An '80s-style space filled with IKEA finds
This week Mirror80 celebrates the world of 1980s interior design. While an ’80s fashion revival hit years ago, the decade of excess has yet to put its “redux” stamp on today’s design world. But an ’80s interior design revival is coming, and when it hits, skeptics may be pleased to discover that there was actually more to the ’80s than excess. In fact, when it came to ’80s Modern decor, less was often more. With vintage furniture vendors hesitant to stock a large number of treasures from our favorite decade, where does one go to bring the 1980s home? Mirror80 took on a design challenge: furnish an entire ’80s-themed living room with finds from IKEA. The results are above!
The key to creating an ’80s-style space with today’s furnishings is knowing the standout traits of furniture from the decade. For example, many of today’s sofas celebrate the visible tapered wooden leg that thrived in the world of Mid-Century Modern furnishings. In contrast, sofas from the ’80s were low to the ground with either rounded or boxy edges. Stick with a no-frills, clean-lined couch, and you’re set. We like IKEA’s KIVIK sofa and chaise lounge in dark grey, as well as the KIVIK one-seat section, also in dark grey. Don’t be afraid of sectional seating–it creates a stark, contemporary vibe, and its practicality can’t be denied.
Look for pieces with chrome-toned accents. To add to our living room seating, we selected the JEFF folding chair in black. And we just couldn’t pass up the nickel-plated FORMAT floor/reading lamp, which screams ’80s with its arched form and rounded top. Speaking of rounded…curved furnishings are an immediate ’80s reference. Art Deco-reminiscent tables were abundant during the decade of decadence, and their metal siding added modern shine to a space. It looks like they’re still alive and well at IKEA, as shown above by the STRIND coffee table and STRIND side table, both in white.
Don’t forget the accents and unifiers that make a space sing. We liked the textured look of the BASNAS rug and the zippered pattern on the STOCKHOLM cushion. Geometric patterns effortlessly conjure the ’80s. And to top it all off, we added a TROPISK potted plant. After all, tropical plants were an ’80s staple. Today’s IKEA montage is proof that ’80s-influenced furnishings are working their way back into the world of interior design. And you don’t have to look long and hard to find them!
Tomorrow we’ll point you to some helpful 1980s interior design resources…
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