Nostalgia has an undeniable power, especially when it comes to the TV shows that shaped our younger years. For HGTV fans, those sentimental feelings have been front and center lately, paired with a sense of disappointment in the network's current lineup. Their main concern? Many feel that HGTV's programming has lost its relatability. Unlike the DIY-focused shows of the 1990s and early 2000s that inspired viewers to transform their own homes, there's more of a focus on real estate and larger-than-life design inspo.
When House Beautiful readers shared their favorite bygone HGTV shows on Facebook, we couldn’t help but join the trip down memory lane. HGTV fans have a message for the network to consider: bring back the "Old HGTV." So, what do they miss the most? Let’s take a closer look.
Where's the Affordable Design Advice?
Though it can be fun to look at mansion-size home designs, nostalgic HGTV fans are seeking more affordable advice. Shows like Design on a Dime focused on making the most of a limited budget, giving more actionable advice that you could go out and complete in a weekend, rather than in five years.
"While enjoyable to watch an $800,000 home become a $1,000,000 home, it's not relatable to the middle class or those who originally watched this channel to learn how to rehab our house ourselves!" one commenter says. There's a general yearning for a return to content about thrifting and saving money on renovations, rather than going all out with every update.
"Bring back [Candice Olson], Vern Yip and all the Yard Crasher, Kitchen Crasher-type programs," another commenter wrote. "Done with the lottery winners and what $300,000 can buy you in Europe. We want something we can put together/ideas to use in our lives."
Flipping Show Fatigue
From Rock the Block to The Flip Off, there seems to be an HGTV renovation competition show airing every night of the week. Yes, it can be fun to root for your favorite designer, but flipping shows are starting to feel a bit stale for some of the OG watchers.
"So many shows with basically the same format, just different personalities," one commenter wrote. "Couldn’t stand listening to the reveal cries of 'oh my God' one more time."
Some fans feel like the channel is now more real estate-focused than anything else. Though shows like Love It or List It and House Hunters have been around for decades, many want a return to exciting content about gardening and decorating. "Yes, I am flippin' tired of flippin' shows," one commenter wrote. "Wish they would get back to their roots! Gardening and decorating."
Less Renovation, More Decoration
In a similar vein to affordable design advice, HGTV fans want more about decorating. What kinds of changes can you make in your home without needing to knock down a wall and hire a contractor? With a recession and federal import tariffs looming, it makes sense that people are feeling uneasy about renovations. Simple, but effective decor fixes can be easier to put into place than building an annex.
"Room by Room usually featured a project the viewer could complete," another commenter wrote. "So tired of [taking] the whole house down to the studs and relocating rooms. Why can't there be a couple of redecorating rather than remodeling shows?"
Don't Forget the ‘G’ in HGTV
Though HGTV stands for Home and Garden Television, some fans feel that the network has lost sight of its gardening roots. Shows like Gardening by the Yard and Curb Appeal focused on landscaping and making the exterior of the home feel as cared for as the interior. Even A Gardener's Diary, where Erica Glasener would tour beautiful gardens and chat with professionals and hobbyists alike, is greatly missed.
"They might as well take the garden out of their name," one fan wrote. "Truly disappointed in the direction they went. Too many home renovation and way too many house hunting shows."
Janae McKenzie is the Associate Shopping Editor at House Beautiful, where she regularly covers the best of the best in home brands. Since joining the House Beautiful team in 2023, Janae regularly creates seasonal gift guides in addition to reviewing and evaluating home decor, bespoke furniture, and accessories. Janae also routinely tests viral products, from luxury sheets to high-tech air purifiers, determining quality and guiding readers to the best purchases possible. Janae holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and began her career at Food Network shortly after graduation. She also covers relevant shopping deals and celebrity news in the home space, a skill she honed during her tenure as a news writer at Glamour. When she’s not writing or scoping out the next mattress to test, you can find her hunting for trinkets to add to her bookshelf or artfully arranging her Playbill collection.
