The 1980s, a decade often remembered for its bold fashion and synth-pop, is now experiencing a remarkable revival in interior design. For many, ’80s decor might conjure images of popcorn ceilings or overly ornate floral patterns, trends we weren’t eager to revisit. Yet, leading interior designers confirm this era’s influence is making a surprising and stylish comeback, proving that dated can become delightfully fresh again.
There’s a fascinating 40-year cycle to trends, and the 1980s are perfectly positioned for a nostalgic resurgence. Designers are reinterpreting classic ’80s elements with a modern sensibility, prioritizing warmth, practicality, and personal expression. Homeowners are finding innovative ways to incorporate these vintage inspirations into contemporary spaces without sacrificing functionality or comfort. Here’s a look at some unexpectedly stylish ’80s trends making waves today.
1. **Wallpaper Borders**
Wallpaper borders, once a common sight below the ceiling, are making a sophisticated return. These strips are now reimagined for a subtle yet impactful effect, adding a hint of pattern without overwhelming a room. They offer a clever way to introduce design that feels fresh and understated.
Wallpaper borders, once a common sight below the ceiling, are making a sophisticated return. These strips are now reimagined for a subtle yet impactful effect, adding a hint of pattern without overwhelming a room. They offer a clever way to introduce design that feels fresh and understated.
Today, thin strands of wallpaper function much like decorative trim. They can frame artwork or outline an entire room just below the ceiling. Their versatility in colors and patterns also makes them ideal for children’s rooms. Vertical application around door joints can even visually elongate a room.
2. **Hand-Painted Stencils**
Hand-painted stencils, ubiquitous in the 1980s, are enjoying a significant resurgence. This charming folk art technique now adorns floors, furniture, walls, and stair risers, infusing spaces with bespoke character and handmade artistry. It feels both personal and sophisticated in today’s homes.
Hand-painted stencils, ubiquitous in the 1980s, are enjoying a significant resurgence. This charming folk art technique now adorns floors, furniture, walls, and stair risers, infusing spaces with bespoke character and handmade artistry. It feels both personal and sophisticated in today’s homes.
Contemporary designers are finding fresh ways to incorporate these patterns. Scandinavian-inspired motifs are particularly popular for a modern take. This trend pairs beautifully with renewed interest in folksy antiques, embracing a decorative style that is both historic and delightfully current.
3. **Dusty Pastels**
The 1980s country aesthetic featured a muted palette, often called the “mauving of America” by experts. Hues like dusty pink and cornflower blue defined many interiors, offering a subdued yet saturated approach to color now making a significant comeback. These authentic colors harked back to natural pigments, lending them inherent earthiness and warmth.
The 1980s country aesthetic featured a muted palette, often called the “mauving of America” by experts. Hues like dusty pink and cornflower blue defined many interiors, offering a subdued yet saturated approach to color now making a significant comeback. These authentic colors harked back to natural pigments, lending them inherent earthiness and warmth.
Designers are reviving interest in these soft hues as a foolproof way to embrace color in country-style homes. They provide a gentle contrast to stark neutrals, creating a welcoming warmth without being overly bright. These subdued shades build a tranquil and inviting atmosphere, proving pastels can add depth and character.
4. **Feathered Friends Motifs**
Surprising as it may seem, motifs of roosters, ducks, geese, and swans are flocking back into modern homes. The “rooster revival” is certainly here, with these iconic country motifs appealing to a new generation. While some might recall overtly kitschy applications, today’s approach offers a more refined or intentionally playful take.
Surprising as it may seem, motifs of roosters, ducks, geese, and swans are flocking back into modern homes. The “rooster revival” is certainly here, with these iconic country motifs appealing to a new generation. While some might recall overtly kitschy applications, today’s approach offers a more refined or intentionally playful take.
To successfully integrate this trend, experts suggest either fully embracing the kitsch or opting for timeless antiques featuring these silhouettes. Rooster weather vanes or hen-on-nest dishware, for example, offer a nod to country motifs with an added edge, bridging nostalgic charm and contemporary appeal.
5. **More-is-More Window Treatments**
After years of minimalist bamboo blinds, a “fussy window treatment moment” is decidedly overdue. The 1980s championed maximalism, and nowhere was this more evident than in voluminous and elaborately styled window dressings. We are now seeing a return to this opulent approach, embracing abundant textiles.
After years of minimalist bamboo blinds, a “fussy window treatment moment” is decidedly overdue. The 1980s championed maximalism, and nowhere was this more evident than in voluminous and elaborately styled window dressings. We are now seeing a return to this opulent approach, embracing abundant textiles.
