Maybe it’s the reboot of Sex and the City, the recoupling of ‘Bennifer’ or UGG boots trending agin. But just like that… the early noughties are back, baby!
The year 2000 is now even considered vintage — which goes some way to explaining why the tiktok #y2k hashtag has over 4.3 billion views on TikTok alone. And as we know, interior trends are never far behind, with #y2kaesthetic notching up nearly 494 million views.
But aside from the gentle passage of time, why the resurgence in the (some may say questionable) ‘bubblegum’ style of this era?
For one, it’s a clear rebuttal – by Gen Z-ers, mostly – of the stark clean lines and minimal style favoured by millennials in more recent years. The zingy colour palette, wavy edges and smiley faces are a way of injecting a little joy into the everyday – dopamine decorating, if you will.
Somewhat confusingly, the early 00s interiors aesthetic was a mix of 1960s grooviness (think: beaded curtains, lava lamps and general flower power) blended with optimistic futurism, as that thing called ‘the internet’ became much more accessible (candy coloured flip phones and iMacs, anyone?).
In fact, ‘y2k’ actually refers to a computer virus that caused widespread panic in the late 90s – from crashing planes to nuclear war, folk were generally fearing the worst, as the millennium neared its end.
So this period in time had a kind of cautious optimism for the future – which is really relevant, right now. Some twenty years on, the remixed version is tinged with a romantic nostalgia – as most TikTok-ers are often too young to have lived through the turn of the century. The modern take? Centres around a toned-down palette of pastels, with squiggly mirrors and and statement tufted rugs.
Here’s some inspiration for bringing this once teenage trend to your (grown-up) home.
Back in the day, the Britney Spears inflatable chair was the Holy Grail. And if we’re honest? It still is. But French furniture brand Mojow’s modern take comes a close second.
Their sleek sofa sits on a flatpacked frame, with blow-up cushions in y2k-appropriate high octane shades like tangerine, hot pink and lime green.
Just be careful when lounging in your jewel-encrusted Juicy Couture tracksuit.
Lava lamps launched in the 60s but had a huge resurgence in the late 90s, thanks to the incredibly groovy likes of Deee-lite and Austin Powers.
And now the OG lava lamp has had a glow up. With modern copper-plated casing, this one’s powered by candle – just pop in a tea light, sit back and watch that soothing lava flow. Ahhh.
Flower power and stackable ceramics. Y2K accessorising the 2022 way.
Landlines? They’re a novelty now, with TikTokkers using them as decorative ornaments.
The family computer room. Remember those? Colourful, transparent technology really needs to make a comeback.
