Watch Trading Spaces

Trading Spaces was a home renovation and design show that aired on TLC from 2000 to 2008. The show was based on the British television series Changing Rooms and became a nationwide phenomenon, inspiring many spinoffs and imitators. The basic premise of Trading Spaces was to pair up two sets of neighbors who would swap homes for a weekend and redecorate a room in each other's houses with the help of a professional designer and a carpenter. The homeowners had no say in the design process and were only allowed to give their preferences and suggestions to the designer before the swap.

The show had a rotating cast of designers, carpenters, and hosts throughout its run, but some of the most memorable ones were Alex McLeod, Paige Davis, Genevieve Gorder, Carter Oosterhouse, Dez Ryan, Ty Pennington, Kia Steave-Dickerson, Vern Yip, Frank Bielec, Douglas Wilson, Roderick Shade, Amy Wynn Pastor, Hildi Santo-Tomas, Barry Wood, and Laurie Smith.

Each episode of Trading Spaces followed a strict format that included an introduction of the homeowners, their design preferences, and their designated designer and carpenter. The teams would then get to work on redesigning the chosen rooms, often facing challenges and unforeseen problems along the way. The homeowners would return to their homes at the end of the weekend to reveal their newly designed rooms and react to the changes.

The show's appeal lay in the combination of DIY design tips, outrageous and unexpected design choices, and the human drama of seeing people's reactions to their new rooms. Many of the designers became famous for their signature styles and catchphrases, such as Hildi Santo-Tomas' fondness for straw and flower-covered walls and Ty Pennington's energetic rallying cry of "Move that bus!" when revealing the final reveal.

Trading Spaces also had a significant impact on the home renovation and design industry, popularizing the use of bold colors, unconventional materials, and DIY techniques among the general public. The show spawned many home design products and spinoffs, including Trading Spaces: Family, Trading Spaces: Boys vs. Girls, and Trading Spaces: Home Free.

Despite its popularity, Trading Spaces was not without controversy. Some homeowners were displeased with their room makeovers and accused the show of ruining their homes, while some designers faced backlash for their unconventional and sometimes impractical choices. However, the show remained a beloved staple of home design television and paved the way for many similar shows to come.

In its eight-year run, Trading Spaces aired over 300 episodes and won several awards, including the Emmy for Outstanding Special Class Series in 2005. The show ended its original run in 2008 but was rebooted in 2018 with some of the original cast members and a new generation of designers and homeowners.

Overall, Trading Spaces was a groundbreaking and influential show that brought the world of home design and renovation into the mainstream and inspired many viewers to try their hand at DIY home improvement.

Trading Spaces is a series that is currently running and has 10 seasons (375 episodes). The series first aired on October 13, 2000.

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