Before 'Totally '90s House,' HGTV Revisits the 'House Hunters' Homes That Defined '90s Design

Before '90s icons give dated homes a fresh look in the makeover competition Totally '90s House, HGTV is taking us back to the decade that inspired the new series with OG episodes of House Hunters. Airing Wednesday, August 26 at 8|7c and 8:30|7:30c — right before the premiere of Totally '90s House(!) — these House Hunters repacks are filled with '90s pop culture references (from Beanie Babies and Pokémon cards to scrunchies and baggy jorts).

Suzanne Whang, who hosted more than 100 episodes of House Hunters and died in 2019, will reappear on our screens — and she'll be honored with a tribute at the end of the episodes.

Along the way, viewers will also get updates on some of the house-hunting homebuyers. (Spoiler: Some are still living in their houses decades later.) In one case, a couple is now sitting on a nest egg worth nearly six times their original purchase price. The nostalgia continues through the closing credits, where viewers can test their knowledge with fun '90s trivia questions.

In honor of the '90s mania taking over our televisions come August, we pulled design trends that define the ‘90s — as seen in these throwback House Hunters episodes. Chances are you’ll spot more than a few of these on Totally '90s House, too.

Top '90s Trends We Love to Hate

Tile Became the Go-To Countertop Choice

Before solid slabs of granite and quartz took over, ceramic tile countertops covered kitchens and bathroom vanities in homes across the country. Usually made up of four-by-four-inch squares, they were durable, affordable and available in just about every color imaginable, making them a favorite among builders and homeowners alike. The only downside? All those grout lines! Keeping them clean became a part-time job.

Honey, Bleached and Pickled Oak Cabinets Ruled the Kitchen

If you bought a home in the late '90s, chances are the kitchen came with honey, bleached or pickled oak cabinets. Builders embraced these looks because they felt warm, bright and durable. Plus, homeowners loved that the wood grain added character without feeling too formal. At the time, they were considered a safe, timeless choice. Today, they're one of the quickest giveaways that a home hasn't been updated since the Clinton administration.

Wallpaper Borders Framed Just About Every Room

If there was an empty strip of wall near the ceiling, chances are someone filled it with a wallpaper border. Decorated with everything from florals and ivy to fruit baskets and geometric patterns, they popped up throughout the home in rooms like the kitchen, bathroom and children's bedrooms. They were the perfect solution for homeowners who wanted to refresh a room without committing to full wallpaper. The hardest part wasn't picking a border — it was deciding between grapes, geese or ivy.

Granite Was the Countertop Everyone Wanted

Forget quiet, understated countertops. In the late '90s, granite was all about bold veining, rich colors and eye-catching patterns that made the kitchen the star of the house. Homeowners saw it as a luxury upgrade, and the more movement in the stone, the better. As one House Hunters pop-up puts it, "'90s kitchens loved big personalities — the busier the granite, the better."

Glass Was the Go-To Modern Accent

In the late '90s, glass block windows became a popular way to bring natural light into bathrooms and entryways while maintaining privacy, but the translucent trend didn't stop there. Glass also appeared on sliding closet doors, tabletops and even headboards, giving homes a contemporary feel. Across America, bottles of Windex were working overtime.

White Appliances Were the Standard

Before stainless steel became the finish everyone wanted, white appliances had their moment to shine. Refrigerators, dishwashers and ranges were paired with the era's honey oak cabinets, creating a clean, coordinated look. In some higher-end homes, wood-paneled refrigerators and dishwashers blended seamlessly into the cabinetry, but for most kitchens, white was the standard.

English Country Style Was Everywhere

Inspired by the romantic English country style popularized by Laura Ashley, floral-printed sofas, window treatments and accent pillows were popular throughout the '90s (bonus points if the upholstery matched the curtains). Today, the style is often embraced as "granny chic," but back then, it was one of the decade's biggest decorating trends.

Did You Catch These Hidden '90s Easter Eggs?

The pop-up graphics alone are reason enough to check out these House Hunters throwback episodes. They’re filled with fun details even longtime fans may not know about. Here are a few of our favorites:

• The idea for House Hunters came from the creators' own home-buying experience — a concept that grew into HGTV's longest-running series.
• The early House Hunters episodes never identified where the homes were located or revealed what buyers paid, but the new pop-ups fill in those details — including that all 26 first-season episodes were filmed in Los Angeles — and what many of the homes are worth today.
• The iconic House Hunters doorbell has been "ding-donging since the dial-up internet era," according to one of the show's pop-ups.
• The original House Hunters episodes occasionally revealed how many homes buyers had already toured. In one episode, one couple was already on their 24th home.

Tune in to HGTV on August 26 at 8|7c to discover even more fun House Hunters facts.

How to Watch Totally '90s House

Totally '90s House premieres Wednesday, August 26 at 9|8c and will be available to stream the next day on HBO Max beginning August 27. Keep up with Totally '90s House news at HGTV.com and via @HGTV and #Totally90sHouse on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, Threads and YouTube.