When it comes to fashion, trends have typically tended to cycle through about every 30 years. It’s long enough for one generation to embrace the essence of a bygone style, without feeling as though they’re dressing like their parents!

Given the close relationship between interiors and fashion when it comes to styles and colour palettes, it’s no surprise that interior trends also tend to repeat themselves every 30 years or so. This explains nicely why we’re all currently loving some great interior and colour trends that emerged in the 1990s and that means we’re taking a fresh look at things like minimalism, textured effects, feature walls, bold bursts of colour, pretty florals and touches of grunge in a fondness for raw materials and deconstructed finishes.

Resene Colour Expert Madison McLeod says adapting ’90s trends for a fresh and modern look is often about simplifying and personalising them.

“The ’90s were all about colour and patterns, with every room having to have a feature finish to it. That approach is certainly on the rise again today, but in a more controlled, considered manner.

One example might be the sponge-painted feature walls which were very popular in the ’90s. Today’s version is more subtle using brush strokes and a product like Resene FX Paint Effects Medium, rather than hours of sponging.

Let's take a look at some of the biggest ’90s trends and how they can be reinvented to look fresh and modern.

Colour choices

Minimalism and maximalism

Many ’90s interiors were approached from one of two angles: minimalism or maximalism.

The rise of minimalism was most likely a ‘less-is-more’ reaction to the extravagance of the mid-’80s, much in the same way the grunge look in fashion could be seen as a reaction to the neon colours and exuberant styles of the 90s. Nineties minimalism was very focused on being super uncluttered and based on a palette of creamy magnolia whites paired with crisper whites and knotty pine wood features with few or no other contrast colours.

Though minimalism has been with us as a popular design aesthetic almost continuously since the ’90s, it has constantly evolved over that time to suit the changing way we live.

Today’s minimalism is a little more relaxed and need not be restricted to white on white colour palettes. Resene Colour Expert Brooke Calvert says the key to incorporating colour into a modern minimalist design is to keep things simple and avoid overwhelming the space.

“It doesn’t need to be all white but stick to a limited colour palette, using colour strategically to highlight certain elements, and maintain a sense of balance throughout the design.”

Some colours you can consider adding are warm neutrals such as Resene Foundation, Resene Credence or Resene Open Sesame as a base colour palette or even soft pastels like Resene Contended, Resene Duck Egg Blue or Resene Nirvana, Brooke says. “These gentler hues bring a touch of tranquillity and can add a subtle colour without dominating the space.”

A feature of modern minimalist design is often highlighting one part of a room, or a key design feature in a bolder contrast note. Try on-trend earthy shades like Resene Tuscany or Resene Stepping Stone to keep an organic feel or go for a punchier contrast with a bright like Resene Deep Teal, or mustard yellow Resene Salted Caramel.

In contrast to minimalism, the other popular look from the later 90s was quite maximalist, often mixing super modern pop culture elements and bright colours, against older, heritage looks like big floral wallpaper, fabric prints and wood furniture.

We can see this same kind of approach today in trends like ‘cottagecore’, where the same desire for simplicity that makes minimalism so popular, sees others opt for a back-to-nature, folksy approach. The simplest way to add those notes to your interior is through some of the amazing modern floral wallpapers. Opt for the classic floral of Resene Wallpaper Collection 2311-168-03, made modern by its beautiful teal background, or go for an edgier approach with the wilder florals of Resene Wallpaper Collection IF3-035.

Madison says today's florals work particularly well in rooms that aren’t used all day, every day like powder rooms and guest bedrooms, where they’ll add drama and impact without becoming overwhelming.

Feature walls

Feature walls were a big trend in the '90s and even into the early 2000s as people realised they not only added instant impact to a room, but they were a great way to experiment with colour without over-committing or spending a lot of money. The same is true today as we increasingly want to play with colours and patterns to make our interiors reflect our personalities.

“In the 90s we saw a lot of feature walls in bright, bold colours,” Madison says. “This is popular in homes today, but instead of just one wall, try wrapping the colour around two sides to balance out the room.”

She also suggests trying colours that are ‘greyed off’ or more muted, particularly if you’re nervous about getting too bold. “Think calming greens and blues that verge on being a neutral tone, like the complex grey-green of Resene Tana, Resene Double Linen or Resene Unite.”

If you want to use a brighter paint finish, like a Resene Scoria or Resene Deep Teal, Madison suggests adding visual or physical texture to the surface to help diffuse the intensity of the colour. One of the simplest ways to do this is to use Resene Anaglytpa wallpaper and paint over it in your chosen Resene colour. These wallpapers have a raised pattern on them, that will give your feature wall and colour interesting depth.

Resene FX Paint Effects Medium can also help you replicate a number of different visual textured looks from sponging, rag-rolling or a weathered brushstroke look. For most projects, to get the look you want, you’ll need a base colour and at least one other shade mixed with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium to break up the colour slightly and give it that purposely sheer or broken look.

You can also add texture with Resene Sandtex which gives you a finish resembling plastered surfaces, perfect if you want a limewashed or beaten earth effect.

Raw materials

Showcasing more of the raw materials in our homes started to become popular in the ’90s as people embraced the ‘less is more’ approach. That meant the rise of exposed brick and concrete as well as wood, with lots of bare wooden flooring, pine cabinetry and furniture.

We see that same trend today as homeowners look for more connection with nature in homes and embrace the idea of upcycling or refreshing pre-owned pieces of furniture and decor. Today’s trends for wood surfaces extend from a beachy, relaxed washed effect with shades like Resene Colorwood Whitewash, but there’s also a trend to take wood finishes slightly darker with shades like Resene Colorwood Shade for interiors and Resene Woodsman Crowshead; products that still celebrate the grain and texture of the wood, while adding impact and bold contrast.

You can also replicate the effect of a concrete wall inside by using greys like Resene Tino Pai or Resene Quarter Tapa to colour wash your wall, applying one shade as a basecoat and sponging or brushing the second colour over the top for a diffused, irregular concrete finish.

November 24, 2023

Visit your local Resene ColorShop for all the quality paints, wallpapers and colours you need for your project. If you need more helping choosing just the right colours for your place, book in a colour consultation with a Resene Colour Expert, virtually, instore or at your place. Simply visit www.resene.co.nz/colourconsult to book. Or use the free Resene Ask a Colour Expert service.

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