The ’80s had a very particular idea of what made a home look stylish. Bright colors, oversized furniture, shiny finishes, busy patterns, and bold shapes all had their moment, and many homes seemed determined to use several of them at once.
Looking back, some of these styles still bring a smile because they are so closely tied to the decade. Others make you wonder how anyone managed to keep a room from feeling completely overwhelming, especially when several of these trends appeared together.
Here are 14 memorable furniture and decor styles from the ’80s that may look a little rough by today’s standards.
Floral Upholstery
Floral prints were everywhere in ’80s homes, covering sofas, armchairs, curtains, and even smaller accent pieces. The large, busy patterns could make an entire room feel as if it had been wrapped in floral wallpaper.
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Rattan Furniture
Rattan furniture had a relaxed look, but ’80s rooms sometimes took the trend much further than a single chair or table. A living room packed with rattan seating, tables, and accessories could start to feel more like a vacation rental than a family home.
Glass-Topped Tables
Glass-topped tables often paired clear surfaces with chunky bases made from metal, stone, or plaster. They looked sleek at the time, but fingerprints, dust, and scratches were hard to hide, while those oversized bases could make the tables feel heavy.
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Pastel Color Schemes
Mint green, peach, powder blue, and other soft shades were popular throughout ’80s homes. These colors appeared on walls, sofas, chairs, and accessories, sometimes leaving an entire room looking like it belonged in a pastel-themed hotel.
Overstuffed Leather Sectionals
Large leather sectionals were a common sight in ’80s living rooms, with deep cushions and plenty of padding. Their size could take over a room, while the glossy leather finish sometimes gave them the look of oversized office furniture.
Brass Accents Galore
Brass showed up on lamps, drawer pulls, mirrors, picture frames, tables, and plenty of other household pieces. A few brass details can still look good today, but covering an entire room in shiny gold-toned metal can quickly feel dated.
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Waterbeds
Waterbeds were seen as a fun luxury item during the ’80s and became a memorable part of the decade’s bedroom culture. They were also heavy, difficult to move, and prone to creating a very unpleasant mess if the mattress leaked.
Mauve Everything
Mauve was one of those colors that seemed to take over an entire room once it became popular. Walls, bedding, carpets, curtains, and upholstered furniture could all share the same dusty pink-purple shade, leaving little room for another color to break things up.
Shiny Lacquered Surfaces
Glossy lacquer finishes were a big part of the ’80s look, especially on bedroom furniture, side tables, and entertainment centers. The reflective surfaces certainly grabbed attention, but too much shine could make a room feel more flashy than polished.
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Mirrored Walls and Mirrored Furniture
Mirrors were used on walls, dressers, coffee tables, and other furniture to make rooms appear larger and brighter. Mirrors can reflect light and help make a space look bigger, but a room covered in mirrored surfaces can feel dated and requires plenty of cleaning.
Southwestern Prints
Southwestern patterns brought earthy colors, geometric shapes, and desert-inspired designs into many ’80s homes. The look could work well in small doses, but covering sofas, pillows, curtains, and wall hangings in similar prints could make a room feel visually crowded.
Pop Art-Inspired Furniture
Pop art had a noticeable influence on some ’80s furniture, with bright colors, cartoon-like shapes, and oversized graphic designs. Pop art gave these pieces a playful appearance, but too many bold pieces could make a living room feel more like an art exhibit than a place to relax.
Lucite and Clear Acrylic
Lucite and clear acrylic furniture had a futuristic look that fit right in with the decade’s love of modern materials. Clear chairs, tables, and shelves showed every bit of dust, fingerprint, and scratch, while too many pieces could make a room feel cold.
Country Kitschy Decor
Country decor was another major ’80s look, with distressed wood, gingham fabrics, rooster decorations, and plenty of small decorative touches. The style was meant to create a cozy farmhouse feel, but using too many matching pieces could make a room look more like a themed display than a comfortable home.
