Home Decor Trends From the 2000s to the 2020s

Home decor is always evolving, and it feels like every day there’s a new trend. But the truth is, most trends are borrowed from previous decades and everything eventually comes back around again (well, almost everything). As we prepare for a new decade, we decided to take a look at just how far we’ve come since the turn of the 21st century.

From mason jars to boho-chic, let’s go back in time and remember some of the biggest trends of the previous twenty years, and then look ahead to what we can expect with the start of a new decade.

2000s

These decor trends share a decade with Britney Spears’ best years, the release of the first iPod, and the once-coveted Blu-ray disc. Though it doesn’t seem that long ago, some of these decor trends from the 2000s feel like they came from centuries past. We can thank the 2000s for our obsession with white kitchens and all of those mason jars collecting dust in the basement.

Bedrooms: Shabby chic Before the age of Joanna Gaines and the phrase “modern farmhouse,” there was shabby chic. Known for its rustic, slightly distressed look, shabby chic is a little bit country, a little bit vintage, and really defines the 2000s. From ruffled lace bedding to distressed white-washed nightstands, we were all about the shabby chic look in our bedrooms.

Living Room: Entertainment “stations” Back when Blu-ray discs and DVD players were still huge, we all splurged on an oversized entertainment center to house all of our cool new tech items. From oversized speakers to deliver the best surround sound to that new flat-screen TV, we needed that bulky, heavy entertainment station to show off our prized home theater. Who will ever forget Joey and Chandler’s epic entertainment center that took up most of the room?

Kitchens: White kitchen cabinets While we’re those oversized entertainment stations may have been a thing of the past, white kitchens are still holding strong years later. We can thank the 2000s for the shift away from deep, dark wooden cabinets, and we’re still very much feeling the look today. Arguably the most popular kitchen cabinet color right now, white became the dominant tone for not only cabinets, but backsplashes, countertops, and even flooring.

Bathrooms: Tuscan style
While some trends of the 2000s were understated and subtle, the Tuscan-style bathroom was not one of them. As homeowners began to upgrade in size, we saw larger bathrooms with ornate features and colors such as ochre and terracotta paired with heavy, dark wood.

Dining Rooms: Mismatched dining chairs
There are a lot of dining room trends we saw in the 2000s, but one of our favorites is the shift from formal, classic dining rooms to more whimsical, fun spaces. Big box stores began selling chairs as single items, allowing us to mix and match colors and styles to create a happy, welcoming vibe in our dining rooms.

Kids’ Rooms: Bird-themed kids’ rooms
Though the Portlandia catchphrase “Put a Bird on It” became a full-fledged meme in the early 2010s, the bird trend was already big by the late 2000s. From bird-covered bedding to lamps shaped like birds to feather-inspired wall art, the avian theme was huge in the 2000s.

Kids’ Rooms: Bird-themed kids’ rooms
Though the Portlandia catchphrase “Put a Bird on It” became a full-fledged meme in the early 2010s, the bird trend was already big by the late 2000s. From bird-covered bedding to lamps shaped like birds to feather-inspired wall art, the avian theme was huge in the 2000s.

Paint Trends: Dark red and brown paint
Though we saw a lot of use of neutrals and whites in the 2000s, especially in the kitchen, we also saw a rise in deep, dark reds and browns throughout the home. Pantone even named “True Red” their color of the year in 2002.

Architecture: McMansions
Before the housing market crash in 2008, McMansions were a signal of affluence and class. Though these oversized new builds popped up in the 1990s, they also defined architecture into the 2000s. These homes included large-scale rooms, nonessential architectural features like columns, and two- to three-car garages.

Accessories: Mason jars everywhere
It’s hard to deny the versatility of the Mason jar. It’s a wine glass, a vase, a candle holder, and so much more, all in a compact, hard-to-break little glass container. If you’re like us, you probably had hundreds of Mason jars scattered around the house working overtime.

2010s

Between the rise of the iPhone and increased awareness of climate change, this decade was all about streamlined minimalism, and decor is no exception. We took a step back during these years, and what was once ornate and grand became understated and simple.

Bedrooms: Barn doors as closet doors
Closet doors are so 2000s. Many homeowners decided to ditch the bifold door and embrace a sliding barn-style door instead. Not only did this save on precious bedroom real estate, but it also offered a more streamlined and modern look.

