20 Essentials for the Perfect 80s Bedroom
20 Essentials for the Perfect 80s Bedroom
While many people stick to the same interior design style throughout most of their home, some choose a different approach for their bedroom. They see the bedroom as a space that is personal to them, and it is somewhere they can reflect their personality and passions. In the bedroom, they can choose a different theme that represents anything in which they are interested. If your favorite decade was the 80s or you are a fan of music from this decade, then you may wish to have an 80s themed bedroom. It was an interesting decade that introduced many new trends, both in terms of interior design and in many other aspects of culture. If you decide that this is the decade you wish to use as a theme in your bedroom, then here are 10 essentials for the perfect 80s bedroom to inspire you.
1. Paint Effects
The 1980s was the era when people began to attempt decorating themselves rather than getting in the experts. DIY was all the rage during this decade, and people became increasingly daring and experimental in the home décor effects they were attempting to make. Stippling and stenciling were two popular paint effect styles. If you find these a little dated, then you might give paint splattering a try, as this was also a popular paint effect used in the 1980s, says Home Guides.
2. Neon Surfaces
People also became more daring about the colors used in the 1980s. While colors such as mauve and apple green were popular choices in country homes, neon colors became a big hit during this decade. People began wearing neon-colored leg warmers, and kids’ accessories were often in neon colors. Consider having some neon surfaces in your 80s bedroom to reflect the trend for these bright colors in that decade.
3. Posters on the Walls
The art you display on your walls can make a significant difference to the overall look of a room and the success of any theme you apply. In the 1980s, adorning the bedroom walls with posters was the most popular way of adding interesting focal points around the room. Most people put up posters of their favorite bands or movies. Doing this is something that you can do to add to the 80s theme in your bedroom.
4. Oak and Pine Furniture
The most common type of furniture you would see in homes during the 1980s was either oak or pine furniture. People opted for the plain wood look rather than for stained or painted wood. Choose a wooden bed frame, and add a pine or oak chest of drawers, wardrobe, and bedside cabinet to the room. In-built furniture became popular much later, so freestanding furniture is a better reflection of the era.
5. Iconic 80s Toys
There are many iconic toys that come from the 1980s, many of which are still popular today. Some of the most popular toys from this era include the Rubik’s cube, Barbies, Transformers, Care Bears, and My Little Pony figures. Adorning the room with some of these toys will reflect the theme perfectly and add an element of fun to your 80s bedroom.
6. Character Lamps
An interior accessory that became popular during the 1980s was character lamps. These reflected the trends in movies, television programs, and decade’s music. It is still possible to get hold of some of the original character lamps from the 80s on sites specializing in selling retro items or from sites such as eBay. Although many are collector’s items, they are an affordable item that will add to your interior décor theme. They are also an interesting talking point if you invite guests into your bedroom to see your themed room.
7. Themed Bed Linen
It was during the 1980s that the popularity of themed bed linen began to grow. Usually, these were seen in the bedrooms of children and teenagers, rather than adults. However, many adults now use themed bed linen to create a retro look or to make an ironic statement. Some of the most popular bed linen themes during the 1980s were Care Bears, Star Wars, My Little Pony, and Transformers. Using themed bed linen is a fun way to create the 1980s theme in a bedroom, especially in children’s bedrooms.
8. VHS Tapes
According to the Huffington Post, VHS tapes were to the 1980s what the iPad is to the modern-day. If you have a video player, then you can still watch your old VHS tapes. However, you can also use old VHS tapes as decorative items that add to the theme. Stack them on shelves or create a piece of art using your old tapes.
9. Patterned Soft Furnishings
Modern soft furnishing trends often focus on pieces that are a solid color that acts as an accent to the colors on your walls. There is also a focus on introducing different fabrics and textures. However, people took a different approach to soft furnishings in the 1980s. Then, the trend was for patterned soft furnishings, with floral prints, stripes, and geometric designs. Adding soft furnishings to your 80s bedroom will create additional points of interest. However, choose prints and colors carefully to avoid clashing too much with the other designs and colors in your bedroom.
10. Add Some Houseplants
According to Retro Planet, one of the most common décor accessories in the 80s was houseplants. During this decade, most homes would have houseplants in every room, including the bedroom. It is a simple and cheap way of contributing to your 80s theme, and it will add a natural element to the room. In addition to house plants, there was also a trend for dried flowers. If you are forgetful when it comes to caring for plants, then dried flowers are an excellent alternative. Add them to your windowsill, bedside cabinet, or the top of your drawers.
