What Is '80s Interior Design & How to Style It Today
Chic ways to reinterpret this decade's style.
Much like in fashion, we often look to the past for home interior inspiration, so it makes sense that we’re seeing a revival of '80s home decor trends like curved furniture, polished brass finishes, and bold colors today. With an influx of minimalism hitting the mainstream, some rebels are leaning into the maximalism of '80s interior design instead. Our guide covers the core characteristics of '80s design trends and how you can style these pieces in contemporary spaces.
What Is '80s Interior Design & Why Is It Back?
Interior design from the 1980s was bold and playful, never backing away from an opportunity to make a statement. The wavy silhouettes and kitschy colors draw inspiration from the Art Deco movement as well as 1950s style, resulting in an eye-catching postmodern style. Its recent return comes from a mix of nostalgia and the proliferation of buzzy social media trends. Far enough removed from the decade, young millennials and Gen Zers gravitate to the '80s for its retro appeal, much like previous generations flocked to mid-century modern.
Here are some key features that defined this decade's style:
- Sweet pastels, neons, and Memphis-style primary colors
- High-shine brass finishes
- Cream-colored stone and highly-veined marble
- Textiles with small, ditsy floral patterns
- Curved furniture or wavy-shaped decor
- Geometric motifs like spirals, circles, and squares
The '80s interior design is most known for its use of bright and bold colors. However, '80s style also uses pastel shades, vibrant neons, and earthy neutrals to fill out this retro color palette. Kitschy colors like mauve, kelly green, sky blue, lavender, yellow, and red were popular choices for the time.
Graphic patterns like checkerboard, awning stripe, and chintzy florals also play a part in '80s interior design. These patterns could be incorporated in small ways like throw pillows or translated to larger surfaces through duvet covers, upholstery, or area rugs.
This decade's style often opts for curved and rounded edges in lieu of clean lines and sharp angles, so '80s-style furniture follows suit with plenty of eclectic details. Think of cloud-like seating, abstract table bases, and scalloped edges. In either bright or subdued shades, these sculptural pieces contribute to the playful and creative feel of '80s-inspired spaces.
These spaces look to luxe materials like marble, leather, and brass to elevate the space, while more affordable materials like painted metal, braided jute, and acrylic keep the ambience upbeat. Pieces like tessellated stone coffee tables with glass tops, waterfall-shaped console tables, and overstuffed sofas work as hallmarks for the 1980s.
Whether you're combining this style with contemporary digs or diving fully into the decade, '80s-style decor is the finishing touch.
Choose pieces of '80s home decor that are stylish and practical. Pastel marble trays are the perfect spot to corral essentials, checkerboard-printed throw pillows add visual interest to solid-colored sofas, and wavy wall mirrors are ideal for elevating an everyday piece.
Color is another great way to enhance your '80s-inspired designs: Adding pops of neon can bring playfulness, while candy-colored pastels are great for softening the space. Think of easy ways to incorporate a flash of color, such as a hot pink picture frame or a baby blue table vase.
When choosing light fixtures, '80s interior design relied on geometric or spherical shapes. This included dome-shaped pendant lights, globe-like table lamps, and pleated Art Deco-inspired lampshades. Opt for shiny metallic finishes like polished brass or chrome to really play up the glamour.
