15 Design Trends We Loved in the '80s (but Shudder at Now)
Let's face it: the 1980s was a weird decade, which is certainly reflected in the interior design of the era. From the twee florals of Laura Ashley to the obsession with ferns to the lingering horror of wall-to-wall carpeting — in the bathroom! — here are 15 '80s design trends we're glad to see gone.
-
Etched Glass Shower Doors
1/15Etched Glass Shower Doors
1/15Photo Credit: Bart Everson/Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
Nothing screams '80s louder than etched glass, especially when found on shower doors. Plants and floral motifs were a popular choice at the time, as were swans (go figure) but an etched-glass silhouette of a naked woman riding on a cloud of steam could have come right out of Tony Montana's bathroom in <em>Scarface</em>.Decorating15 Design Trends We Loved in the '80s (but Shudder at Now)Etched Glass Shower Doors
PHOTO 1 of 15READ LESS -Nothing screams '80s louder than etched glass, especially when found on shower doors. Plants and floral motifs were a popular choice at the time, as were swans (go figure) but an etched-glass silhouette of a naked woman riding on a cloud of steam could have come right out of Tony Montana's bathroom in <em>Scarface</em>.Photo Credit: Bart Everson/Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
-
Ferns
2/15Ferns
2/15Photo Credit: Jesse Richmond/Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
For reasons that have been lost to the sands of time, ferns became ridiculously popular with designers during the 1980s. The intent was clearly to add some organic greenery to the space, yet when overdone (which happened a lot) the affect was more akin to being on the set of a <em>Tarzan</em> movie.Decorating15 Design Trends We Loved in the '80s (but Shudder at Now)Ferns
PHOTO 2 of 15READ LESS -For reasons that have been lost to the sands of time, ferns became ridiculously popular with designers during the 1980s. The intent was clearly to add some organic greenery to the space, yet when overdone (which happened a lot) the affect was more akin to being on the set of a <em>Tarzan</em> movie.Photo Credit: Jesse Richmond/Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
-
Harvest Gold Appliances
3/15Harvest Gold Appliances
3/15Photo Credit: Janice Waltzer/Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
Harvest gold became the go-to colour for '80s kitchen appliances, supplanting the avocado-hued fridges and stoves of the previous decade. And while you could make the argument that harvest gold was slightly more attractive, that's kind of like arguing that getting punched in the nose is better than stepping on a nail.Decorating15 Design Trends We Loved in the '80s (but Shudder at Now)Harvest Gold Appliances
PHOTO 3 of 15READ LESS -Harvest gold became the go-to colour for '80s kitchen appliances, supplanting the avocado-hued fridges and stoves of the previous decade. And while you could make the argument that harvest gold was slightly more attractive, that's kind of like arguing that getting punched in the nose is better than stepping on a nail.Photo Credit: Janice Waltzer/Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
-
Pink Bathrooms
4/15Pink Bathrooms
4/15Photo Credit: lily_nymph/Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
Seriously, what was the deal with pink bathrooms in the '80s? Pink paint + pink tiles + pink tub enclosure = waaay too much pink. A popular bathroom colour in the 1950s that was revived for the 1980s, let's hope this particular trend isn't exhumed anytime soon.Decorating15 Design Trends We Loved in the '80s (but Shudder at Now)Pink Bathrooms
PHOTO 4 of 15READ LESS -Seriously, what was the deal with pink bathrooms in the '80s? Pink paint + pink tiles + pink tub enclosure = waaay too much pink. A popular bathroom colour in the 1950s that was revived for the 1980s, let's hope this particular trend isn't exhumed anytime soon.Photo Credit: lily_nymph/Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
-
Glass Bricks
5/15Glass Bricks
5/15Photo Credit: Robbie Sproule/Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
