Back from the Dead: 9 Things We Never Thought Would Come Back in Style—But Did
You know that moment when you’re scrolling Instagram and think, Wait—is that a lava lamp? In 2025?? Yes. Yes, it is. And not only is it back, it’s sold out.
Trends have a way of creeping up on us—softly, stylishly, like corduroy pants at a dinner party. And while we swore we’d never revisit certain eras (looking at you, sponge-painted walls), here we are. Living, laughing, and reliving.
So, here’s a love letter (and mild roast) to the once-cringey, now-cool things that have risen from the aesthetic ashes:
image credit: Heidi Callier
1. Wallpaper
Once the bane of everyDIY home reno in the 2000s (“We spent three weekends just trying to get it OFF”), wallpaper has re-emerged—and she’s wearing florals, toile, and metallics like it’s her debutante ball. Peel-and-stick made it painless. Grandmillennials made it cool.
image credit: Ashley Montgomery Design
2. Pedestal Sinks
For years we were told: Storage is everything. Now? Functionality is for the weak. Pedestal sinks are back, bold, and beautifully inconvenient. Perfect for people who don’t need to hide 12 backup shampoos and a travel-size lint roller.
Image Credit: Annie Schlechter / Interior Design: Summer Thornton
3. Rattan Everything
Chairs, mirrors, side tables, lampshades—if it’s woven and vaguely beachy, it’s probably rattan. Once relegated to Florida rooms and your aunt’s ‘90s sunroom, it’s now the darling of every Pinterest-perfect boho nook.
4. Crochet
Crochet had a glow-up. It went from grandma’s couch doily to runway-ready and surprisingly chic. We’re talking plant hangers, summer tops, even swimwear (though... buyer beware on that last one).
image credit: Chris Loves Julia
5. Brown
Yep. Brown. After a long reign of gray and white, brown swaggered back into our homes with all the confidence of a ‘70s ski instructor. Think chocolate velvet sofas, walnut cabinets, and amber glassware. Suddenly it feels rich, warm, and very I have a record player and opinions about wine.
image credit: photo: Amanda Kirkpatrick, styling: Anna Molvik
6. Clawfoot Tubs
Once traded for sleek showers and jetted monstrosities, clawfoot tubs are now the crown jewel of bathroom indulgence. Because nothing says “self-care” like soaking in a tub that looks like it could be in a haunted Victorian mansion.
image credit: DeVoL
7. Brass Fixtures
There was a time when shiny gold finishes were the kiss of death for your kitchen or bathroom. Now? The warmer, unlacquered brass is the cool metal. Aged, imperfect, and just bougie enough to say, “I know what I’m doing.”
Final Thoughts
Trends are funny that way. The things we once tossed out, side-eyed, or covered with a drop cloth have a way of reemerging—usually better dressed and twice the price.
So next time you’re tempted to chuck that hand-me-down lamp or roll your eyes at a lace tablecloth, pause. Because in a few years, it might just be the thing that makes your space feel fresh… again.
-Juliette