Don’t Forget The Florals
The 80s were a time of patterns, colors, and a catered extravagance that blended with the modern era, and we wouldn’t want it any other way. Today, we can only fondly remember our parents' or grandparents' homes in all their glory as we look upon our lackluster beige spaces. If we could bring anything from the 80s into the 2020s, we would bring the following.
1. Florals, Florals, and More Florals
If you can remember anything from your grandma’s house, you can probably remember the overwhelming amount of florals throughout the space. The 80s were prime real estate for the funky bird of paradise, or the soft-smelling lilac. Bonus points if the florals were a rosy pink wallpaper pattern.
2. Solid Oak Furniture
It’s rare to find high-quality furniture nowadays, so much so that you have to miss the neutral 5-piece oak bed set your parents had. Not only is oak furniture versatile, but it will last you a lifetime if you take care of it properly.
3. Hand-Painted Stencils
Who says your home can’t be your creative project? There is a certain charm to the imperfection of a hand-painted design that you just can’t replicate with a stencil bought from Amazon. If you feel like your home is looking a little boring, go ahead and add a design somewhere!
4. Waterbeds
The waterbed was a quintessential part of the 1980s, and you just won’t get it if you weren’t there. While they’re not as popular today, many waterbed purists swear by how comfortable and supportive their liquid mattresses are.
5. Clam Shell Bathroom Sinks
This design may have been the beginning of the beach-themed bathroom trend, and you have to miss it a little bit. In the days of modern bathrooms devoid of color, it’s refreshing to have a little nostalgic charm where you can find it. If the toilet or bathtub is a bright color, even better.
6. Dusty Pastels
You can’t see dusty roses without thinking about the 80s, but the decade was more than just pinks. Dusty blues, yellows, greens, and beiges were also popular during this time. Luckily, colors are just colors, and you can incorporate this palette into your home whenever you want.
7. Mirrored Closet Doors
A gorgeous, huge mirror is a beautiful decoration, but it sure does take up space! In the 80s, there was the convenience of mirrored closet doors. Sure, they get smudged, but that doesn’t mean they’re not effective.
8. Columns
80s homes loved a classic column, and they were often used to add a bit of luxury to the space. It was like the precursor to the open floor plan. If you’re not a fan of seeing every room in your home at once, you can always opt for a decorative pillar to shake up the space.
9. White Wicker Furniture
You can almost feel the ridges of this furniture, can’t you? Usually adorned with a really scratchy outdoor pillow, you definitely sat in one of these when visiting your grandmother. White wicker is made for porch sitting and talking with your neighbors from across the yard.
10. Ruffles
The extravagance of the 80s didn’t stop at colors or patterns; it also related to textiles! Ruffled curtains, bedding, and pillows were all the rage back in the day. All three today may feel like a little much, but a touch of ruffle will bring some feminine charm into your space.
11. Wood Panelling
Your parents' basement was either the scariest place in the world or the coziest. It might not have been your favorite spot at 8, but by 14, it was the hangout spot. A larger-than-life TV, fuzzy carpet, and wood-panelled walls feel so much like home.
12. Dried Flowers
You might think it's weird that the '80s loved flowers in every form, but to us, it represents consistency. Lavender, hydrangeas, or strawflowers were among the most popular choices for centrepieces, hanging in the kitchen, or in the wreath for the front door.
micheile henderson on Unsplash
13. Bulky Table Lamps
No thin laps here! Like we already said, the 80s were about making things big, and table lamps were no exception. Usually ceramic with some type of art deco style, the 80s lamp could withstand just about anything - except for a football flying through the house.
14. Terracotta
To counteract the crazy colors, the grounding, earthy, terracotta color brought everything back to earth. Terracotta was the color of choice for tiles, cookware, vases, and exterior decor. Today, the color terracotta is still prized for its warmth.
15. Brass Beds
Only the 80s could create such a thing. Brass bedframes took the standard wood frame and turned it on its head, with many opting for a polished metal look. The frames were usually slated and added just a hint of shimmer to any bedroom.
Beyza Nur Kocaosmanoğlu on Unsplash
16. Flatpack Kitchens
The IKEA wave began in the 1980s, leading to the creation of self-designed and self-built kitchens. The flatpack kitchen brought a whole other level of home renovation to the average Joe, while still making your space feel as open and useful as possible.
17. Canopy Beds
Again, this comes to the 80s maximalism. A canopy bed was every little girl's dream, creating a warm, comfortable space that felt like it was just for you. Of course, it’s also totally common to remember waking up wrapped up in all this extra fabric, wondering what happened to you during the night.
18. Chrome Shelving
The slight Art Deco design also came back in living room furniture with the implementation of chrome and wood. Bonus points if this shelving had some funky half-circular design and was absolutely filled with past versions of the Macy’s catalogue.
19. Glass Block Walls
Glass block walls were the older way of diffusing light while still maintaining a bit of privacy. They can still be found in older public buildings today, but we firmly believe a lot of homes would benefit from this design choice.
20. Rock Gardens
The 80s gardeners loved creating an outdoor space that required little to no work, and a rock garden was the perfect solution. It wasn’t uncommon to see gardens have mini mountain landscapes, accompanied only by the smallest alpine plants.