Glass bricks were all the rage in the 1980s, used — and ultimately overused — for their ability to create a room divider while allowing light to stream through. These days, glass blocks are the perfect choice for anyone trying to create a decor themed to "hopelessly dated."Decorating15 Design Trends We Loved in the '80s (but Shudder at Now)Glass Bricks
PHOTO 5 of 15READ LESS -Glass bricks were all the rage in the 1980s, used — and ultimately overused — for their ability to create a room divider while allowing light to stream through. These days, glass blocks are the perfect choice for anyone trying to create a decor themed to "hopelessly dated."Photo Credit: Robbie Sproule/Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
-
Shabby Chic
6/15Shabby Chic
6/15Photo Credit: Andy Roberts/Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
The term "shabby chic" was first coined in the early 1980s, mixing contemporary pieces with refurbished flea market finds. Although the shabby chic ethos has evolved and matured over the years, the 1980s version was the equivalent of Madonna's eclectic mix-and-match, underwear-on-the-outside "Like a Virgin"-era wardrobe. There's a reason why she doesn't dress that way anymore.Decorating15 Design Trends We Loved in the '80s (but Shudder at Now)Shabby Chic
PHOTO 6 of 15READ LESS -The term "shabby chic" was first coined in the early 1980s, mixing contemporary pieces with refurbished flea market finds. Although the shabby chic ethos has evolved and matured over the years, the 1980s version was the equivalent of Madonna's eclectic mix-and-match, underwear-on-the-outside "Like a Virgin"-era wardrobe. There's a reason why she doesn't dress that way anymore.Photo Credit: Andy Roberts/Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
-
Wall-to-Wall Shag Carpeting
7/15Wall-to-Wall Shag Carpeting
7/15Photo Credit: army.archSource: www.flickr.com
Just think, there's probably some gorgeous hardwood flooring concealed beneath all shag — and you don't even want to know how many Muppets lost their lives in order to create that carpet.Decorating15 Design Trends We Loved in the '80s (but Shudder at Now)Wall-to-Wall Shag Carpeting
PHOTO 7 of 15READ LESS -Just think, there's probably some gorgeous hardwood flooring concealed beneath all shag — and you don't even want to know how many Muppets lost their lives in order to create that carpet.Photo Credit: army.archSource: www.flickr.com
-
Carpeted Bathroom
8/15Carpeted Bathroom
8/15Photo Credit: Phillip Stewart/Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
Wall-to-wall carpeting is understandable, but one '80s design trend that remains baffling was carpeted bathrooms. Given that thick, lush carpeting is also a thick, lush bacteria trap, this is just wrong on so many levels (and no jokes about how this carpet was white when it was installed).Decorating15 Design Trends We Loved in the '80s (but Shudder at Now)Carpeted Bathroom
PHOTO 8 of 15READ LESS -Wall-to-wall carpeting is understandable, but one '80s design trend that remains baffling was carpeted bathrooms. Given that thick, lush carpeting is also a thick, lush bacteria trap, this is just wrong on so many levels (and no jokes about how this carpet was white when it was installed).Photo Credit: Phillip Stewart/Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
-
Wallpaper Borders
9/15Wallpaper Borders
9/15Photo Credit: Daniel Oines/Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
Wallpaper borders were a big thing in the 1980s, apparently appealing to people who <em>kind of</em> wanted wallpaper but just couldn't bring themselves to make a whole-wall commitment.Decorating15 Design Trends We Loved in the '80s (but Shudder at Now)Wallpaper Borders
PHOTO 9 of 15READ LESS -Wallpaper borders were a big thing in the 1980s, apparently appealing to people who <em>kind of</em> wanted wallpaper but just couldn't bring themselves to make a whole-wall commitment.Photo Credit: Daniel Oines/Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
-
Chintz
10/15Chintz
10/15Photo Credit: Bill Bradford/Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
Chintz can be somewhat polarizing, with people either loving it or hating it. Of course, when you see it used like this, it's pretty easy to pick a side...Decorating15 Design Trends We Loved in the '80s (but Shudder at Now)Chintz
