Why I Miss 90s Martha Stewart
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Thanks to my cousin, Angela Lanter, I’ve been watching the very first seasons of Martha Stewart Living, starting with her 1993 episodes on YouTube and I honestly can’t get enough.
I’ll sit down thinking I’m only going to watch one episode while I fold laundry and before I know it, she’s taken me to a farmers market, shown me how to arrange flowers from the garden, visited an antique shop and somehow convinced me that I should probably bake a pie.
It isn’t really about missing the 90s.
It’s about missing the feeling those shows created.
Life seemed a little slower. Homes felt collected instead of decorated. People used what they had, grew what they could, invited friends over for dinner and found reasons to celebrate ordinary days.
Maybe that’s why so many of us are drawn to those old episodes again.
I know I am.
Here’s What We’ll Cover
- Why I Keep Watching Old Martha Stewart Episodes
- The Homemaking Lessons That Still Inspire Me
- My Favorite Vintage Martha Stewart Books
- Why Her Ideas Still Feel So Relevant Today
- Jenn’s Tip
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why I Keep Watching Old Martha Stewart Episodes
Have you noticed that everyone seems to be talking about cozy homes again?
People are painting furniture, baking sourdough, planting gardens, thrifting instead of buying everything new and trying to slow life down a little.
Every time I see one of those videos, I think…
“Martha was doing this thirty years ago.”
Watching those early episodes doesn’t feel dated to me at all.
It feels comforting.
She’ll spend an entire segment visiting a local farmer, arranging flowers she picked herself or wandering through an antique store looking for old baskets and pottery.
Nothing feels rushed.
Nothing feels staged.
It’s just someone who genuinely loves making a home beautiful.
The Homemaking Lessons That Still Inspire Me
One thing I’ve realized while watching these episodes is that Martha wasn’t teaching people how to have the trendiest house.
She was teaching people how to enjoy the home they already had.
That has really stuck with me.
Instead of wondering what I need to buy next, I’ve started looking around my own house differently.
Maybe it’s pulling my favorite Longaberger basket off the shelf and actually using it.
Maybe it’s setting the table with pretty dishes on a random Tuesday.
Maybe it’s bringing home one more thrifted treasure because it makes me smile every time I walk by it.
Those little things are what make a home feel personal.
They’re the things I remember when I think about growing up and they’re the things I hope people feel when they walk into my house.
My Favorite Vintage Martha Stewart Books
If you’ve been around here for very long, you probably know I have a soft spot for vintage books.
My Martha Stewart collection is one of my favorites.
Every once in a while I’ll grab one off the shelf with a cup of coffee and tell myself I’m just going to flip through it for a few minutes.
That never happens.
I always end up stopping to admire the photography, reading a recipe, making notes about a gardening idea or wondering how I can recreate one of the cozy rooms she photographed.
Some books inspire you to buy more things.
These books inspire me to use what I already have.
Why Her Ideas Still Feel Relevant Today
I think that’s why Martha’s work still resonates.
She wasn’t chasing trends.
She was creating traditions.
She taught people to visit farmers markets.
To grow herbs.
To cook seasonally.
To invite friends over.
To decorate with collections they loved.
To appreciate everyday beauty.
Those ideas never go out of style.
And honestly, I think that’s what so many of us have been craving lately.
If you’ve never watched the early episodes of Martha Stewart Living, start with the very first season.
Put your phone down for half an hour, make yourself a cup of coffee, and just enjoy it.
Don’t be surprised if you suddenly feel inspired to bake something, rearrange a shelf or head outside to your garden.
It happens to me every single time.
Simple Ways to Bring a Little 90s Martha Into Your Home
You don’t have to live in a farmhouse or have acres of gardens.
Some of my favorite ideas are the simplest ones.
- Use your favorite dishes on ordinary days.
- Pick flowers from your own yard.
- Visit a local farmers market.
- Display collections that make you happy.
- Decorate with thrifted finds that have a story.
- Bake something just because it sounds cozy.
- Create little traditions with your family.
It’s amazing how much those small moments change the feeling of a home.
Books & Favorites
🔗 Entertaining by Martha Stewart
🔗 Great Parties by Martha Stewart
🔗 Very Good Things by Martha Stewart
🔗 Martha Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook
Frequently Asked Questions
Are vintage Martha Stewart books still worth buying?
Absolutely. Many of the decorating ideas, recipes, gardening tips and entertaining advice are just as useful today.
Where can you watch the original Martha Stewart Living episodes?
Many of the early episodes are available on YouTube and they’ve quickly become one of my favorite things to watch in the evenings.
Why are people interested in 90s decorating again?
Many people are drawn to homes that feel warm, personal and collected rather than perfectly styled.
Do I need to decorate in a 90s style to enjoy Martha’s ideas?
Not at all. The biggest lesson isn’t the decorating style. It’s slowing down, using what you have and creating a home that reflects the people who live there.
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The funny thing is, I don’t actually think I miss the 90s.
I miss the feeling.
The slower pace.
The creativity.
The idea that making a beautiful home isn’t about spending a fortune. It’s about noticing the little things that make everyday life special.
Watching those old Martha Stewart episodes has reminded me that homemaking doesn’t have to be complicated.
Sometimes it’s as simple as lighting a candle, arranging flowers from the garden, pulling out your favorite dishes or finally using the beautiful basket that’s been sitting on the shelf for years.
And honestly?
I think we could all use a little more of that these days.
I’d love to know, did you grow up watching Martha Stewart? Tell me in the comments because I have a feeling I’m not the only one who’s fallen back in love with them.
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