The ’80s Kitchen

A bowl of fruit in a modern 1980s kitchen

It’s no secret that lately I’ve been obsessed with ’80s kitchens, likely because I’m about to move into a new place where the kitchen has distinct elements of 1980s style. As I’m trying to plan out how to accessorize the space, I’ve been looking through my ’80s design books (a.k.a. my decorating bibles), and I’ve pulled some amazing images of ’80s modern kitchens. Check out the pics above and below, as well as the design choices they’ve inspired!

1. A Melamine Bowl of Fruit

Above we see an image from Decoration and Design for the ’80s by Pamela Ferguson. I’m loving the way the orange and yellow hues of the bowl and fruit stand out against the stark white of the kitchen.

2. A Hanging Wire Basket

I’m definitely going with lots of metallic accents in the new kitchen. Below we see a hanging wire basket filled with produce. I might have to pick up one of these… As a side note, how fabulous are the lattice-pattern details? Love the wallpaper and the matching canisters! This image comes from another ’80s design favorite: The Decorating Book by Mary Gilliatt.

An ’80s kitchen with lattice wallpaper

3. Industrial Touches

In a second image from The Decorating Book, below we see an industrial kitchen with plenty of metallic accents, from the fabulous pendant lighting to the wire shelving. There may even be gridwall paneling behind the shelves…

An ’80s kitchen with industrial lighting

4. Plenty of Plants

Many an ’80s kitchen featured abundant plant life, as shown in the next pic. This is a good thing, since my new kitchen has a retro-style picture windows over the sink! It has a greenhouse-y look, and I’d love to find some modern pots so I can line the space with herbs and other interesting plants. [Image from The Decorating Book]

Plant life in an ’80s kitchen

5. Bistro-Style Accents

Yes, even modern kitchens in the ’80s featured bistro touches, from the Thonet bentwood chairs below to the marble tabletop and tile floor. It’s fun to see a modern take on this cafe-style look! [Image from Decoration and Design for the ’80s]

An ’80s modern bistro kitchen

6. Vivid Pops of Color

Many ’80s kitchens featured neutral tones, or stark black and white surfaces. What brought these to life? Intense pops of color, as shown in the space below from The Decorating Book. Red is the color of choice, and it’s interesting how a traditional checkered napkin pattern is given a modern look thanks to interior details like domed pedant lighting…

White ’80s modern kitchen

7. A Commitment to Organization

The ’80s kitchen often made organization an important part of the decor. From the industrial compartments and matching canisters below to gridwall paneling that was used to suspend cooking utensils and pans in some ’80s culinary spaces, the art of tidiness was reflected in the design. [Image from Decoration and Design for the ’80s]

Industrial details in an ’80s kitchen

Hope these pics gave you some great design ideas for your space. Whether you’re in a house or an apartment, the possibilities are endless. In fact, it’s fun to see how many of today’s apartment complexes still feature kitchens that haven’t been remodeled since the 1980s. My advice: go with it. There’s a lot to work with and a lot you can add to spice it up, don’t you think?!

Happy Monday!