Recent trends for ruffled pillows and skirted sofas paved the way for more over-the-top textiles framing windows. Expect to see ruffled edges, voluminous balloon shades, and whimsical takes on traditional valances. This embrace of ample fabric and intricate detailing adds a luxurious, comfortable, and characterful layer to any room.
6. **Terracotta Floors**
Terracotta floors are experiencing a significant resurgence, bringing warmth and rustic charm to contemporary spaces, much like brick floors. This material, with its earthy tones and natural texture, was a popular choice in the 1980s for kitchens and mudrooms. Its appeal remains strong today. Companies now offer terracotta in various shapes and sizes, with both smooth and rustic finishes.
Terracotta floors are experiencing a significant resurgence, bringing warmth and rustic charm to contemporary spaces, much like brick floors. This material, with its earthy tones and natural texture, was a popular choice in the 1980s for kitchens and mudrooms. Its appeal remains strong today. Companies now offer terracotta in various shapes and sizes, with both smooth and rustic finishes.
The inherent warmth of terracotta makes it an especially inviting flooring option, contributing to a cozy and grounded ambiance in a home. It reflects a broader appreciation for natural materials that add character and history. Its durability and timeless appeal ensure this trend is a lasting investment in creating a welcoming and authentically beautiful interior.
7. **Eyelet Lace**
Remember eyelet lace? This delicate embroidery was a hallmark of the early 1980s prairie revival, gracing everything from charming bed canopies to elegant window treatments. It brings a romantic, sweet touch that is anything but saccharine, proving that sometimes, the simplest details can make the biggest statement.
Remember eyelet lace? This delicate embroidery was a hallmark of the early 1980s prairie revival, gracing everything from charming bed canopies to elegant window treatments. It brings a romantic, sweet touch that is anything but saccharine, proving that sometimes, the simplest details can make the biggest statement.
Today, this humble lace motif is re-emerging, first seen making a splash on fashion runways and now gracefully appearing in mass retailers. Its return speaks to a desire for softness and intricate detailing in our homes. It’s about adding texture and visual interest without overwhelming a space, offering a touch of vintage charm with contemporary appeal.
Consider incorporating eyelet lace to infuse a gentle femininity into your home. It looks particularly lovely on a bed skirt, adding a dreamy flounce to your sleeping quarters, or as café curtains in a kitchen for a light, airy, and undeniably sweet aesthetic. It’s an easy way to embrace a subtle decorative element that feels both classic and fresh.
8. **Bed Skirts**
For decades, bed skirts—also known as dust ruffles or valance sheets—were a staple in bedrooms, serving the dual purpose of concealing unsightly box springs and preventing dust buildup. However, in recent times, they often fell out of favor as homeowners gravitated towards decorative bed frames that made skirting seem unnecessary. Yet, fashion cycles always come back around!
For decades, bed skirts—also known as dust ruffles or valance sheets—were a staple in bedrooms, serving the dual purpose of concealing unsightly box springs and preventing dust buildup. However, in recent times, they often fell out of favor as homeowners gravitated towards decorative bed frames that made skirting seem unnecessary. Yet, fashion cycles always come back around!
Now, with the surging popularity of the cottagecore aesthetic and the timeless allure of English country interiors, bed skirts are making a charming comeback. They’re no longer just functional; they’re an easy way to inject a feminine flounce and a cozy, layered look into your bedroom, transforming your bed into a focal point of comfort and style.
Think of a bed skirt as the perfect finishing touch, similar to how a sink skirt adds character to a bathroom vanity. Opt for pretty gathered styles or playful fringed trims to add personality and softness. It’s a simple, yet impactful, detail that can elevate the entire feel of your space, hiding modern frames while evoking a sense of nostalgic comfort.
9. **Laura Ashley Everything**
When you think of the 1980s prairie revival, one name instantly springs to mind: Laura Ashley. This British brand was synonymous with a romantic, chintzy aesthetic, popularizing floral wallpapers and ticking stripes that adorned many homes and fashion choices during the decade. It’s an iconic look that defines a particular kind of country charm.
When you think of the 1980s prairie revival, one name instantly springs to mind: Laura Ashley. This British brand was synonymous with a romantic, chintzy aesthetic, popularizing floral wallpapers and ticking stripes that adorned many homes and fashion choices during the decade. It’s an iconic look that defines a particular kind of country charm.
