There’s no doubt that the 80s are back, thanks to the return of Rivals to our TV screens. But it’s not just the towering heels and impressive shoulder pads which are making a return; the blockbuster show’s impact has made its way into interior design.
From the opulence of Lord and Lady Baddingham’s sitting room with its chintz sofas and huge swagged curtains to the cluttered country kitchen at The Priory as Taggie O’Hara caters for her disorderly family as well as everyone else’s in Rutshire, the decade of excess is making its way into our homes as well as our wardrobes.
But before you reach for the wood panelling and wonder if you too can have a wine cellar AND a larder like Mr and Mrs Stratton, put down the Martini Bianco and check out what trends from that hedonistic decade should make an appearance in our homes and which, like Tony Baddingham’s morals, should remain firmly in the past.
Here’s how to get a look to rival the ITV show.
The 80s home was busy with florals, stripes and colour
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More is more
The 80s home was busy with florals, stripes and colour – it was definitely a ‘more is more’ decade. This is probably too much for our homes these days, where we are used to sleeker lines and understated luxury, but there is definitely room for bringing back patterns and playfulness into our rooms.
Mixing patterns like striped curtains with floral bedlinen or curtains is a great way to bring a nostalgic element into your home, without going for the migraine-inducing overkill we saw back then
Bold colour
Maud O’Hara would not be seen dead in a room with off-white walls and beige upholstery. No, the 80s were all about colour, whether it was sugary pastels or jewel tones which evoke images of regal palaces.
Bring it up to date with statement pieces in bright and daring tones rather than the total colour drenching – and leave the neon out of it.
Key colour choices we’re seeing are rich tones like teal (THE colour for Autumn/Winter 26/27), chocolate, burgundy and juniper greens.
If you really miss the 80s and are feeling brave, you could always play with corals, peaches and pale greens but avoid too much of it and definitely avoid the temptation of replacing the bathroom suite with something in avocado or turquoise. We’ll definitely leave that to Valerie Jones.
Rustic country home
So popular it never really did go away, particularly in the smartest homes in the country, where the concept of a tidy kitchen instead of one filled with wellies, Barbour jackets and muddy dogs would be unthinkable.
Think scrubbed pine tables, dried flowers and classic Laura Ashley floral prints on blinds and lampshades, but modernised so it’s contained in feature pieces which add to that laid back look as if it all came together totally accidentally after the morning walking the dogs.
It could be as simple as a few floral vases, vintage crockery and some tea towels. Wooden cabinets are also very popular right now and combine being on trend with longevity and practicality for a modern, rustic finish.
Chintz
You might be one of those people who were delighted to see the back of chintz, along with pie frill collars and pussycat bows, in which case this might not be the trend for you.
But if you look at Lady Baddingham’s sitting room with misty-eyed nostalgia, then you need no further reason to bring back floral curtains, tassels and scalloped designs.
They’re everywhere right now, and they don’t have to be in expensive pelmet curtains or an entirely new three-piece suite.
The 80s were about the details so you can update an existing room with new cushions or lampshades to avoid it feeling too old-fashioned.
Big, curved sofas
They knew about comfort in the 80s. Forget straight edges and clean lines; when they went for a sofa, they went for big, and they went for comfort.
Statement furniture was as big back then as it is now, and nothing says statement like a luxurious, curved sofa or armchair in a rich colour and fabric.
The 80s were all about the details
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GETTY
Combine trends by adding in floral touches or scalloped detail and settle down in the soft cushions as you catch up on the latest goings on in Rutshire and the will-they-won’t-they of Taggie and Rupert.
For more information visit www.madisonandmayfair.com