The Decor Choice That Gives Your Bedroom An Authentic '80s Look (Plus, They Could Be Valuable)
If your pivotal years were spent in the 1980s, there's a better-than-average chance you had a Walkman on your hip, a Swatch watch on your wrist, and a proud claim of being a mall rat. The '80s were about maximalism before we knew what that meant. We had big hair, over-the-top fashion, and wall-to-wall bedrooms plastered with posters of our favorite bands, teen heartthrobs, and pop culture icons. Bedroom walls were giant mood boards. Posters were how we let our personalities shine in our own private area of the house. It was less about matching decor and more about surrounding yourself with the things you loved.
In the '80s, posters were super accessible, especially for those of us who relied on an allowance. They were an inexpensive way to transform our rooms on our own terms. Teen bedrooms were covered from floor to ceiling with posters of Madonna, Bon Jovi, and Motley Crue, sometimes hanging alongside movie posters like "The Breakfast Club," "E.T.," or "Sixteen Candles." Posters were pinned up carelessly and even thrown away when you decided to switch things up, but nowadays, collectors love them. Surviving originals in good condition can be valuable, like first-release movie posters, concert tour prints, and promo music posters, especially if they feature cult-classic films or legendary musicians. When you've taken your living room back to the '80s and want to recreate your happy place in the bedroom, vintage posters are the best way to get that authentic '80s look.
How to decorate with '80s posters without making your bedroom look childish
The 1980s are having a major moment. While we plan to leave wall-to-wall carpet exactly where it belongs — in the past — we're all about breaking out the retro posters of the people and things our younger selves adored. But the difference between a bedroom that feels authentically nostalgic and one that looks like a teenager's unfinished dorm room comes down to balance. If you held on to some of your favorite posters, you're already on your way to a totally authentic look. If not, you might get lucky and come across popular '80s art at the thrift store or reproductions on eBay.
@oldh0llyw0od_ me and my 80s posters against the world 😌 #80sroom #nostalgia #roomtour #foryoupage #xyzabc
The key to adding wall posters to your bedroom is to bring out your' 80s-era personality without turning every inch of wall space into visual clutter, as you probably did back then. One of the easiest ways to make vintage posters feel elevated is to mix framed and unframed pieces. Back in the day, our posters were taped to the wall. Frames are an adult-y step up from tape and make the poster look even more important. Plus, the intentional mismatch keeps your bedroom from looking too polished.
Scale matters, too. Rather than decorating with dozens of tiny prints, choose a few oversized statement posters and build around them. This is where that life-size Jon Bon Jovi poster fits in. A large vintage movie poster above the bed instantly becomes a focal point, especially if you have a retro-style brass bed, lacquered furniture, and other popular '80s interior design trends that are back in style.