The 80s are making a comeback, but with a modern twist – think bright glass, squiggly lines, and an explosion of colour. Sounds fun, right? We look at how you can recreate this style in your kitchen, bedroom or bathroom…
The colour palette for this look is confident. Dare to go bold and mix and match bright reds and oranges, sunny yellows and minty greens. But apart from vibrant hues, this retro interior design trend with a modern touch is also characterised by geometric shapes.
If you want to nail the look in your kitchen, why not opt for retro appliances? These will definitely set the tone for your scheme and get your guests talking. For example, you can pair a tall, colourful old-style fridge-freezer with modern, metallic brassware. Then, to finish off the scheme, decorate with organically-shaped accessories – anything goes, from arc vases to curved bowls and reeded plates.
Sort your bedroom storage needs with help from statement side tables or chunky walnut wardrobes. To fully embrace the trend, ensure you dress your walls in radiant shades or striking patterned wallpaper. Keep warm and add another layer of comfort (and interest) through eccentric tufted rugs.
Lastly, in your bathroom, hit refresh on your scheme with glossy metro or square tiles, bold concrete basins and pretty, scalloped mirrors. I, for one, feel inspired – don’t you?
To help get your creativity going and show you exactly what you can achieve, I’ve put together a gallery and a shopping edit (yes, you can thank me later). Get your screenshot button ready and let’s take a look…
Retro interior design
Dare to go bold and create a colourful retro look. Habitat two tone glass bowl, £16; Optimist tufted wool cushion, £22, and Optimist tufted wool rug, £125, all from Habitat.Take your kitchen up a notch with the Elements collection Forest Green splashback, from £139. Alusplash.For a retro scheme with a modern feel, pair classic furniture designs with sleek, metallic brassware and bright paint shades. Fresh Peach on the door frame, and Serene Peach on the ceiling, £21 for 1 litre of emulsion, Yescolours. Revive your bedroom scheme with the Ravello bed, from £980 for a double, sofa.com. Upgrade your bathroom with the Trasparenze gloss finish ceramic wall tiles in Tortora and Cipria, from £99 per sq m, and Interni satin finish mosaic floor tiles in Petrolio, £176 per sq m, Domus. Get the retro interior design look with help from the Light green zig zag side table, £325, Rose & Grey. Update your lighting solutions with help from the Ferroluce Pau turquoise and orange pendant lamp, from £372.08, Nedgis.Why not refresh your little one’s sleep space with colourful bedding? Retro fun stripe organic cotton duvet cover, £109, Antipodream.
Shop the look
From colourful tufted rugs and squiggly mirrors to geometric glassware and statement furniture, get inspired to recreate the modern 80s style. Shopping cart at the ready…
1. Schwaedenplatz Peach, blue and yellow hand-tufted rug, from £300 for a small rug, Studio Tuft. 2. Green Matmat ceramic side table, £135, La Redoute. 3. Sylvie mirror in red, from £290, Pooky. 4. Alma velvet super king size bed in Mustard Yellow, £1729, Pepper Sq. 5. Hesta nesting side tables, £175, Mad About Mid Century Modern. 6. Sage x Clare Seymour Peach shag cushion, £109, Antipodream. 1. Gold reeded kitchen tap, £276.99, Dowsing & Reynolds. 2. Walls and Ceilings matt emulsion in Sunrise, from £18 for 2.5 litres, Crown. 3. Wave bowl in Faded Pink, £65, Five And Dime. 4. Utility tumbler 300ml, £40, LSA International. 5. Hubsch Bon Bon bowl in blue, £16, Quince & Cook. 6. Stone Designs Jelly glass pendant light in red, £198, Innermost Plus. 7. Puzzle of Passion JOY33 wall covering, £26 per m, Omexo. 8. Harlequin three-drawer chest in Multi Blue, £3200, Jonathan Adler.
