Exploring 80s Interior Design Trends | Design Inspiration | The Living House

Written by Catherine Seagrave

As a child of the ‘70s, I can remember the 1980s quite clearly and it made quite an impression on me. Even as a little girl I remember thinking there was nothing more sophisticated than the combination of grey ash furniture and pastel pink walls (I was always obviously always destined to be an interior designer!). When my parents bought a new build in 1981 we all oohed and aahed over the beautiful avocado colour bathroom suite - complete with brown carpet, of course!

The ‘80s are often seen as the epitome of bad taste, pastel shades in every room and over the top matching chintz frills on all soft furnishings. But they were also a decade full of brave creativity and freedom in design. Since then the interior design world has embraced the clean lines and neutral colours of Scandinavian minimalism, a far cry from the ostentatious decor and neon of the 1980s.

But these trends ‘80’s trends are sneaking back into our conscience - even if you haven't been aware! Hands up if you have found yourself inexplicably drawn to a mauve twisted candle (that’s me!), or a mirror with a wavy edge? Take a closer look at your instagram feed and you might start to see a shift away from the clean lines of the mid century modern look towards more pretty floral fabrics or the soft rounded edges on furniture. It seems that whilst we’ve been busy watching ‘80s inspired Stranger Things, the interiors world has been heading us straight back to the same decade, the decade we loved to mock, and professed never to embrace again!

Many of the hallmarks of ‘80s design are still relevant today though. The crazy excess might not work anymore, but the pops of bright neon and large scale geometric patterns don’t look out of place in our homes. But as is always the case when we see a style come back round again, it’s never in exactly the same form. It becomes more of a mix and match with other current styles to give it a new fresh edge. If you fancy jumping on the ‘80s trend, what should you look out for and how can you weave it successfully into your home?

Colour

One of the easiest ways to give an ‘80s feel to your home is with the choice of colour. Think of the wildest colour combinations you can imagine and we guarantee that you would be able to spot them somewhere in the ‘80s! The beginning of the decade was definitely about pastels, especially mauve and seafoam green, which could be used in every room of the house. But strong graphic black and white was also popular, and teal and coral was a winning combination too. If you want to add some ‘80s colour into your home, you could start by adding some teal and coral cushions and maybe a bold geometric black and white rug. And if you bring in a bit of neon, you’re away!!

For more pastel paint colour inspiration check out our blog ‘Choosing the Best Pastel Paint Colours for Your Home’.

Graphic Patterns

This is definitely a trend that we are seeing right now! The ‘80s graphic art used fantastic geometric patterns, mixed with animal prints and doodle designs. Everything was super colourful and crazy. Colour blocking from the ‘70s continued during the ‘80s too. We love to use contrasting colours to instantly add some personality to your home.

Take a look at this blog ‘How to use colour blocking in your home’ for more colour blocking ideas.

colour blocking mural ideas — @aliceincolour

Do you struggle to visualise how your room could look? Let us help you, click here.

Matchy Matchy Everything!

In the ‘80s everything was over the top. It was a case of more is more, especially when it came to pattern! If you wanted to match the pattern on your duvet cover, curtains, rug, lamp shades, plates, or whatever, you were more than welcome to do so! My childhood bedroom was a homage at Marks and Spencers where EVERYTHING matched. I swear I even had matching pyjamas. It’s a wonder my mum could see me!!

If you want some ‘80s pattern in your home, you may want to go a bit easier on the matching! Maybe one or two pieces could be the same, as a stepping stone to the ‘80s feel, but that is enough. Mix and match different period items to keep it feeling current and balanced. And don’t be afraid to mix patterns - florals and polka dots look great together.

Glass and Mirrors

In the decade where we weren’t quite ready to remove walls and go for open plan living (how odd we thought!), glass was huge instead. Glass block walls were considered chic and used in every room to let light through but still retain the important wall. Mirrors were also huge and used on both walls and furniture. Although mirrored furniture and glass blocks aren’t so popular right now, large wall mirrors certainly are. A mirror adds a feeling of light and space to any room and is a welcome addition in any style room. If you team this with a wavy edge, and an organic shape, it’s a great nod to the ‘80s.

Have a chat with us and find out how we can help you. Book a discovery call with us today!

Brass Finishes

One material that has stood the test of time is brass. It’s as popular now as it was in the ‘80s. Its warmth adds character to any space. Whether it’s door handles, light fittings or frames, the quality and durability of brass has never really wained. If you feel a little nervous incorporating the ‘80s trend, adding some brass accessories to your room would be a great place to start.

The Jungle Theme

If you are loving the jungle look right now with pops of neon and a disco feel, then you should know that this look comes straight from the ‘80’s! The large scale leafy wallpaper prints that we are loving in our kitchen extensions and downstairs loos draw inspiration from the crazy busy patterns that were so in vogue 40 years ago. The daring designs and busy patterns are not for the faint hearted, and would have been on every wall. To bring it up to date try a bold leafy print on one wall, or even on the ceiling.

If you would like some inspiration for your downstairs loo, take a read of this blog ‘What are the rules for decorating a downstairs loo? The rules are - there are no rules!’.

Are you overwhelmed by the amount of decisions you need to make? We can help with our affordable interior packages - click here.

House Plants

Now this ‘80s revival I am completely behind! Houseplants!! They were a huge obsession in the ‘80s and featured in every room of the house, often in large quantities. They were on the floor, sideboard, hanging from the ceiling, window sill - everywhere - to the point they could feel a little overwhelming! It was a sad day when the houseplant trend ended and they were considered old fashioned and dusty and were banished from people’s homes. But thankfully the love of greenery is back, and once again we are looking for a connection with nature and a vibrant pop of colour anywhere and everywhere in the home.

Take a look at our ‘Top tips and tricks for using house plants in your home’ blog for some great suggestions on how to get the most from your plants.

Houseplant bedroom ideas — @letsgotopoppys

So if you fancy adding a bit of ‘80s style to your home, the good news is that you are ahead of the design trend. Although its influence is filtering into the shops, you’re still in time to bag some bargains from charity shops and Facebook Marketplace whilst the style is still largely unappreciated. Look for pieces with an art deco influence, something neon, glass or mirror in unconventional shapes and pastel colours, or floral with a vintage Laura Ashley feel. Adding a little of the ‘80s style could elevate your whole look!

If you are feeling inspired, take a look at how The Living House can help you with all aspects of your interior, offering easy, friendly, and personal interior design help. And as we can shop from anywhere, we can check out our favourite vintage shops and Facebook Marketplace to come up with a unique look just for you. And you might be surprised at just how affordable our design packages are - starting at only £295! Check out our website www.thelivinghouse.co.uk for more information, and instagram @the_living_house for more inspiration and tips. We’d love to chat to you soon!

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