8 Retro Design Trends Making a Major Comeback This Year

What’s old is new again! At least when it comes to interior design. When we first asked our 2025 REAL SIMPLE Home designers to create mood boards of their spaces many months ago, we realized there were some major similarities between the design schemes—specifically, lots of decor and styles we recognized from periods past (mostly the ’60s and ’70s). Pretty groovy, right? There is so much incredible vintage inspiration in their spaces, but we broke down eight of our favorite throwback trends we can’t wait to see more of.

Curvy Furniture

One of the hallmarks of 1970s interior design is the use of rounded silhouettes with soft edges as well as low-slung pieces. In the REAL SIMPLE Home, several rooms are rocking these rounded decor pieces, including the curved sofa in Jason Saft’s living space.

Woven Materials

Woven pieces were popular way before the 1950s (we’re talking ancient Egypt), but textured items also became super popular among mid-century modern designers like Franco Albini and Charlotte Perriand, then again in the ’70s thanks to the decade’s boho style. Well-made woven items really never go out of style, but they’re playing a big role in some of the RS Home rooms this year, both inside and out, in the form of coffee tables (à la Mandy Cheng’s space) and rattan lounges on the terrace designed by Noz Nazawa.

Shag Rugs

Yes, these are a nightmare to vacuum, but they’re super soft underfoot, so we totally get the hype. Even the thought of shag probably conjures up images of your grandma’s 1960s nylon or polyester living room carpet, but these days, shag takes on a more modern look thanks to moodier colors.

Mustard-y Colors

That yellow-gold tone is about to be everywhere, but unlike in the ’70s, designers aren’t pairing it with avocado green or brown. Instead, it’s the perfect foil for warm whites and blues, and pops perfectly against plum if you’re feeling bold. A few of the designers in the REAL SIMPLE Home are bringing this color in via artwork and wallpaper.

Shiny Metallics

Move over, brushed nickel, we’re here to talk about chrome and super-shiny brass! You may have noticed this metallic trend popping up at home decor stores like CB2, and it’s undoubtedly found a place in the REAL SIMPLE Home via lamps, vases, and other decorative accessories. Designers are channeling those Bauhaus and Art Deco influences (very 1920s and 1930s) and mixing different tones to create a collected look.

Stone Pieces

This style is set in stone. Sorry, we had to. Veiny marble, terrazzo, and brightly colored quartz have been making a big comeback. Like many of the returning trends here, stone became big in the 1970s, when natural materials like travertine, marble, and granite became a go-to for high-end interior designers. That same organic modernism is back with a vengeance, and you can check out some incredible examples, like the nightstand in Alvin Wayne’s primary bedroom and the coffee table in Jason Saft’s living room.

Lots of Wood

And we mean lots! There was a period in the 2010s when all surfaces seemed to be mirrored, lucite, or gray, but warmer tones have reclaimed their space in stylish homes, including this one. Welcome back, mid-century modern! And, unlike the matching bedroom sets we loved in the ’80s and ’90s, mixed wood tones are reigning supreme. For example, Drew Michael Scott is mixing a warm cherry console with a chestnut daybed and black wood bar stools. Nothing needs to match; in fact, it shouldn’t!

Squiggles

Squiggly lines, they’re everywhere! You can find them in the home in just about every room, from the nightstand in Candace Griffin’s kids room to the mirror in Alvin Wayne’s primary bedroom to Alexandra Gater’s den chandelier, and more (tour all those rooms here). These lines are very reminiscent of the Memphis Group movement in the 1980s, which was characterized by whimsical squiggles, zigzags, and organic shapes.