6 Decorating Trends from 2016 That Feel Fresh Again

As the social media trend of looking back on our 2016 Instagram posts filled our feeds recently, we noticed something interesting. Defining interior design choices of this era are actually starting to reappear in modern homes. It turns out designers picked up on this phenomenon, too.

Here, three designers weigh in on a few 2016 trends that have returned, showing that although trends come and go, a love of nostalgia remains constant.

1. Millennial Pink

Millennial pink is back. But just as its namesake has changed and matured throughout the years, so has the color itself. "I am seeing millennial pink come back in a little bit of a more of a sophisticated way," says designer Michelle Accetta. "We're talking a more neutral dusty pink pop-up in interiors everywhere."

Her favorite way to incorporate a nod to millennial pink in her current designs is to apply a coat of Farrow & Ball Setting Plaster. It reminds her a bit of Rose Quartz, which was named alongside Serenity as the 2016 Pantone Color of the Year.

2. Midcentury Silhouettes

Although it never fully went away, Sarah and Rebecca Goesling, co-founders of Goesling Group, are pleased to see midcentury modern furniture appearing more frequently in designs. Rebecca credits the comeback to the style's mix of clean lines, modern materials, and outside-in approach.

"We see this resurfacing in today’s landscape as we long for tactility in an ever-evolving digital and streamlined world," she says. "Midcentury silhouettes give us the chance to push boundaries on material innovations, like leather, wood, and stone variations, that exaggerate surface textures and add a hint of nostalgia."

Today, designers are using midcentury furniture in more unexpected ways than simply for living room furniture. In one recent Goesling Group project, the design team converted a midcentury walnut dresser into a vanity to add some warmth and vintage character to the space.

3. Subway Tile

Although subway tile was definitely having a heyday back in 2016, it's been around since the early 18th century. Joe Olson believes this tile choice will never fully exit the trend cycle and that there's a particular reason why we're now living in a subway tile renaissance.

"Subway tile is a classic design element, and we believe it will always be timeless in its execution," he says. "The times call for design that feels familiar, and finding new ways of incorporating unusual tile and color combinations into a classic format speaks to this need for the harmonious and friendly."

4. Matte Black Accents

Before brass started dominating the fixture world as the unique alternative to chrome in the 2020s, it was matte black in the 2010s.  Sarah Goesling remembers these times well. She's noticed matte black fixtures make a full-on return, and she's also applying matte black paint as accents in her own designs.

"Dousing furnishings in a dark charcoal allows the surrounding, oftentimes contrasting, architecture to shine, and matte black fixtures and details do just that," she says. "We’ve used rich black charcoal to drench intricate molding, decorative paneling, and vintage furnishings, and to tamp down on the expense of details."

5. Tropical Prints

In 2016, people began drawing interior design inspiration from their grandparents, foreshadowing the grandmillennial trend that would take hold a few years later. Tropical prints, like the iconic green palm leaves seen in reruns of The Golden Girls, began to reappear in framed art and upholstery. Olson says tropical prints are trending again because they signal warmth and nostalgia.

"They have the ability to be part of an overall layered design approach, which again, could refer back to the need for comfort in turbulent times," he says. "As design grows more vibrant and outspoken, these prints become more visually imaginative and playful and feel more fashion-forward than just harking back to older trends. I can’t help but smile every time I see a new tropical print."

6. The Embrace of Imperfection

About 10 years ago, it seemed like the entire world was really discovering the treasure trove that is Etsy. Brick-and-mortar stores dedicated to selling locally made goods were also thriving. As a result, even big-box stores were trying to manufacture decor with a handmade look.

"2016 was marked by the maker, where the embrace of imperfections took hold," Rebecca says. Hand-dyed hues, exposed or molten materials, and imperfect or rippled finishes were the driving details of this idea, and we’re excited for these elements to have a renaissance this year."

Rebecca has noticed her clients favoring a handmade, artisanal look in unconventional metal treatments. Think etched brass, molten chrome, and reverse knurled steel. "We look forward to treating traditional metals with subtly subversive finishes," she says. "When applied to door panels, lighting, and hardware, it demands a closer look and a longer touch."