What does “modern” mean? It isn’t simply casting away the old and bringing in the new. Since 1986, Moreland has been committed to growth. We change with the times while upholding the same core values of quality and commitment we established ourselves on. So, in the spirit of synthesizing something new, bold, and original, let’s go back – way, way back – to uncover some iconic 80’s home trends and determine what has stayed, and what’s better left to history.
Clashing Colors/Patterns
Inspired by Memphis-era visuals, 80’s-style interiors were populated heavily by different patterns, colors, and shapes that were only "unified" by how little they matched. More concerned with the shaking-up than the turning-out, designs for upholstery and surfaces weren’t really meant to make sense, and purposefully lacked style. While designers today still value character and individualism, they’re built on more structured and conventional design philosophies.
Maximalism
Here’s something that’s really made a comeback. While the idea of “organized chaos” falls in line with the Memphis-era design philosophies, it’s something that’s resurfaced heavily among young people who like to display their wares and belongings. Every open surface, every nook, and every cranny a home can become a display set for some beloved trinket or tchotchke. Embracing that punk-rock spirit and rejecting the idea of a non-personalized living space, the home designers of today like their decor to reflect their unique interests.
Venetian Blinds
Although venetian blinds had been around for centuries, the 80s saw to the popularization of funky, solid-color versions as well as wood for the blinds. What was considered "hip and luxury" window covers has since shifted back to curtains, but, for the right home, a set of vibrant venetian blinds could be just what a space needs.
English Country Aesthetics
As a lot of 80s homeowners thought homes were meant to look warm, lived in, and “filled,” interior trends also turned towards a more rustic, inviting look. Combining earthy, warm colors with all sorts of layered patterns created this intentionally “cluttered” look, cementing a particularly unique flavor of Memphis-era design that seems to have been mostly lost to time.
Reflective Surfaces & Frosted Glass Partitioners
Meant to open up a room and create intrigue in how interior spaces were divided up, frosted glass bricks and huge mirrors are something you’ll probably only see at the doctor’s office nowadays. Today, homeowners seem to prefer large floor-to-ceiling windows that actually boast the space, not simply imply it.
Home entertainment consoles
As programming and entertainment shifted to be available in the home, living rooms shifted to being designed around the central console and television. “Home entertainment consoles” would be conglomerations of DVD, VHS, cassette, and CD players – a centerpiece all on their own. Although the console has lost its modern utility, many young people are moving to restore the everyday use of physical media for archival purposes. Give it a few more years and perhaps this trend is one we'll see back from the dead, too.
Standing Coat Racks
Although the idea of "filling up a space" took precedent in the 80s, the following decades flipped around to instead prioritize utility and consolidation when it came to storage. This was partly tactical with new homes being built on smaller lots and with more compact layouts, but even larger modern homes prefer a clean, controlled look rather than rooms with a wealth of clutter – no matter how cute a coat rack can be! Perhaps with the right home, these iconic and playful fixtures can still find a place to belong.
Faux Marble Counters and Sinks
Specifically favoring slabs with prominent veins, marble countertops and surfaces were so heavily popularized in the 80s due to the way they added dramatics and high-contrast to a space that was, with any luck, already decked out in lines and patterns. Now, marble is used to offer a point of focus in the smooth, toned down palettes of kitchens and bathrooms you’ll often see in modern design.
Sunken Living Rooms
Actually popularized in the 50s and 60s, sunken living rooms were already something of a relic by the time they had a bit of a moment in the early 80s. In pursuit of satisfying the antiquated, classic-meets-eclectic philosophy of the decade, sunken living rooms were meant to evoke a classy importance that was promptly left behind. A home that is bold enough to host a sunken living room now will take care not to date the space by insisting it be built around something like a coffee table. Instead, it'll be used as a way to elevate a room, giving it more utility and extra dimension.
Asymmetry
Rather than centered facades, 80s homes were constructed with varying angles and shapes. Not only did this give each home a more individualized look, working with an unconventional layout opened up more opportunities to give character to interiors as well. Asymmetry in houses are still extremely popular, especially among Austin homeowners – who wants to look like everyone else?
Rock Gardens
Seen as a low-maintenance form of gardening that maximized what little yard space some homeowners had, the “alpine” rock garden aesthetic had a moment in the 80s that, if we didn’t know any better, would just make it look like people really loved tiny shrubs. While rock gardens can still be found in dry areas, the craze seems to have died down for the foreseeable future.
Detached Flower Beds
Many home trends of the 80s featured playful historical references, extending into the yard with things like detached flower beds or “island beds,” which were meant to be reminiscent of the Versailles Gardens. While they allowed geometric flow and structure to be added to the yard, they earned themselves a dated, kitschy look that hasn’t quite looped back around to being cute yet.
Lagoon-Style Pools
As homes were being built on smaller lots and space became an issue for those who wanted to swim in their backyard, contractors moved away from traditional rectangular pools to more freeform lagoon-style pools. The natural shapes offered a tranquil feeling that homeowners of the 80s pounced on, and it’s a look that’s still widely sought-after today.
Depending on who you ask, memories of the 80s are either fondly nostalgic, or better left in the past. From fashion, to music, to home construction and decor trends, staying ahead of what folks stay loving is just as important as knowing what they’re totally over. As cathartic as it is to “clean house,” we at Moreland know that embracing modernity is maintaining the identity we’ve nurtured for the past 40 years, while still accounting for all the little ways we’ve changed. So you can throw out your leg warmers and puffer jackets, but we hope you’ll stay with us.
