Written by Natalie Aldridge.

Lately, it feels as though we are collectively circling the ’90s with a new level of intensity. What began as a quiet reappraisal has quickly tipped into something closer to a fixation, driven in no small part by the renewed attention around Love Story and the enduring allure of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, alongside shifting attitudes toward technology and a longing for the simplicity we left behind in that decade.

Images of Carolyn, in particular, have been circulating with near-obsessive frequency. A coat that fits perfectly, a slip dress worn with ease, a simple headband, hair left natural. It is not “dressing up,” but rather a return to intention. An ease that feels considered, but never labored.

That same impulse is appearing elsewhere. Film and digital cameras have begun to replace iPhones at dinners. There is a renewed interest in places that feel storied rather than new, especially here in New York, where old haunts of the era are being rediscovered or reinterpreted. Even the language has shifted. People speak, only half in jest, about wanting to live as though it were the ’90s again. My social media feed, in a somewhat ironic twist, has been filled with “day in the life” videos staged as if it were 1998.

This moment of renewed fixation brought me back to a feature I wrote three years ago, A Nod to 90s and 2000s Interiors. At the time, it was Princess Diana who seemed to define the mood, largely through the lens of The Crown. There is, in hindsight, an interesting parallel between Diana and Carolyn. Both embodied a kind of restraint that felt deeply personal rather than prescribed. Both were endlessly referenced, yet somehow impossible to replicate.

What makes this current moment distinct is that it is not purely nostalgic, but selective. It pulls forward the elements of the era that feel most enduring: restraint, materiality, and a certain confidence in simplicity, all with an analogue edge. And, inevitably, that sensibility is finding its way into interiors.

Three years ago I wrote about the films of the ’90s and early 2000s that shaped my childhood, and the particular comfort of their interiors. It is a feeling we have not quite been able to recreate since. The high-gloss, hyper-styled spaces that have defined recent years are beginning to soften. In their place, rooms that feel lived in rather than produced. Softer palettes, natural woods, familiar prints, and an ease that allows a space to develop over time.

What defined the best interiors of the ’90s and early 2000s was this kind of unstudied elegance. Traditional without stiffness, layered without excess, and always anchored by comfort. None of it felt performative, which is precisely why it resonates now. And perhaps, finally, we are ready to return to it.

Today we will revisit my original post, first published February 21, 2013…

A Nod to 90s and 2000s Interiors

Early in January The Glam Pad made six design trend predictions for the New Year. While we are fervent defenders of timeless classics, the new year offers an exciting opportunity to dissect design trends we see emerging.

While ’80s-style opulence, bold prints, and maximalist decor currently abounds, we are also starting to notice a subtle shift. Marked by quiet chintzes, natural woods, and softer color tones, the ’90s and early ‘2000s, are making room in shelter magazines and on Instagram. Think casual elegance vs. overt glamour.

I must admit, I was merely a thought in the ’90s and only lived through two years of the decade. And the early ‘2000s were the prime of my childhood. Decorating was not at the forefront of my mind just yet. My fondness for ’90s and early ‘2000s interiors comes from a familiarity found within movies I adored growing up. Nancy Meyers films in particular come to mind.

Her cult-classic movies are known not only for their heart-felt stories, but for what has been dubbed “Meyers Interiors.” There is even an Instagram account dedicated to the sumptuous domestic aesthetics she creates in all her films that make you feel perfectly warm inside, as if you could rise with a smile on your face from your Frette linens in your buttery-soft silk pajamas to come downstairs to freshly baked bread.

Something’s Gotta Give, a favorite Meyers film of mine staring the dynamic duo Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson is a perfect example. (This movie has also given rise to the recent “Coastal Grandmother” phenomenon that is celebrated as the more streamlined version of maximalist “Grandmillennial” style.)

Portrayed by Diane Keaton, playwright Erica Barry’s sublimely manicured beach home in the Hamptons becomes a character in and of itself. Creamy linens, dreamy blues, and touches of wicker set a serene and timeless tone.

Father of the Bride also comes to mind. If one did not know the Banks’ home was in the middle of Pasadena, CA, the home could easily pass for a countryside colonial. Each room perfectly balances traditional furniture with modern charm and a hint of English country. The walls are neutral with a peppering of artwork and occasional wallpaper while the furniture boasts elements of rich earth tones and pastels. And don’t forget about the muted chintz prints!

Another film that brings me childhood joy is the 1998 remake of The Parent Trap. Aside from the heartfelt plot, the film is a wealth of interior inspiration. Between Elizabeth James’ London townhouse and Nick Parker’s Napa Valley villa, the best of ’90s Nancy Meyers interiors are on full display. Showing restraint, the James residence is filled with traditional pieces of furniture, heirlooms, and reading much like an ancestral English home. Yet, the home has been updated with spritely hues of orange, pastel pinks, and plenty of damask to go around.

Across the pond in the Napa Valley, the Parker residence vineyard villa presents a casual California take on ’90s interiors. Nestled in the mountains, the home boasts natural materials, soft whites, easy upholstery, and an undeniable elegance. While both homes in the film are set two very different environments, they both carry similar design hallmarks of the era.

Let us not forget the charming cottage in The Holiday… It’s hard to believe this movie is almost 20 years old!

As ’90s and early ‘2000s influences trickle into Insta interiors, The Glam Pad predicts a continued love of chintz, a return of damask prints, subtle wallpapers with borders, natural tones, and plenty of pretty pastels. While we will aways embrace bold, maximalist interiors, the pared down elegance of the ’90s/’00s is also lovely and classic…. Which do you prefer?

x Natalie