We spend a lot of time checking out awesome ’80s interiors here at Mirror80, but today we’re bringing the retro design story closer to home. Maybe you love 1980s style but you’re not wanting it to completely take over your interior. Or maybe you want to collect as many ’80s pieces as possible but you’re on a budget for now. Read on for a few easy, affordable, modern ways to bring ’80s design home…
Diagonal Stripes
Diagonal stripes were always a dead giveaway that a home was built in the ’70s or ’80s, especially if the living room featured a fireplace with diagonal wood paneling! But now people are deliberately adding diagonal paneling to their homes, and you can definitely see this look in commercial spaces and catalog shoots. Whether you paint diagonal stripes on the wall, incorporate pillows and bedding with slanted stripes into your home, or purchase ceramics with the motif, diagonals instantly evoke retro style, even when the items are brand new.
Deco-Tropical Flair
There’s no denying that houseplants are a thing now. Not that they were ever out of style, but they’re kind of an essential in today’s modern design climate. Plus, they’re cheap, and they have the power to instantly add a retro-tropical vibe to your interior. Try playing up the Deco side of tropical flair by incorporating ’80s Deco ceramics, like this Royal Haeger vase (which was a cheap thrift store purchase). A few trips to Goodwill can result in more than a few containers that you can fill with plants, or even top with a large air plant if you don’t want to mess with soil and gravel. Bonus points if you find a way to add marble to the mix!
New Memphis Motifs
If you’re not familiar with the phrase “New Memphis,” think Memphis-Milano for modern times. Geo forms, bright colors and speckled textures lead the way here, so now is your chance to pick up vivid objects and scatter them throughout the house. The vase below is a simple clear glass piece covered in contact paper (check out the full DIY here), and the blocks are wooden cubes covered in foam sheeting and marble contact paper. You can’t get more affordable than that!
How do you add ’80s style to your interior? Leave a comment below with a tip or a creative idea so we can all benefit!…
I loved these ideas (likewise with the stacking bowls). Before I found your blog, I kind of thought that, unless I was really lucky, 80’s design was long gone and I might find a piece here or there that was a shadow of that decade. I didn’t actually think about bringing it back to life with my own hands like you. Inspiring!
Thank you, Kris! I always appreciate your design comments. It’s fun to meet others who love ’80s design. Let me know if you start any cool projects at home!
Hi Kate!
My name is Paula and I’m from Portugal. I love to read your blog, because I too love the 80’s!
I was born in 77 so, as you can see, my childhood was almost entirely spent in the 80’s and when I found your blog, I was soooo happy, because these days, everybody seems to like the same kind of furniture, decor, clothes, etc…
I’m trying to bring a little bit of that era to our house but in a modern way, as you say.
In Portugal, we don’t have Goodwill or any of those kind of stores. I’ve lived in Miami a few years ago, because of my husband’s job and loved it!
We had a Goodwill store there and every time I could go there, I would!
Sorry for any mistakes, because my english is a bit rusted but keep writing this wonderful blog and if possible, can you show us some furniture used in the States in the 80’s? Here in Portugal, besides some pine furniture, most of it was made from dark wood. I’m more of a light furniture girl!
🙂
I have an etagere from the 80s–one of those big diamond shaped ones, made of chrome. It is being used as a plant (artificial) stand in our foyer. We also have a huge whitewashed oak entertainment center from 1984. One of our sofas is an 80s pub-back overstuffed sofa that is incredibly comfy. I have some modern stuff too, but it isn’t as well made as our 80s stuff. I’ve owned the furniture since that decade, when my second husband and I bought it. I’m still looking for any other pieces that I find in great condition and at a good price. Not to mention we also have a Betamax VCR that I got at Radio Shack on clearance in 1985, and it still works great.