Style back in time

Head back to the ‘80s, embracing all that this vibrant decade offered our homes – trust us, you won’t be alone, writes Jennifer Morgan, who finds out what the chintz and colour blocking is all about

Ahh, the 80s. A time of ET, Indiana Jones, The Goonies and Ghostbusters watched on VHS; of Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Wham, Blondie and so many more listened to on Walkmans; of acid-washed jeans, leg warmers and giant shoulder pads filling up our wardrobes, and pastel, chintz, bold colour, funky furniture and matchy-matchy covering our interiors. It’s a decade often referred to as one of ‘bad taste’ and excess. Yet today, we’re also describing it as creative and brave, because we did what we wanted (and got away with it).

There’s been recent rumblings of that ‘80s beat getting louder, especially when it comes to our homes. ‘The ‘80s were incredibly bold,’ says Sandrine Zhang Ferron, founder/CEO of Vinterior (vinterior.co). ‘They were a rebellion against modernism, and they also cradled some very diverse movements, so there’s a huge choice when it comes to interiors inspiration today – from mainstream, which was heavily influenced by Art Deco, to shabby chic, which made thrifting and upcycling cool.’

‘There’s comfort in the things we have known,’ says Russell Whitehead, one half of design duo 2LG and co-author of Making Living Lovely (£19.95, Thames Hudson) with Jordan Cluroe. ‘These things can be evocative and bring back good memories. As children of the ‘80s and ‘90s, ourselves included, we’re looking to bring back memories of youth as we set about making our adult homes. There’s something so wonderful about taking the best bits of our own life experiences and making them fresh. The ‘80s were such an optimistic time and the designs were vibrant and lively. We could all do with some of that optimism right now.’