The 80s are back and conquering your soil. If the big hair and bold lipstick of 1980s fashion trends are any indication of the current interior design movement, you can imagine how this maximalist flair can revitalize your living room. Think neon pink and turquoise, zigzag patterns and bright, shaggy carpets. But if you're not ready to fully commit to Miami Vice just yet, you can give this trend a more modern twist by using '80s-style rugs to add a touch of retro flair. Plus, carpets are easier to replace if, God forbid, this exciting trend ever goes out of style (again).
For those who are a little younger or simply unfamiliar with the history of interior design, the 1980s brought what is known as postmodernism or Memphis design. In 1981, a group of architects and designers came together in Milan, Italy, to create a kind of alternative to the minimalist design of the 60s and 70s. Their aesthetic, known as Memphis Design, was inspired by Art Deco and Pop Art, fusing neon colors and a mix of prints and geometric shapes. Her furniture designs were a success and quickly spread beyond home interiors to clothing, fashion and graphic design, instilling a spirit of joy and liberation in a generation.
Read more: 17 Whimsical Vintage Decor Items to Always Look for at Thrift
Tropical prints
Tropical prints are a great choice for rugs to add a little 80s flair to any room. Things like palm trees, large leaves and exotic flowers bring a real retro holiday atmosphere to life. While these are commonly seen on wallpaper and framed prints these days, they can also be used as part of your flooring design. Choose a rug in bright colors like neon green, orange or pink to give it a distinctly '80s style. Tropical prints are a great option for those who don't want to overdo the design trend.
Geometric shapes
This daring 80s trend, which will once again conquer home design in 2025, is an absolute trademark of its time and consists of nothing other than geometric shapes. Yes, those crazy zigzag and chevron patterns are making a comeback. Other popular patterns in this category include abstract combinations of circles, squares and random lines. Nothing screams '80s more than a neon collage of geometric shapes. When used as an area rug with an eccentric background color, it can add a bold retro touch to an otherwise plain living room, which is actually the point of Memphis design.
Color blocking
The '80s weren't known for their subtle color combinations. In fact, the entire purpose seemed to be to juxtapose vibrant hues with neutral base tones to make a statement. This is where color blocking comes into play. Think bright pink rectangles against muted gray squares and other mismatched color and shape combinations to create a standout contrast. You can use a single rug with a color block design or DIY it by layering your rugs in a room to highlight the colors of your living room.
Brave guy
Shag rugs may bring back memories of 1970s burnt orange or avocado green shag floors that were all the rage in their day. But the '80s took this trend and transformed it into a bolder, more playful design that had nothing to do with the muted earth tones of the previous generation. As with most things at the time, bright colors were the name of the game. Turquoise, neon pink, and orange were all favorite colors for comfortable shag-style rugs. Instead of laying a wall-to-wall shag rug, you can opt for a colorful shag rug.
Pastels
If the neon lights and wild geometric patterns make you a little nervous, let us introduce you to the softer side of the '80s with pastel hues. Yes, the bold color options were ubiquitous back then, but softer options like baby blue, pink, and mint green were a distinct style choice in their own right. Rugs with pastel colors and particularly carved textures add a more relaxed atmosphere to bedrooms or other living spaces and pair well with lighter wood floors. This is a great option for anyone who prefers a more subtle nod to the trend.
Monochrome
Sticking with the bold color contrasts, monochrome was a popular option for carpets and flooring in the '80s. It was a more sophisticated alternative to the neon color palettes. The monochrome flooring comes in similar abstract patterns, stripes or checks, but with a strict black and white aesthetic. A solid color rug is a great statement piece and a surefire way to bring that retro '80s aesthetic to your living room. Of course, you can always pair it with bright accent colors and furniture pieces in the room to create a completely radical '80s experience.
floral pattern
A special floral pattern called chintz was all the rage in the '80s. It is a floral design, usually consisting of one or two flowers – roses were a popular choice – and printed repeatedly onto the textile, usually in a dense form. These floral patterns found their way into almost every interior design element, from curtains and sofas to bedspreads and wallpaper. You can achieve this look without having to convert your home into an entire living area. Instead, opt for a rug with a fun floral pattern to add that magical '80s energy to your current space.
Animal prints
You simply can't consider 1980s trends without mentioning animal prints. Playful options like leopard or zebra prints were found everywhere, from clothing to accessories to interior design. These patterns were more commonly seen in the typical neon tones in the 80s rather than their natural hues. After all, why buy black and white zebra-striped pants when you can get them in a burst of pink and purple? Likewise, your animal print rug can definitely incorporate this trend's bright color palette to add some excitement to your living space.
Mauve
If you didn't experience this era yourself, you might be a little surprised to learn that one of the biggest hits of this time was the color purple. And it comes back in every way – interior paint, carpet, curtains, even clothing. The 80s, the maximalist genre, would have splashed every inch of the house in purple. However, for a more modern touch, you can grab a purple rug and pair it with another earthy or neutral shade for a more relaxed twist.
Nostalgic carpets
If you want an incredibly obvious, nostalgic nod to the 1980s, you can opt for a printed rug, like this one from Society6, that looks like a stack of old VHS or cassette tapes. Using iconic '80s pop culture to bring the free-spirited era into your living room is a great way to modernize the trend. It's also a fun way to add your own personality to the design. Whether you're obsessed with Back to the Future or can't stop singing old Cyndi Lauper hits, you can find a way to incorporate it into your living space.
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