There’s an Instagram account for everyone and everything, including one dedicated to ‘80s interiors. It’s called “80s interior” and is a selection of photos curated by Simon Knight, a Londoner passionate about everything 80s: shopping malls, restaurants, offices, bedrooms, kitchens, studios and bathrooms.
“I love everything about the 80s, especially interior design. I started looking for interiors photos on the internet and when I found 80s interiors I felt like I was back in my childhood” Simon told AnOther Mag.
“The formula is pretty easy: empty interiors, no people and humorous captions that talk about futuristic aspirations, excessive decorations and neon lights from a rich and decadent era”. Pictures of bathrooms from the ‘80s are many, that’s Knight’s favourite room “especially if there’s a rug, a built-in bathtub and a little palm tree in the corner. The majority of rooms in the ‘80s had palm trees or ferns”.
Scrolling through his profile, it will be easy to draft a ‘manual’ of the perfect ‘80s interiors. For example, colours have to be boldly matched or you can opt for a same-colour combination: there’s nothing more ‘80s than dark purple combined with lilac, grey and brown. Glass-concrete bricks are enhanced by colourful neon lights. Panel curtains, wooden coverings, Memphis’ graphics, mirrors, velvet rugs and pink furniture (sorry Millenials but pink is such an ‘80s colour).
Jokes aside, ‘The 80s interior’ Instagram account is also a collection of home accessories and decorations. Portable TVs, hi-fi systems, record players, blankets with graphic patterns (from Ettore Sottsass’ designs to banana or map-themed ones), fish tanks and stationary bicycles. All these objects remind us of the magic nostalgia of an era when each of these items was considered strange and revolutionary at the same time. An era when anything is possible while decorating your home.
