This “Cringey” Y2K Trend Is Back in a Subtle Way, According to Designers

The Y2K era really gave people — and their living spaces — an experience like no other. From collaged bedroom walls à la Tiger Beat magazine to inflatable furniture, the early aughts’ decor trends encompassed a boldness and curiosity that only a new century could inspire.

While many Y2K design moments have stayed in the past, it’s fun that some have stuck around and evolved to fit other aesthetics and interior styles. Curvy furniture and biomorphic ceramics feel like an ode to the “blobject,” and neon lights and signs seem to honor the early 2000s signature electric color palette. While inflatable chairs haven’t quite made their triumphant return yet, there’s one standout Y2K staple that’s currently making an expressive yet more delicate return to homes: the ruffle.

Make no mistake: The ruffle trend has been around the block in design. “Following the ’80s and ’90s trend of very ruffled bedroom and bathroom decor, ruffles stayed strong with the rise of the shabby chic aesthetic [and] into the ’00s,” says Isabel Ladd, founder of Isabel Ladd Interiors. “What changed from the ’80s and ’90s were the deep jewel tone colors to light, billowy, soft pinks and white ruffles in the ’00s,” she continues.

Ruffles brought the whimsical and funky flair to shabby chic in the colorways Ladd mentions, much like this duvet from Wayfair. This version of these decorative accents bridged a gap between the aesthetic’s romantic nature and Y2K’s flashiness. Maybe the color palette — and the aggressiveness of the ruffles’ sizes and full surface-encompassing form — was a little bit cringey to some, but it certainly had presence and historic precedent. 

“Ruffles are like any good design element in that they’re timeless, but [they] went through a period when they were overused,” says designer Lauren Liess. She shares the love she had for her ruffled Laura Ashley bedspreads, pillows, and curtains, which were quite common before all went out of style on the mass market. In addition to overuse, the rise of minimalism during the late 2000s and very early 2010s could explain why ruffles, and other trends associated with Y2K, eventually fell off.

Fast forward to 2025. Maximalism is expected to remain prominent this year, based on designer feedback for Apartment Therapy’s The State of Home Design survey, and the aesthetic’s playfulness, boldness, and layered style are an ideal landing zone for ruffles to resurface. Although this time around, ruffles are coming back in a softer and more accent-driven way that won’t capitalize on an entire room the way those ruffled waterfall duvets and the like once did. 

Where else does the ruffle’s resurgence come from, though? If you ask Sara Kravet, vice president of Furniture at Kravet LLC, it’s thanks to a couple of other trending aesthetics of the 2020s still going strong in interiors: traditional and grandmillennial style. These both harken back to classic elements in design and a dash of timelessness, which ruffles have in their history. 

“We’re often seeing ruffles on window treatments, bed skirts, tablecloths, pillows, and upholstered pieces,” Kravet continues. While Kravet personally loves a ruffled skirt moment on a chair or sofa, Ladd also adds that sink skirts and pillow flanges are other spots she sees ruffles popping up again. 

A common thread among the pieces both Kravet and Ladd discuss is that they’re all accent-friendly items — ruffles are no longer the focal point of a room. They’re now delicately complementing the pieces you can bring into it, no matter your design preferences. 

“Even if you don’t resonate with a heavy-leaning ruffle aesthetic, you can incorporate ruffles in subtle doses,” Ladd says. Her suggestions for dipping a toe into this trend include pillows with a tailored ruffle trim, a loosely gathered ruffled skirt on a side table, or a ruffled lampshade.

Kravet is also pro-pillow accent when it comes to embracing ruffles. “I love seeing a ruffled edge on a bolster pillow,” she says. “This way, you can add a touch of ruffle without overwhelming the room.” 

Other smaller and unexpected upholstery pieces are a great way to bring ruffles into the fold. Design and lifestyle expert Ashley Kane’s ruffled tissue box cover is a great example of this. All of a sudden, tissues can be chic coffee table decor.

If you have a more minimalistic and quiet interior, Liess suggests ruffled curtains. ”[Ruffles] can add some playful whimsy or a bit of ‘granny chic,’” she suggests. “I love a little feminine touch on a clean, modern space. A ruffled curtain (lace is another favorite!) in an otherwise typical room adds playfulness and romance.”

Officially ready to ruffle up your living space for spring? Shop a few new and on-trend decor finds below.