Viewers Want HGTV to Bring Back a Classic Show

If you were watching HGTV back when flip phones were still a thing, you probably remember a little show called “Design on a Dime.” It wasn’t flashy, it didn’t have a huge budget, but somehow it made tiny spaces look incredible; and yes, it made you want to raid every thrift store in town. The beauty of it was watching someone turn a $200 budget into a magazine-worthy makeover.

Fans are now screaming for its return, and honestly, we’re right there with them.

Fans Continue Talking About It

A couple months ago, one user kicked off a nostalgia storm in an r/HGTV Reddit thread by asking, “Does anyone remember Design On A Dime? I LOVED that show so much and haven’t been able to find it anywhere! They were so creative and it was so inspiring.” That single post (seen below) quickly turned into a flood of comments from people who clearly remember exactly why they loved it.

Some chimed in with multiple shows they wanted back, like one user who wrote, “I REALLY miss that show! They need to bring that back and Decorating Cents (hosted by Joan Steffend) AND I would love if they actually brought Trading Spaces back but make it outdoor spaces. Give your neighbor the yard of their dreams for a $10,000 budget.”

Others kept it simple and nostalgic, like this fan who reminded everyone of another classic: “One of my favorites. And Room by Room.”

Then there were the fans who tried to find modern equivalents but kept coming up short. One commenter said, “SAME!!! Hometown has been the closest I’ve found as far as a show that has some skilled DIY with a penchant for using old objects but man oh man I wish Design on a Dime would come back.”

Some were still hunting for other hidden gems from the era, like this fan of Sabrina Soto’s show: “I was looking for Get It Sold as well where Sabrina Soto would clear out the junk and refresh a house for $1k. I can only find a few grainy episodes on YouTube.”

And of course, there were the binge-watchers who couldn’t get enough: “I looooved that show!! I binged the first 4 or 5 seasons a couple years ago.” Clearly, these shows left a lasting impression.

You Don’t Have to Wait (Sort Of)

Fun fact: “Design on a Dime” didn’t completely disappear; an updated version aired on HGTV Asia years ago (think 2015), and lots of clips are still up on YouTube. 

And while we’re waiting for an official return, there’s still some retro HGTV magic to stream. As one Reddit user pointed out: “TONS of the old HGTV is on Discovery Plus now! I just stumbled onto Decorating Cents last week,” linking to the full Discovery+ list of shows.

And let’s be real: with all the buzz from Reddit and other fan corners of the internet, it seems like a revival could totally happen. Nostalgia is trending harder than ever, and HGTV has shown it loves giving fans exactly what they want.
For now, rewatching old episodes, swapping ideas online, and sharing memories is the perfect way to honor a show that made us all believe we could turn a tiny budget into a big, stylish impact. And who knows; maybe someday soon, we’ll get a new version, bringing “Design on a Dime” into the modern era, budget hacks and all.