I recently thrifted a pristine 1997 copy of a Better Homes and Gardens The New Decorating Book, and I am overcome with joy as I flip through its pages. The photographs transport me to a simpler time—one that’s reminiscent of Martha Stewart Living and Gilmore Girls reruns. Before everything was about neutrals and minimalism, there was cozy ’90s home design.

The book is full of beautiful images showcasing gingham sofas, frilly fabric curtains, and stripes galore. There’s no lack of color, pattern, or natural wood tones. It reminded me that homes can feel like a warm, nostalgic hug rather than a somewhat plain, neutral-everything, organized-to-a-tee space. After looking through this book multiple times, I reflected on the five design ideas that I’m going to implement in my own home. Read on to learn how you can adopt them as well.

’90s Decorating Ideas I’m Using in My Home

I’ve noticed that all of the following concepts are trending in some capacity today. Adapt each idea to be as modern or retro as you’d like.

1. Use More Gingham

Gingham is most definitely having a moment in current design trends, but this book has shown me that it was just as popular, if not more, in the ’90s. Gingham curtains, chairs, and sofas were not an uncommon find as I perused through the pages. The pattern doesn’t have to be associated with a country style either, it can easily be used in more traditional and classic settings. If you want to incorporate this nostalgic pattern in your home but in a subtle way, find a gingham fabric with neutral colors and low contrast.

2. The Three-Scales Pattern Rule

The photos in this book have taught me immensely about ’90s decorating, just like how an image of a living room has inspired me to mix more patterns. The space in that particular photo displayed four different floral patterns between the curtains, rug, accent chair, and sofa pillows. In addition to the florals, there are also three different scales and colors of stripes in the room—this includes a pink-striped accent chair, blue and green stripes on a sofa pillow, and two mini green and cream striped lamps on the mantel. I often find myself too afraid to combine different patterns, colors, and scales like this, but this beautiful inspiration image proves that it can make a room more cozy and lively. The text called this idea the “three-scales rule.

The book states, “Start with one print you love, then work in color-related fabrics in two other scales. Love a narrow stripe? Mix it with a boldly scaled floral and midsize strip. Love a mini print floral? Try mixing it with a midsize gingham check and a large floral.”

3. Embrace Wood Tones

We, as a society, seem to have spent the last 20 years running away from stained wood tones. We paint all of our trim bright white and want a bulk of our furniture in unnatural colors like white or black. As I thumb through the pages of this book, I see each room filled with natural-toned wood furniture, even the seemingly despised orangey, honey oak. To my surprise, I actually love the way they look in these well-designed rooms. They exude warmth and a hominess that cool white can’t replicate. Most of the spaces have light, cream-colored walls, which helps to balance the warm tones. The best part about these pieces of furniture is that you can likely find them secondhand for an affordable price, and they’re usually higher quality than lookalikes made of particle board.

4. Integrate Stripes

The clear common theme among these decorating ideas is pattern, as stripes are the next decor idea I will be adding to my home. I was honestly a little shocked to see stripes in nearly every photo. Stripes on window treatments, upholstered furniture, shower curtains, sink skirts, pillows, walls, carpets—you name it, and there were stripes on it in the ’90s. Similar to gingham, stripes have also had a recent resurgence in home design. This trend I spotted in the book not only confirmed that they can be used tastefully but also encouraged me to use more variations of them. The book recommends varying the scale of the stripes throughout the home and incorporating colors found around the room, like on the walls or in other accent pieces.

5. Display Flowers and Plants

While I acknowledge that all of these photos are meticulously staged and styled, I couldn’t help but notice that so many of them featured a plethora of fresh flowers and plants throughout the room. Even at the bathroom vanity, an over-the-top crystal vase of flowers stood tall as a focal point. The green of the stems and leaves and the color of the flower petals injected life and joy into each space. While not always practical, this inspired me to try my hand at more houseplants and whether from my garden or the grocery store, do my best to have a bouquet in my home weekly.