8 Signs Your Home Is Stuck In The 90s
Trends come and go, but there are some things that are truly timeless. Unfortunately, a lot of what was considered stylish in the '90s doesn't quite fit the "timeless" bill. And if you want to make sure your home is updated and stylish now, you might need to make some changes. Things like beige walls, bordered wallpaper, and over-stuffed recliners can all make your home look like it's stuck in yesteryear. The good news is, there are plenty of ways to bring the styles you used to love into 2018, with some cool new alternatives.
1. Everything Is 50 Shades Of Beige.
I'm not entirely sure why everything was beige in the '90s, but everything was indeed beige in the '90s. Beige walls, beige carpet, beige furniture - very neutral, and definitely a little bland.
A little over a decade later, gray took the color's spot as people's go-to neutral, though lately, it feels like finding the perfect shade of white might be the new holy grail of inoffensive paint colors. Either shade will liven up your home, rather than that dated nude - as long as you don't do everything in the same exact color and finish.
2. Your Walls Look Like They Lost A Fight With Spongebob Squarepants.
Sponge-painting your walls used to be the cool thing to do, and it definitely went on past the '90s (I'm recalling multiple Trading Spaces episodes in the early aughts), but it really is time to let this one go. If you'll miss the variety, try a subtle ombré effect or a strié - French for streaked - finish, as Architectural Digest suggests.
3. Or They're Borderline Babyish.
Especially popular in children's rooms, wallpaper with a border on top or even across the middle of the wall was a huge trend in the '90s. In today's open-shelves-and-white-walls world, it just feels like you're trying too hard.
Go for a bold-patterned accent wall instead. And if you really want to liven up the middle of your walls without hanging art, try lining the backs of a bookshelf with wallpaper instead.
4. Your Overstuffed Recliner Is Taking Over Your Home.
I get it: Big, puffy recliners are comfortable - there's no denying that. But they pretty much took over living rooms in the '90s, and they're not exactly the most stylish piece of furniture. To bring your home into 2018, go for a sleeker reclining chair or pair a cool ottoman with an armchair that's as chic as it is comfortable.
Instead Of This:
Try This:
BUY NOW Sedgwick Leather Recliner, $839, West Elm
5. You're Seeing Stars - Everywhere You Look.
There's nothing I associate more with the '90s more than sun and moon decor. It had a very specific look - often, the sun and moon had detailed faces and were combined into one circle, and it frequently made its way onto metal wall hangings. You can totally do sun and moon-related decor in 2018, but go for a sleeker style. A crescent moon-shaped planter or a series of framed prints of the moon's phases feel a little more updated, for example.
Try This:
BUY NOW Half Moon Planter, $14, Urban Outfitters
BUY NOW Moon Phases Framed Art Set, $155, Etsy
6. You Can't Let Go Of Damask.
If you still have damask print everywhere, I feel you. This is a trend I too held onto for far too long, carrying it with me into the early 2010s until I finally let it go. In the '90s, damask print was huge - especially on bedding, and I'm pretty sure the 2018 equivalent of damask (at least in terms of it being everywhere) is palm print. That's not to say that you should make the switch from damask to full-on tropical or floral, but it is to encourage you to try playing with a new pattern to refresh your space.
7. Your Bathroom's So Hollywood.
Hollywood vanity lighting was another big trend, so if your bathroom mirror is still surrounded by big, round bulbs that once made you feel like a movie star but now just feels a little too much, consider making the switch to something a little more subtle (but still bright enough for getting ready), like tubular sconces.
8. Your Furniture's A Bag Of Hot Air.
I'd say I truly hope that you no longer have inflatable furniture, but honestly, if you still have inflatable or beanbag anything from the '90s that hasn't popped, deflated, or lost its filling, I'm impressed. It's cheap seating, and while it is making a comeback at Target stores, resist. The. Urge.
Instead, snag some cushy seating with a couple decorative floor cushions:
BUY NOW Amya Velvet Pillow Pouf, $79, Urban Outfitters
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