Living Room: Poufs galore
Who needs an ottoman when you have poufs? From the patio to the indoor living room, we were all about the pouf. A pouf not only gives you a place to prop up your feet after a long day at work, but also doubles as seating in a pinch.

Kitchens: Open shelving
In this decade we began to see more homeowners ditch the traditional cabinets and turn to open kitchen shelving instead. Though this look required more dedication to organization and cleanliness, it also helps a small kitchen feel open and airy.

Bathrooms: Geometric tiles
Sure, subway tiles will probably never go entirely out of style, but many homeowners began to experiment with hexagonal and diamond-shaped tiles to give bathrooms more visual interest and create a unique, personalized space.

Dining Rooms: Modern farmhouse
We can thank Joanna Gaines for our love of the modern farmhouse in the 2010s. A shift from shabby chic, this look combined farmhouse style with modern simplicity. From reclaimed wood tables to Windsor dining chairs, our 2010 dining room is all about the modern farmhouse.

Kids’ Rooms: Canopies are back
What goes around comes around in home decor. If you had a canopy in the 1990s, there’s a good chance a child you know embraced the same look in the 2010s. This decade we saw more kids’ rooms with flowy, fort-like canopies to give children privacy, especially in shared bedrooms.

Paint Trends: Millennial pink and hunter green
Pink and green are two very different colors, but both were equally hot in the 2010s. On one hand, we swapped crisp whites for barely-there pinks and subtle roses. On the other, we went full-on moody with deep hunter greens in the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom.

Architecture: Open floor plans
More and more homeowners began to truly embrace the open floor plan concept in the 2010s. Whether in a mid-century ranch or a 1920s craftsman, the open floor plan was (and still is) a coveted architectural feature.

Accessories: Brass and gold hardware
From the bathroom to the kitchen to the front door, we swapped out our silver hardware for gold and brass finishes this decade. A mix of both modern and vintage, this look is still very much going strong.

2020s

The trends that will make a splash in the next decade may surprise us, but there are a few early indications that show us where home decor is headed. Here are some of our predictions for home decor trends in the next ten years.

Bedrooms: Smart furniture
We’ve already started to embrace smart furniture in the kitchen and living room, but it’s time to open the bedroom up to more tech. From nightstands with built-in USB ports and automatic lighting to beds that can track your sleep, expect to see more smart pieces in the bedroom this year.

Living Room: Boho and eclectic
We’ve already started to shift away from minimalism and embrace maximalism, and we don’t see this trend slowing down. The next decade will be full of bright colors, textures, and boho-inspired home decor.

Kitchens: Bright, colorful kitchens
While we don’t think white kitchens will totally fade away, expect to see more homeowners experiment with bright, bold kitchen cabinets and appliances. From daring reds to soft pinks, it’s time to embrace color in the kitchen.

Bathrooms: Cement sinks and natural materials
Tariffs on certain materials have made many homeowners turn to cheaper products for bathroom design, such as cement. Natural stones like limestone are also getting noticed for being eco-friendly, and mark a shift from the traditional subway tile.

Dining Rooms: Formal dining rooms
While open floor plans are still big, we are expecting more people to embrace segmented rooms again. Whether it’s a true closed-off dining room or simply a space that feels separate and intentional from the rest of the home, we foresee homeowners spending more time in the dining room and embracing dinner time once again.

Kids’ Rooms: Textures and patterns
From faux fur to camouflage to cheetah print, kids’ rooms are going to become more daring than ever before. As the rest of the house continues to embrace neutrals, the kids’ room is where homeowners will experiment with vibrant, exciting aesthetics.

Paint Trends: Beige is back, dark is the new neutral
If you thought beige paint was too ’90s, think again. This versatile hue is back and more home decorators are swapping white for beige yet again. We also don’t see moody, dark colors going away anytime soon—in fact, we expect they will replace the neutral in nearly any room of the house.

Architecture: Eco-friendly
A sense of urgency around climate change has made architects and designers focus on creating eco-conscious and sustainable homes. From solar panels to low-energy lighting to cellulose insulation, expect to see even more earth-friendly builds.

Accessories: Global and rattan
More proof that trends always resurface, rattan was big in the ’70s and is truly having a comeback. From rattan bookcases to wicker chairs, expect to see even more of this time-tested material.

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Collected and published by Arms &McGregor International Realty editorial team.