The Interior Design Trend Boomers Love But Shouldn't Make A Comeback

What was once popular in the boomer era is often considered outdated nowadays. And while some trends cycle back around with a fresh twist, one home decor trend that every boomer remembers, but should stay buried in the past, is themed rooms. These all-in concepts center the entire design — floors, walls, furniture, and decor — around one particular scheme. Think a jungle-themed living room that features a cheetah-print couch with matching drapes and wallpaper cluttered with tropical trees, or a nautical bedroom with the ocean-blue carpet, beach mural accent wall, and boat-shaped bed. It's a lot. It's too much.

While there are ways to ensure your themed room never goes out of style, it isn't a trend for the masses. Particularly, boomers tended to stick to a specific motif for the theme, like a goose or sunflower kitchen. Everywhere you turn, you're hit over your head with the chosen scheme, creating the sense you're trapped inside of a piece of artwork.

While themed rooms embrace personality and definitely create unique spaces, they often lean too tacky with overly cliche signage and emblems. Styling the room with several pieces of decor that speaks to the same theme, simply overwhelms the space and creates visual clutter. Professional designers agree that drenching a single room in one motif just looks tacky.

If you still want your love for outer space or superhero movies to seep into your home design, then proceed with caution. It's best to design your room based on a concept instead of a theme. That way you can embrace the style you want without getting pigeon-holed into limited colors, silhouettes, and motifs. To pull off this design, restraint is a must. Your beach-themed living room doesn't need sand on the floor (aka tan carpet). Instead, reframe the idea to be "beachy," incorporating ample sunlight, airy drapes, and warm tones so you get that relaxing, vacay feel even if there isn't a bowl of seashells on the coffee table.