Zimpapers Logo

Talent Gore Home and Garden Writer
The typical Zimbabwean home has changed dramatically between the 1990s and early 2000s.
In the 90s’, homes were mostly ranch style and decorated with bright, flashy colours and today, a modern style with subdued colours is popular.

Living rooms used to frequently feature shag carpets and large sectional sofas and now you see hardwood floors and love seats in most homes.

The 1990s and early 2000s were filled with bright colours and flashy designs and the typical African home at the time was no different.

From shag rugs to wood-panelled walls, a home in the early 2000s was designed for family life and entertaining.
Although homes today are still built for families, they are typically more subdued and focused on comfort.
Bold colours like orange, green and red were popular choices, especially on couches, most people had maroon or green couches decorated with matching couch materials.

Home design expert Marilyn Adams said the 1990s had a huge focus on sleek designs with soft colour palettes.
“The internet had become main stream at this time and you could consider this era the beginning of the modern digital age,” she said. “Interiors definitely reflected the new merging of technology into the living space.

“Living room furniture became larger since it was much more of a focal point than ever before. Today, simple colours like white, grey and black are preferred even though some still prefer bold colours.”

Adams said as for the kitchen in the 2000s, they were decorated in bright colours and wooden cabinets.
“For the first time, the kitchen was viewed as an entertaining space in the 2000s, so most were decorated with bright colours and easy-to-clean laminate counter tops,” she said.

“Today, kitchens are more subtle and stainless steel appliances are extremely popular. Stainless steel appliances started in restaurant kitchens, as the material is resistant to wear and tear.

“In recent years, the sturdy stainless steel has become increasingly popular in African kitchens as a stylish and minimalist design aesthetic.”

Although wood furniture is still popular today, Adams believes wood is the typical moulding, flooring and finishing of homes.
“Typically, today’s wood is reclaimed, and generally more natural and lighter in tone,” she said.
While sectionals long coloured sofas are still an option today, people tend to opt for smaller couches.

Love seats, which typically only fit two people on a couch, have become increasingly popular in recent years.
Adams believes since the beginning of the 2000s people have witnessed technology take over more of our lives than ever before.

“The interesting thing is that classic furniture designs have made a huge comeback into the home even though some may say they have been outdated,” she said.

“Contemporary style is still very popular but we are seeing more and more people embracing classical or mixing contemporary and traditional together.”