How to Create a 1980s Style Interior

1980s home interiors were richly complex and diverse in appearance and included a vast range of styles that could be used as a standalone overall designs or mixed and matched for a more unique and kitsch interior feel. With a new revival in 1980s interior design style, it is easier than ever to recreate this unique and recognisable look in your home.

Many modern 1980s home went for a minimal and sparse interior look that featured crisp and clean white and grey colour tones that were refined and almost futuristic in appearance. These industrial colours were combined with reflective mirrors, chrome surface areas and glass to give an illusion of space and light within the home. Muted colour palettes could be accentuated with a pop of colour with a piece of wall art, light shade or clock creating a balance of neutral and bold interior design. Furniture was simple and plain and was crafted to blend seamlessly into the background of the interior space.

Cushions and upholstery often featured Native American motifs, vintage palm trees, retro imagery and geometric ‘burst’ patterns that would be used individually or together for a mix and match appearance. Wolves, feathers and tribal print were popular in 1980s ‘South Western’ style interiors and were a great way of adding pattern to a plain seating area. In contemporary homes bedding was bold, colourful and graphic with geometric designs or popular culture imagery while in more sophisticated 1980s interiors bedding, cushions and curtains were created using chic and glamorous satin in gold, chocolate or black fabrics that were luxurious and flamboyant.

In the 1980s there was a huge revival in Art deco inspired accessories and prints and these were mass produced on a large scale to become everyday item in almost every 1980s home. Clean lines and modern curves were key features in vases, sculptures and ornaments. Designs were often crafted in bold colours and typical 1980s turquoise, peach and mauve and were displayed on art deco style furniture and tables that were often round and curvaceous in design. This style was featured heavily in more upper class homes and featured heavily in popular movies and TV shows of the period.

Wallpaper made a huge rise in popularity in the 1980s and vintage and retro style designs were reintroduced into modern homes to create visual pattern and colour that could be complimented in the upholstery and accessories of the home. Many homes featured a plain painted wall, a wallpapered wall and an exposed brick wall that created a diverse variation in visual and textural visual design. Wallpaper was more often floral or geometric in design and features bold or dusky colour tones that gave a nod to 1950s and 19560s designs.

Accessories in the 1980s were all about plastic. This cheap and readily available material become a staple addition to any home with almost all rooms of the house featuring items crafted from this hard wearing material. Plastic phones with neon lights were popular in Memphis style interiors, with plastic alarm clocks and lamps frequenting many bedside tables. Perhaps one of the most recognisable items from this period is the ever popular ‘Tupperware’. Plastic glasses, flasks, boxes and containers were a must have accessory in any kitchen area and were a simple and basic idea that transformed the way that people stored and displayed their food items.

1980s furniture design varied from style to style and contained an array of traditional and contemporary designs that were often unique and artistic in appearance. Neutral interiors adopted a modernist look with their furniture with simple wooden chairs and plain tables and sideboards. Chairs were upholstered in simple linen and cotton in plain grey or beige for a stark and minimal feel. Memphis Milano style home interiors embraced a more flamboyant look with bold coloured, abstract style furniture designs that often looked more like sculptures than a piece of furniture. These unique furniture items were stylish and functional and created an eye-catching focal point in the home.

For more ideas on creating a 1980s style in your home interior then take a look at the latest Pinterest board - Pinterest - 1980s Interiors