The ' fourscore are making a rejoinder . espouse these clock time - tested design principles to make a fashionable and nostalgic menage .

Read McKendree

Whether you ’re just refreshing your home base or embarking on a new design journey , decorating can be both exhilarating and daunting . The excitement builds as you browse Pinterest or Instagram and envisionyour dream home , but you might get cold foot when faced with the sempiternal raiment of decisions . While access to dwelling house decor has expanded significantly since the 1980s , the overwhelming touch sensation is n’t Modern . To overtake decision palsy , ascertain inspiration with these time - tested design precept from the ' LXXX to make acharming and nostalgic homeyou truly love . Whether you ’re drawn to silken minimalism or vibrant maximalism , these timeless tips will simplify the process and inspire you to craft a space thatreflects your personality .

Flower wallpaper in living room

Credit:Read McKendree

SCOTT LITTLE / BHG APRIL 1983 ISSUE

1. Make Mix and Match Easy

The ' 80schampioned maximalismwith a “ more is more ” ism , and the style has reelect in the shape ofcluttercore . This approach celebrates abundance , layeringbold colors , design , and textures . However , accomplish a stylish , curated feel command design intentionality rather than random chaos .

To simplify mixing and matching , a eighties BHG issue recommended curated design collections . “ assemblage render unfailing ways to conflate colour , mingle and match radiation diagram , and impart professional flair to DIY projects , ” they advised . rouge suppliers offer curated palettes , while textile supplier provide collections with cohesive textile combination . call up to vary the scale and incorporate firm textured colors to create balance whenlayering rule . Visit saleroom and seek professional steering — expert advice can make all the divergence .

2. Capitalize on Color

Be bold with color . Afresh coat of paintand a newcolor palettecan transform a quad dramatically with minimal expense . Paint ’s color , finish , and positioning all alter how a elbow room is comprehend and experienced .

Paint can work a superfluity of innovation trouble . Want a cozier feel ? Paint the cap a darker shade . look to add height ? Use the same color on the walls and ceiling . desire tomake a outer space feel biggerand bright ? Opt for a swooning shade orhigh - colour finish . Craving a bluff statement ? usher in satisfying blocks of vibrant color . If you ’re diffident where to begin with your people of colour palette , draw inspiration from a favourite piece of art or decor , choose accent hues to assure a cohesive look .

BHG NOVEMBER 1981 ISSUE

kitchen

Hector Sanchez

3. Accessorize Artfully

As Pamela Wilson Cullison note in our November 1981 issue , “ To be good , accessories must be selected as carefully as other furnishings . ” Often address the " jewellery of the home,“accessories infuse space with character , completing the design like a belt or pair of earrings does an kit . Thoughtfully choose accessories total deepness and personality , preventing a home from feel neutral or generic . The well approach shot ? rent decoraccumulate organically , collecting meaningful pieces over time . Your home should reflect your identity , with accessories that elicit remembering , spark conversations , and transform a household intoyourhome .

JOHN ROGERS / BHG NOVEMBER 1991 publication

Karyn Millet

coastal inspired dining room with patterned blue and white curtains

4. Seek Simplicity

“ Less is more , ” proclaimed modernist architect Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe , a rule that has proved popular for nearly a century . In contrast to the iconic ‘ eighty maximalism , modern simplicityhas served as a firm backdrop to evolving trends . A neutralwhite colour schememight seem predictable , but it provides the perfect canvas for vibrant graphics and strike decorative accent . Not every wall and aerofoil ask to be filled — negative quad permit the middle to repose and highlights those cautiously selected pieces .

This philosophy of simplicity put out beyond aesthetics to functionality . As advised by Cullison in 1981 , “ Modular seating area pieces are the key fruit to simple mindedness . The units can be easily rearrange to fit various living need . ” This remains lawful today , as modular furniture offer adaptability and outer space optimization , particularly insmaller homes .

Annie Schlechter

bedroom

5. Save Space with Innovative Joinery

Modular , multifunctional joinery was an innovative solution for compact living in the ‘ eighty , and it remains just as relevant today . progress in technology and sleek chemical mechanism have enhanced both form and subprogram . If youwork from homeand now and again legion guest , consider aMurphy bedsystem that seamlessly integrate a bottom into a fitted wall whole . If having a proper bed is a anteriority , hide adesk areainside the joinery with a sack door system instead . Either way , these clever conception effortlessly commute the spare room into a multifunctional space .

Bedroom with colorful pillows and skateboards

vintage living room with blue and yellow accents

Living room with contemporary style decor

minimalist living room

Minimal living room

modular Murphy bed in office

desk in a closet