chrome side tables and chrome lamps work well in modern rooms. Mixing metals is fine, as long as one finish clearly leads.

Geometric Patterns

Bold geometric patterns have a long history, from ancient Greek and Moroccan designs to Art Deco, which began in the 1920s and replaced the flowing, floral lines of Art Nouveau with sharper shapes. Today you see geometry in checkerboard floors, patterned tile, graphic rugs and wallpaper. To keep a room calm, limit strong patterns to one large surface, such as the floor or a single wall, and keep the rest quieter.

Brutalist Style

Brutalist architecture dates from the years after World War II. The name comes from the French béton brut, meaning raw concrete, and refers to buildings that show their concrete and steel openly. By the 1970s the look had reached the home in heavy sculptural furniture and rough, concrete-like surfaces. Today it appears as concrete side tables, stone coffee tables, rough plaster walls and chunky ceramic lamps. It works well as a counterpoint to the smooth wood of mid-century furniture.

Other Revivals Worth Knowing

• Curved furniture: rounded sofas, arched doorways and circular mirrors, popular in the 1970s, are common again.
• Dark wood: walnut and darker stains are replacing very pale wood in many homes.
• Wallpaper: florals, stripes and bold prints are back, often in small rooms such as powder rooms and hallways.
• Wood paneling: updated as slatted walls or painted wainscoting rather than dark 1970s panels.

How to Use Retro Trends Without Making Your Home Look Dated

Choose one or two eras per room and repeat each idea at least twice, such as chrome in a lamp and a picture frame. Mix new pieces with vintage ones, and keep walls and large surfaces fairly simple so bold accents can stand out. Before you buy a large statement piece, check how it fits the room. Drawing the room to scale in Plan7Architect and placing furniture in the 2D plan and 3D view shows whether a curved sofa or a big sideboard will actually work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What decor trends are coming back?

Art Deco details, rattan and cane, retro appliances, 1970s earth tones, chrome, geometric patterns, brutalist textures, curved furniture, dark wood and wallpaper are among the most visible revivals.

Is mid-century modern going out of style?

Not entirely. Classic mid-century pieces remain popular, but designers increasingly mix them with other eras instead of furnishing whole rooms in that style.

Are 1970s colors back in style?

Yes. Olive, rust, terracotta, mustard and warm browns are popular again, usually combined with warm neutrals rather than used all at once.

How do I mix vintage and modern decor?

Pick a simple modern base, add a few vintage pieces with strong character, and repeat colors or materials across the room so old and new pieces feel connected.