Fast forward to today, and Laura Ashley is officially back in the conversation, enjoying significant momentum. Vintage Laura Ashley pieces, from sailor dresses to home fabrics, are now selling for hundreds on platforms like Etsy and eBay. This renewed interest signals a longing for its distinctive, comforting style, further fueled by anticipation for a new brick-and-mortar store opening and cultural moments like a forthcoming ‘Little House on the Prairie’ reboot.
Embracing ‘Laura Ashley everything’ means tapping into that deeply rooted sense of warmth, pattern, and understated elegance. Whether you’re hunting for vintage treasures or incorporating new collections, this trend allows you to create spaces that are both beautifully patterned and incredibly cozy, reflecting a style that’s both historic and delightfully relevant.
10. **Cozy Maximalism**
When you hear ‘maximalism,’ you might initially picture wild patterns and clashing colors. However, the 1980s offered a nuanced take, where bold design choices coexisted with comfort, creating spaces that felt lived-in and genuinely cozy. This isn’t about excess for its own sake, but rather about surrounding yourself with creature comforts that reflect your personal story and style.
When you hear ‘maximalism,’ you might initially picture wild patterns and clashing colors. However, the 1980s offered a nuanced take, where bold design choices coexisted with comfort, creating spaces that felt lived-in and genuinely cozy. This isn’t about excess for its own sake, but rather about surrounding yourself with creature comforts that reflect your personal story and style.
Designers like Meghan Jay highlight this “cozy, maximalist aesthetic” as a key aspect of 80s home design that’s now making a return. It’s a welcome shift towards a balance between comfort and style, allowing homes to feel character-ful and inviting without sacrificing a modern sensibility. It’s about creating an environment that nurtures and delights, rather than just impressing.
To adopt this trend, focus on layering textures, incorporating pops of color, and curating items that hold personal meaning. It’s less about rigidly adhering to a specific style and more about creating a rich, comfortable tapestry of your favorite things. This approach ensures your space is a true reflection of you, making it a unique sanctuary from the often-generic online aesthetic.
11. **Wooden Accents**
The 1980s certainly had a signature style when it came to wood, often seen in matching sets of chairs and tables. While the ‘matching everything’ trend has evolved, wooden accents are making a powerful and sophisticated comeback in contemporary homes, adding character and warmth in new and exciting ways.
The 1980s certainly had a signature style when it came to wood, often seen in matching sets of chairs and tables. While the ‘matching everything’ trend has evolved, wooden accents are making a powerful and sophisticated comeback in contemporary homes, adding character and warmth in new and exciting ways.
Jessica Flake of Copper Sky Design + Remodel notes that “wood hardware is trending,” whether seamlessly integrated into cabinets or designed to boldly stand out. This re-appreciation for wood extends to stained bookcases, vintage wooden picture frames, and even wooden knobs on furniture. It’s about celebrating the natural beauty and texture of wood in thoughtful, impactful doses.
Incorporating wooden accents is a fantastic way to introduce an earthy, grounded feel into your space without making it feel dated. From a beautifully crafted wooden bowl to a statement console table, wood brings an organic touch and a sense of history. It’s a timeless material that homeowners are joyfully rediscovering for its ability to add depth and authenticity to any room.
12. **Curved Detailing**
In stark contrast to the sleek, clean lines that have dominated modern home design for years, the 1980s enthusiastically embraced curves. From furniture to architectural elements, curved detailing injected visual interest, charm, and a delightful softness into interiors. This return to more organic, sculptural forms is a refreshing departure from strict minimalism.
In stark contrast to the sleek, clean lines that have dominated modern home design for years, the 1980s enthusiastically embraced curves. From furniture to architectural elements, curved detailing injected visual interest, charm, and a delightful softness into interiors. This return to more organic, sculptural forms is a refreshing departure from strict minimalism.
Today, we’re seeing a significant resurgence of curved, fluted, and reeded detailing across various materials. Designers observe these gentle undulations appearing in wood, marble, tile, and even glass, applied to everything from cabinets and furniture to statement walls. It’s about adding a layer of tactile and visual sophistication that feels both retro and utterly contemporary.
Embracing curved detailing allows you to soften the edges of your home, creating a more inviting and visually dynamic environment. Imagine a fluted marble surface adding an unexpected texture, or a curvy sofa providing both comfort and a sculptural focal point. These thoughtful details bring personality and a confident design point of view, making your space truly memorable.
The 1980s, once perhaps relegated to the realm of design faux pas, has proven its enduring influence through these thoughtful reinterpretations. From romantic lace to sculptural curves, these trends remind us that good design, when approached with creativity and personal flair, truly is timeless. So go ahead, find your favorite 80s-inspired element, and let your home express its unique, stylish self.
