5 ’90s Paint Colors That Are Making a Comeback—and How Designers Use Them Today
- Pinewood Realty Group
- 26 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Give your home a dose of comfort and nostalgia with the top ’90s-inspired paint colors designers still love, along with tips on how to apply them in a modern way.
A well-designed home should feel cozy and put you at ease, and leaning on nostalgic trends is a great way to achieve this. We've noticed that the 1990s seem to be the bygone era of the moment in the interior design world, but especially when it comes to color.
If you want to infuse a little pre-Y2K charm into your home, paint is a great place to start. Here are five ’90s-inspired paint colors that designers still love and use, along with tips on how to incorporate them in a fresh way.
1. Taupe and Beige
All three designers we interviewed for this story included some variation of taupe or beige on their list of back-in-style ’90s-inspired colors.
"We’re loving taupes and beige right now à la ’90’s," says designer Claudia Roth. "We're leaning into the same warm, earthy tones we grew up around in our childhood homes." But according to Roth, the way you apply this color family to your walls will make all the difference in whether it reads as contemporary or dated.
"Instead of a dated ’90s stucco wall finish, we use a limewash finish paint when working with taupes and beiges to add warmth and depth to a space," she says.
2. Buttercream Yellow and Gold
Designer Sarah Trop has noticed that sunny hues, such as gold and buttercream, are making a comeback in the design zeitgeist. In the ’90s, we saw yellow tones take center stage in Tuscan-inspired kitchens and living rooms. This led to major burnout with the color, which is why Trop recommends using it, but with caution.
"My advice here is to avoid the 'all in' approach and to keep your use of gold paint colors limited to smaller items, such as furniture pieces like a vintage end stand with a gold spray paint."
3. Maroon and Burgundy
Maximalist interior designers in the 1990s highly favored rich purple hues. Designer Brittny Button says this color family is back, but with more pronounced red undertones, as seen in maroon and burgundy.
"Burgundy is a powerful shade and is an elevated version of the ’90s plum," she says. Her favorite way to incorporate this bold color into her designs is through color drenching. "Monochromatic all-over usage creates a minimalist, calming feel," she says. "This universal paint approach works well in long hallways, bedrooms, and baths."
In a recent project, she chose to paint all the cabinetry in a home library burgundy. She balanced the intensity with fawn-colored herringbone flooring and applied gold metallic hardware that contrasts beautifully.
4. Hunter Green
One ’90s color that Trop is extra excited to see make a comeback is hunter green. She's been waiting and ready for this day. "I love green and think its hue is paramount to any design," she says.
She has a particular fondness for using Hunter Green by Benjamin Moore in her designs. "To me, the richness of this shade combined with its moody depth gives it a certain longevity and should be embraced in a big way," Trop says. That's why she also encourages her clients to go big with hunter green, including painting the walls, trim, and ceiling.
To ensure this color looks modern in your space, she recommends against pairing it with high-shine polished brass. This combination became a bit overdone in the 1990s. If you do want to incorporate brass, she suggests trying an aged or hammered version.
5. Sage Green
On a similar note, Roth listed sage as another ’90s-inspired color with modern appeal. These days, she has been introducing this color into spaces on walls, but then echoing it in other tactile elements, such as tile and layered fabrics.
"Together, they create a space that feels both grounded in history and current," she says. "Cozy and comfortable like your mom's house—but cooler."
More Tips for Using '90s Colors in a Contemporary Way
There are ways you can embrace nostalgia without going full-on retro with your color palette. We asked all three designers to share extra and general advice for working with ’90s-inspired colors in a modern way, and here's a round-up of their advice:
Change the way you add texture. Instead of adding texture via techniques like sponge painting, opt for limewash or clay plaster treatment.
Start small. Experiment with these colors on a minor scale, such as on a statement ceiling or your doors.
Mix styles. Tastefully use furniture from different eras, ranging from antiques to modern pieces. The end result will be a space that feels collected over time, rather than stuck in time.
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