7 Pieces of ‘80s-Inspired Home Decor That Have Stood the Test of Time

When you think of ‘80s home design, it may not exactly inspire you to make your home into a Miami Vice-esque paradise. However, if you take a good look at many of the design styles of the time, we think you’ll find plenty of similarities between what was popular then and what’s trending now.

In honor of the premiere of season four of Stranger Things, a show that is basically a love letter to the decade, we’re looking back at some of the most stylish home decor trends of the 1980s that we still love to see in homes today. Break out your parachute pants and legwarmers and join us in reminiscing, won’t you?

1. Grab Attention with Neon

Neon signs and lighting design were hot items in the 1980s, but there’s a good chance you’ve seen them popping up on social media recently too. You can take on this trend in a few different and modern ways, whether it’s adding a neon sign with a pithy quote to your bedroom or adding recessed lighting that can change to neon colors for parties. Speak with a local lighting installation pro about all of your different options to create a neon design worthy of your social media feed.

2. Get Well-Rounded with Geometric Design

The 1980s were a geometry lesson when it came to many pieces of home decor, but we’ve seen the circular and rounded pieces of the day have had the most staying power. Rounded dining room chairs add a bit of interest to an often-overlooked part of your home, while a circular lounge chair can be a nice contrast to a rigid, rectangular couch. 

If you’re really looking to get in on this trend, you can even speak with a local home renovations pro about adding a rounded entryway, say, from your kitchen to your living room. Talk about making an entrance!

3. Try Classic Rattan Furniture

While rattan furniture has been around much longer than MTV, it is once again having a moment. You may not know that this was one of the subtler, yet still enormously popular, trends during the ‘80s, too.

Rattan chairs are a classic addition to your living room, but you can find anything from entertainment systems to bookshelves made of this material. The best part is that these pieces are subtle enough so you can add them to your home no matter if your interior design style is minimalist, maximalist or anywhere in between.

4. Don’t Shy Away from Muted Pastels

This trend might sound a little confusing, as you probably think of bold, bright prints during the ‘80s, but the decade had a few different contrasting trends. Amidst the big, pink hair bows and bright purple leotards were some other, more subdued color palettes that we still see today. 

Gentle pastels like soft blue-greens, pinks, and blues were all the rage in the 1980s, especially when paired together in a color-blocking pattern. If you want to take this trend on, pick just one for a relaxing half-bathroom look, or pick two for a dreamy bedroom color palette. 

If you’re not up on your color theory or are too busy trying to figure out how to stream old episodes of Growing Pains, a painting company near you can help you determine the best combination of colors for your style. 

5. Bring Back Cork Flooring

Natural materials like cork were named one of the biggest home trends of 2022, but this type of flooring would have been right at home 40 years ago. Cork flooring was huge in the ‘70s and ‘80s, and we totally see why it’s coming back today. Some pros of cork flooring are that it’s fairly easy to maintain, naturally soundproof, and can help your feet stay warm, even if it’s a bit chilly. 

You can expect to pay $5 to $14 per square foot for the cost to install cork flooring, according to HomeAdvisor (probably more than you paid in the ‘80s, sorry!). 

6. Stay on Trend With Biophilic Patterns

This trend is another that takes its cue from nature and is set to be just as huge in 2022 as it was in 1982. However, it may look a bit different today. If you’re looking for a bit of a modern twist, opt for super-trendy leaf-patterned wallpaper, furniture with designs inspired by nature, or even plenty of actual houseplants. Coincidentally, that last one was a huge trend in the 1980s, though we maintain that a room full of houseplants is always in style.

If you’re looking for the retro version, you can opt for some floral bedding and curtains that were all the rage. Good news: These will totally fit the grandmillennial home decor trend.

7. Be Bold With Pops of Color

OK, this is probably the one you’ve been waiting for, and yes, the ‘80s were indeed a decade of bright colors and Memphis Design (the squiggly lines and bright patterns you may associate with windbreakers and the opening of Saved By the Bell). And although you are more than welcome to make your home look as vibrant as you’d like, there are some more modern ways to make these color schemes work for you. 

For example, adding colorful bathroom fixtures, like sinks or cabinets, is a colorful 1980s trend you can easily take on with the help of a local bathroom remodeling pro. If you’re looking for something with a little less commitment, keeping the rest of your decor neutral, but adding a colorful chair or a couch with a jaw-dropping print are other great options.