From Faux Taxidermy to Shiplap: These are the Trends Everyone Had in Their Homes from 2000 to 2019

Ready to close out the year—and the decade—with a trip down memory lane? We asked five different interior designers what the biggest home trend of each year was from 2000 to 2019, and their feedback is giving us all the feels. From bamboo floors to shiplap and beyond, here are twenty major home decor trends from the last two decades that you may have had in your own homes.

At the turn of the millennium, grunge was dead, and Destiny’s Child ruled the music charts. No surprise, then, that homes across the country were seeking more refined, elegant decor upgrades, particularly swanky light fixtures. “Whether hip theatrical fixtures or grand Elizabethan throwbacks, the crystal chandelier craze was abuzz at the turn of the century,” says Rayman Boozer of Apartment 48. “With so many people looking to the future, this anachronistic lighting piece became the perfect accent for entryways, dining rooms, and master bedrooms.”

2001 saw the rise of frosted lip gloss, tattoo chokers, and, according to Boozer, curvy French-style sleigh beds. “The bane of every undersized bedroom, the hefty sleigh bed took flight thanks to its romantic charms and marketing assistance from the likes of Ralph Lauren and Martha Stewart,” he says. “This was the one piece of furniture universally coveted at the time.”      

“‘Sex and the City’ introduced us to the New York City restaurant Sushisamba, which fueled the ongoing Western adoration of Japanese dining and culture,” Boozer says. “This was the moment to purchase your first sake and chopsticks sets and to decide which set of ornate rice bowls best complemented your dining room. And who didn’t have a Zen sand tray in their office break room?”

“Before we put a bird on it, the animal ornamentation of choice was cool, pronged, and homey deer antlers,” Boozer says. “Faux antler plaques, antler candles, antler bottle openers—antlers were everywhere. Taking the appeal of taxidermy, combined with a growing interest in organic shapes, we mimicked the aesthetic in homes across the globe with a resin mold and a basic understanding of what the mythical Jackalope might look like.”

The release of “Mean Girls” in 2004 brought bubblegum pink to the forefront of popular culture. “’Mean Girls’ helped take this hue into mainstream fashion and design,” Boozer explains. “Pink-painted walls mixed with chocolate-colored furniture was a common combination, which soon evolved to even bolder paint and upholstery choices in the following decade. Unlike ‘fetch,’ this is one trend that happened and stuck for years to come.”

“In the mid-2000s, the quickie home renovation/flip craze was really gaining momentum,” says Chris Stout-Hazard of ROGER AND CHRIS. “People searching for soothing, broadly-appealing colors for their homes found exactly what they wanted in colors inspired, more often than not, from their local Starbucks. Earthy tans, browns, hunter green, and oranges brought warmth to homes both old and new. It was a no-lose color palette.”

“Seeking the more sophisticated look that was already established in urban lofts, homeowners looked to espresso cabinetry to add some drama to their kitchens,” Stout-Hazard says. “Of course, paired with dark wall colors and dark tile and dark granite countertops, we all quickly found that it was challenging to see what we were preparing in our brown kitchens, but, hey, at least we all looked sophisticated while chopping up celery.”

“During the ‘Great De-Brassification of the 2000s’, folks seeking replacement finishes for their door handles and faucets largely opted for satin nickel,” Stout-Hazard says. “It felt more contemporary, cleaner, and was most likely influenced by the explosion of brushed aluminum in car interiors and consumer electronics like laptops. And it was certainly an improvement over the fake-looking, builder-grade brass that had been inescapable during the previous decade.”

An increase in sustainable living towards the end of the 2000s marked an interest in eco-friendly floor options for the home. “At the nexus of environmental consciousness and price savviness, bamboo flooring has a lot to offer,” Stout-Hazard says. “Bamboo is more sustainable than traditional hardwood, with a faster growth rate and enhanced renewability that also means a more competitive price point. With a unique, contemporary look, it was bound to take off in popularity.”

“The confluence of increasing interest in mid-century modern style and a desire for more compact furniture suitable for city dwellers brought about the return of contemporary tight-back sofas in 2009,” Stout-Hazard says. “Unlike pillow-back furniture (where there are large cushions resting against the back of the sofa), tight-backs are more tailored in appearance, don’t get that ‘slouchy’ look, and require less fiddling to keep them looking their best. This is one trend that has only continued to grow over the following decade.”

2010 marked the release of “Mockingjay“, the end of “Lost”, and the return of the molded Eames chair—due in part to the fact that Gen X-ers and older millennials were officially adults. “Shell chairs are lovely and can be found in endless colors,” Stout-Hazard says. “And they’re practical enough to survive whatever your family can throw at them.”

In 2011, the Restoration Hardware aesthetic reigned supreme and unrefined in all its industrial-style glory—Edison bulbs and live edge wooden furniture were all the rage. “Other highlights of the year included: Reclaimed wood, succulents, chalkboard paint, driftwood, gallery walls, and brass accents,” says designer Justin DiPiero. It’s crazy to think it, but a lot of those trends are still with us, in some form or another.

From upholstery to wall paint to gem-inspired décor items, 2012 was all about jewel tones. “Deep jewel tones like navy and eggplant were everywhere,” DiPiero says. “Agate and quartz decor items were popular—as were cakes that looked like the stones, and the metal preference shifted from brass to copper.”

In 2013, the words “twerk” and “selfie” were added to the dictionary and perhaps more importantly, the world was formally introduced to Chip and Joanna Gaines. “’Fixer Upper‘ premiered in May of 2013 and turned the dial from ‘industrial chic’ to ‘modern farmhouse’ pretty quickly,” DiPiero says. Translation: Shiplap entered the mainstream along with the modern farmhouse DIY aesthetic.

Although modern farmhouse decor was still making major waves well into 2014, interest in clean lines, simple shapes, and neutral elements also grew in popularity, perhaps even in opposition. “Black, white, and grey were the dominant colors of 2014,” DiPiero says. “And natural textiles like cowhide and sheepskin were also go-tos for upholstery fabrics and accent decor. “

While some decor trends come and go, 2015 proved that others can persevere. Mid-century modern style design exploded in 2015, aided in part by the finale of ‘Mad Men’,” DiPiero says. “‘Man-caves’ were the ‘it’ room to have, and menswear patterns like tweed and pinstripes made appearances on upholstery and wall-coverings.” Brass also made a resurgence along with cowhides, patterned wallpaper, and bold colors.

By 2016, Scandinavian minimalism was growing in popularity as were boho-style spaces. For as different as they may seem, both had one important design element in common: Clean white backdrops. “White walls were in all styles of homes in 2016,” says designer Crystal Sinclair. “Not only do they work well in modern spaces, they complement boho-inspired interiors as well.”

2017 was packed with a medley of pop cultural highs—Fiona the Hippo was born, Beyoncé had twins, and Millennial Pink became a total phenomenon. Designers and homeowners also started filling homes with a mix of metal finishes. From brass legged furniture to gold kitchen fixtures and beyond, mixed metals were brightening up homes across the globe.

With an increased interest in tiny living and multifunctional spaces, it’s no surprise that savvy, small space friendly shelving was all the rage in 2018. From tall industrial shelves to wall-mounted floated styles, Sinclair says, “everyone was stocking up on shelves” that year.

The boho look that began trending in 2016 became the prevailing interior style of 2019—which can only mean one thing: The ‘70s are back (and so is wicker). “Wicker throne chairs, side tables, mirrors, planters, you name it—it’s likely available in a wicker form,” Sinclair says. “It only seems natural after boho became the next big thing.”