Everyone Had Them In The '80s: The Living Room Trend That's Back For 2026

Need proof that everything old comes back in fashion? A style that was very much on the fringes is once again ruling home decor. "Design and fashion, in my opinion, have a 20-25 year loop, where we go back in time and bring back some elements back," designer Mugdha Girish Uma explained to The Spruce, noting there's a nostalgic element at play that makes people return to a sense of familiarity. And she's just one expert now saying you should embrace the fringe trend that dominated the '80s. "Throw pillows with tassels and fringes have become popular, be it a contrast fringe or in the same shade," the principal designer and founder of MGU Design noted. "It just adds a little bit of a glam touch to the pillows."

Decorators tout trim's ability to tie color stories together in a space and add a layer of playfulness and elegance. And after years of opting for minimalism and all shades of beige, homeowners are looking to make a bigger statement with their design choices. A way to wake up more basic throw pillows and streamlined couches in a living room, "recently, people have traded their colorless furniture for more unique and fun pieces," Bethany Struble, a lead designer at Totum Home, noted to The Zoe Report. "I think fringe is that touch of maximalism we're craving."

If you're a go big or go home type, you can make a big statement with fringe furniture — decorative tassels now making their way onto everything from couches and chairs to ottomans and lampshades. But if you'd like to just test the waters, pillows are a great way to embrace the tassel detail trend. The style runs the gamut from delicate, short brush fringe to tassel fringe to the twisted rope look of bouillon fringe or the longer threads of chainette fringe. And if you really want to have a ball, consider the small, fluffy embellishments found in pom-pom fringe. And once you've chosen your preferred look, feel free to play around with color — either sticking with a similar shade for a more cohesive feel or opting for a fringe in a complementary color to the pillow's main hue.

While retailers are getting in on the fun, with fringed pieces on offer at many major brands, you can also go the DIY route, upgrading plain pillows using a clever string trick. All that project requires is a handful of popsicle sticks, some string, a glue gun, and a bit of creativity. Though while the style is a great way to wake up an otherwise staid space, you'll want to remember you can have too much of a good thing. While a few fringed pillows are a delightful accent, a room full of tassels can start to read more like a stuffy Victorian space than modern and boho chic.