These interior design trends are back with a bang

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 rattan décor to gingham and wall sconces, these old-fashioned interior design trends are back with a bang! Click or scroll on to discover how to get the look right...

Then: wall sconces

During the Middle Ages, wall sconces grew in popularity as the perfect place to store a candle. Later, in the 19th century, gas was used to light our homes and again these wall-hung items played a pivotal role.

Usually highly ornamental, wall sconces were not just there to provide light, but to add a touch of sophistication to a space. In the 90s, wall-hung lights came back into fashion.

Then: metal frame beds

Since the 17th century, metal frame beds have been in and out of favour. During the Victorian era, the trend took on new heights, thanks to the invention of new technology, resulting in beautiful and elaborate headboard patterns.

Slowly falling out of fashion, metal frames enjoyed a rebirth in the 80s and 90s, before we turned to wood and upholstered headboards for a more modern look.

Then: dried flowers

The perfect place for decades' worth of dust to gather, dried flowers were big in the 80s and 90s and they all but took over our homes.

From bowls of colourful potpourri to ugly ornamental bouquets, this trend fell by the wayside when living houseplants began to rise in popularity.

Then: checkerboard flooring

Checkerboard flooring might well be one of the most traditional styles there is, and over the centuries the look has swept in and out of fashion.

From Egyptian temples to Renaissance homes and 50s American diners, countless eras have adopted this trend. While it's been out of style for some years now, this age-old flooring look is well and truly making a comeback...

Now: checkerboard flooring

Luckily, checkerboard flooring has undergone a modern reinvention and the results are pretty appealing. Whether giving your hallway a wow-factor welcome or your bathroom a statement edge, checkerboard flooring can look classy, sophisticated and timeless.

If you opt to go down the monochrome route, remember to keep the rest of the space fairly neutral, to avoid overwhelming the senses.

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...

Then: pink bathrooms

There was never anything 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, to be replaced with the colour pink...

Then: Art Deco style

Synonymous with the roaring 20s, bustling speakeasies 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?

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...

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.

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.

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.

Then: fringing

Ah, fringing! We can all look back fondly and remember relatives' homewares, where trimmings decorated everything from lamps to cushions, bedspreads and footstools!

Since the Victorian era, no piece of furniture was safe from this dangling embellishment, but 21st-century design called for clean lines and simple styles, ridding homes of any elaborate decoration. So it may be surprising to learn that fringing is one of the most popular retro trends on the comeback.

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!

Then: primary colours

Thanks to the Bauhaus revival at the end of the 20th century, homes 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. Homeowners began opting for more muted décor and primary shades fell off the spectrum.

Now: primary colours

But there is a way for primary colours to be both stylish and impressive when it comes to interior design.

Colour blocking is key, layering both modern and retro-inspired furniture and homeware accessories that rock bold primary tones and cool geometric shapes. Bring on the bold!

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.

Then: dark kitchens

From the 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 today, the dark kitchen is back and more seductive than ever…

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 killed off the appetite for wood cladding but the look is well and truly back, offering a modern take on a vintage classic.

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, mint green and canary yellow livened up interiors until around 1984, when homeowners sought a cleaner look.

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.

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.

Now: succulents and cacti

For the past few years, the cacti trend has been fast-growing, with emerald tones and mixed textures playing a huge role. Yet this modern décor technique doesn’t just stop at physical plants.

Shops like Oliver Bonas and Graham and Green are going all-out with succulent-inspired homeware items, offering everything from themed glassware to cushions and wall prints.

Then: square tiles

Thanks to the popularity of the metro tile, square tiles fell 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 kitchen and washroom, leaving no section spare. These days, the humble box tile is working its way back into fashion...

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, macrame disappeared from our pads, that is until recently...

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.

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.

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.

Now: vinyl record players

Today, records are having a full-on renaissance and current artists are releasing music on vinyl once again. 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.

Then: blousy florals

Thanks to the likes of Laura Ashley, 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...

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 whites and greys.

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...

Then: gingham

Over the years, gingham has not only infiltrated our closets but our homes too. It’s thought to have originated in Asia but was soon popularised by the Dutch and English during the 18th century.

Then, when Judy Garland wore a gingham dress in The Wizard of Oz in 1939, the fabric came back into fashion, before dropping off the radar once again.