Paige Davis Talks ‘Trading Spaces’ Season 2 and Her Biggest On-Screen Fail

Earlier this month, TLC’s Trading Spaces announced a casting call for season two of the reboot where the show’s beloved host Paige Davis put the call out to homeowners in the Los Angeles or Charlotte, North Carolina areas. Now, Davis is dishing more on the upcoming season and what goes on when the cameras aren’t rolling.

I recently had the chance to chat with the DIY maven by phone, and she spoke about which designers are back, season one fails, and more on behalf of ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape.

First off, I can tell you there’s going to be even more of the Trading Spaces you love. While she didn’t have the exact number, Davis revealed there are more than eight episodes slated for this coming season. She was also excited to share that all the designers are on board once again. Yep, expect familiar faces Doug Wilson, Carter Oosterhouse, Genevieve Gorder, Laurie Smith, Ty Pennington, Vern Yip, and Hildi Santo-Tomas to be cooking up more boundary-pushing designs.

Just don’t necessarily expect to the see hottest trending design choices, like over-the-top-florals, millennial pinks, or cane furniture always cropping up on the new season, Davis cautions. “Our designers can’t really think about trends that way. They have to work with whatever’s available in the moment and in that city. With two days, they’re at the mercy of what’s available,” says Davis.

It’s that tried and true recipe that makes for great TV, but not necessarily happy homeowners all around. But when it comes to season one’s fails, Davis says the biggest one was actually her own. The host, who prides herself on always being in touch with the homeowners, regrets having failed to pick up on a homeowner’s negative reaction.

“I thought they really liked it,” Davis admits about a reaction to one of designer Laurie Smith’s rooms. “I knew they were concerned about the size of the wall unit [Laurie] built. But I did not pick up on the fact that they were so disappointed,” Davis added. It was only after watching the episode air that she realized just how grossly she’d misjudged the reveal in the moment.

I also asked DIY expert Davis about home trends for fall. Davis pointed to the overall cultural trend of nostalgia as a driver for decor. She says 1970s style is hot, and it’s a trend she herself is a fan of.

To work those trends into your own home, Davis suggests working with materials like velvet or opting for saturated colors like saturated salmons or saturated greens. If you plan to paint those saturated salmons or greens on the wall, Davis recommends not skipping the ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape. She explained, “I know the secret to any successful paint job – whether it’s a craft or a wall overhaul – is always in the prep. Not breezing through this step will allow you to pull off amazing results.”

Got a favorite season one design? How about a favorite fail? Share with us in the comments and let us know what you’re most looking forward to about the coming season!