PHOTO 10 of 15READ LESS -Chintz can be somewhat polarizing, with people either loving it or hating it. Of course, when you see it used like this, it's pretty easy to pick a side...Photo Credit: Bill Bradford/Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
-
Laura Ashley Florals
11/15Laura Ashley Florals
11/15Photo Credit: Jean L./Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
Hard to believe now, but back in the 1980s there were upwards of 200 Laura Ashley outlets throughout the world, selling floral-print clothing, bedding, pillows and the like. Looking back, the overall effect was kind of like living in a life-sized version of Barbie's Dream House.Decorating15 Design Trends We Loved in the '80s (but Shudder at Now)Laura Ashley Florals
PHOTO 11 of 15READ LESS -Hard to believe now, but back in the 1980s there were upwards of 200 Laura Ashley outlets throughout the world, selling floral-print clothing, bedding, pillows and the like. Looking back, the overall effect was kind of like living in a life-sized version of Barbie's Dream House.Photo Credit: Jean L./Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
-
Pale Pastels
12/15Pale Pastels
12/15Photo Credit: Romana Klee/Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
Pale, muted pastels were all the rage in the 1980s, often utilized in weird, ulta-busy weird patterns reminiscent of those eye-straining "Magic Eye" posters that became popular in the 1990s.Decorating15 Design Trends We Loved in the '80s (but Shudder at Now)Pale Pastels
PHOTO 12 of 15READ LESS -Pale, muted pastels were all the rage in the 1980s, often utilized in weird, ulta-busy weird patterns reminiscent of those eye-straining "Magic Eye" posters that became popular in the 1990s.Photo Credit: Romana Klee/Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
-
The Preppy Look
13/15The Preppy Look
13/15Photo Credit: Design Folly/Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
The so-called "preppy look" gained a foothold in fashion (remember polo shirts with the collars raised?), and the same thing happened with home decor, characterized by lots of stripes, with blue being a big colour. As trends go, this one was not so much terrible as it was terribly boring.Decorating15 Design Trends We Loved in the '80s (but Shudder at Now)The Preppy Look
PHOTO 13 of 15READ LESS -The so-called "preppy look" gained a foothold in fashion (remember polo shirts with the collars raised?), and the same thing happened with home decor, characterized by lots of stripes, with blue being a big colour. As trends go, this one was not so much terrible as it was terribly boring.Photo Credit: Design Folly/Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
-
Vertical Blinds
14/15Vertical Blinds
14/15Photo Credit: Daniel Novta/Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
Along with track lighting and cane furniture, vertical blinds were embraced in the 1980s, primarily as a way to force future homeowners to rip them out and install a window covering that doesn't look like it belongs in Richard Gere's <em>American Gigolo</em> apartment.Decorating15 Design Trends We Loved in the '80s (but Shudder at Now)Vertical Blinds
PHOTO 14 of 15READ LESS -Along with track lighting and cane furniture, vertical blinds were embraced in the 1980s, primarily as a way to force future homeowners to rip them out and install a window covering that doesn't look like it belongs in Richard Gere's <em>American Gigolo</em> apartment.Photo Credit: Daniel Novta/Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
-
Vinyl Flooring
15/15Vinyl Flooring
15/15Photo Credit: Michael McCauslin/Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
Vinyl was all the rage in kitchens and bathrooms (or at least the ones that weren't carpeted), but who isn't glad this trend has gone the way of Flock of Seagulls and the DeLorean?Decorating15 Design Trends We Loved in the '80s (but Shudder at Now)Vinyl Flooring
PHOTO 15 of 15READ LESS -Vinyl was all the rage in kitchens and bathrooms (or at least the ones that weren't carpeted), but who isn't glad this trend has gone the way of Flock of Seagulls and the DeLorean?Photo Credit: Michael McCauslin/Flickr Creative CommonsSource: www.flickr.com