11. Large frameless mirrors
If there was one thing that all interior designers in the 80s agreed on was putting up large mirrors in every home. From round frameless mirrors and glass blocks to floor-to-ceiling mirrors, people had their fill of mirrors around the house. According to Family Handyman, although not every home had floor-to-ceiling mirrors, they were often seen in movies or TV shows. If you want to incorporate a mirrored look into your 80’s themed bedroom, then these are perfect ways to add that effect. Mirrors added the illusion of more space while also hiding cabinets. This is great for a small bedroom as it makes the room feel bigger than it is.
12. Blinds
Blinds and especially mini blinds became popular in the 80s. It was almost impossible to walk into a house and not find blinds. By 1981, mini-blinds had taken over the market for window coverings. Modern blinds can dramatize a window, give the room a new look, or even take attention away from a window.
Mini-blinds give a room an 80s feel and can help you hide structural errors around your windows or bad designs. Now, if you already have an 80s-themed wallpaper or even wall patterns from the era, you can find blinds that seamlessly match your wall designs.
13. Faux stone fireplace
People around that decade started to appreciate faux stone fireplaces. They moved away from brick fireplaces and walls that were classics in the 70s. Exposed brick designs were popular in the 70s and made houses look like old warehouses. In the 80s, people started covering up exposed brick and using fake fireplace designs that looked like a rock, making their houses look very pretty.
You can include a fake rock fireplace design in your house, especially if your bedroom already has a fireplace. Although not for everyone, this design will bring back the fiery 80s era to your room.
14. Boom box
A Boom box is the ultimate 80s décor for your room. Although the first boom box was released in 1966, it was not until the late 70s that they started to become popular. By the 80s, almost every music lover in the country owned a boom box. Young people were purchasing boom boxes in large numbers, especially those who lived in cities.
They became a staple in all major music events and carnivals. They also became linked with the hip-hop culture at the time. Although now it would be hard to find cassette tapes to play in your boom, it would certainly add an 80s flair to the room.
15. Landline telephone
Although telephone communication devices were invented in the 1800s, by the 1980s, landlines were the most popular communication devices. Technology had taken off, and people had phones in their houses.
Even though mobile phones as we know them now had not been developed, communication was made easier by landlines, which almost every house in America had. Phone companies have even come up with ways of making the phones look fun, with most having different colors.
In the 80s, neon colors had taken off, and many landlines from the time had bright neon green, pink, and red colors, to mention a few. You can add a brightly colored old landline from vintage stores to finish the 80s look.
16. Mirrored closet doors
As mentioned above, the mirror craze in the 80s was booming, and another easy and functional way people incorporated mirrors into their bedrooms was by putting mirrors on their closet doors.
This is functional and a great way to add an 80s vibe to the bedroom. Instead of putting your mirror up on the wall, consider putting it on your closet doors. This way, you can look at yourself as you dress up and make sure you look good.
17. Wall-to-wall carpets or area rugs
A trend that started in the 70s and continued to the 80s was wall-to-wall shag carpeting. The wall-to-wall carpet was king during the 80s. It was especially popular in bright colors such as orange. If you want to add the 80s vibe to your bedroom, you can choose a brightly colored caret to accompany all the other 80s accessories in the room. As stated by SFGate, if you don’t want to add a wall-to-wall carpet, you can consider adding area rugs with bright colors, geometric designs, or graphic prints. People who do not want a bright carpet can get them in other colors that were also popular at the time, including mauve, peach, grey, and dusty blue.
18. Bean Bag chairs
These comfy, plush chairs were extremely popular then, and it was challenging to find a home without one. Although they originated in Italy, they became popular in the US, especially among young people and hippies. These shapeless chairs were comfortable and are also popular today.
The most popular designs in the 80s were colorful, bold, and lively prints. If you want to bring out the 80s theme, look for a brightly colored bean bag or one with bold patterns and plop it up in the corner of the room. This functional addition to the bedroom will add some color and comfort to your bedroom.
19. Alarm clocks
Forget the alarm clock on your phone. Before the world was digitized and mobile phones got features like the alarm, people were woken up daily by portable alarm clocks, which were loud and needed to be banged on to stop. The 1980s alarm clocks were different and cute.
The clocks had numbers that flipped and came in fake wood veneer. Some of them sported bright colors significantly in the 80s and made clicking sounds. Adding a cool 80s alarm clock and ditching your phone’s alarm will make you feel like you are living in the 80s.
20. Floral Sofa
Much like every other décor piece in the 70s and 80s, furniture tended to have bright upholstery. Sofas, in particular, sported bright, bold colors with floral prints. While wallpapers and rugs tended to lean towards geometric patterns, floral designs were the go-to furniture designs.
While floral sofas can be a great addition to your bedroom, especially if it is a big room and you want to add a seating area, you have to consider what designs you want your sofa to have as mixing a lot of the popular floral designs from the 80s can make your room look very busy and overwhelming to the eyes.