Everyone Had It In The '80s, Now It's A Thrift Store Gem We'd Be Thrilled To Find

Dig up those shoulder bags and your favorite acid wash jeans, because the '80s are back, baby. While we'd hold off on scheduling that perm just yet, many of the decade's interior design trends are booming once again. Because after years of neutral interiors, homeowners are getting rid of millennial gray by switching to warm earthy designs and, perhaps more interestingly, embracing maximalist prints. Admittedly, while florals are trending again, it's not in the way you expect.

Between 2020 and 2022, York Wallcoverings reported a 215% growth in floral pattern sales, per The Wall Street Journal. Gina Shaw, the brand's vice president of product development, attributes the uptick, at least partially, to millennials' unfamiliarity with the style that ruled the 1980s. "Wallpaper is new for them, and they are excited by pattern and color," she told The Wall Street Journal.

It's not just wall coverings. With the rise of cottagecore, people are once again embracing flowers on fabrics, linens, rugs, and even vases. For example, the feminine florals of iconic '80s brand Laura Ashley were in every 1990s home. Now you can find this textile brand at the thrift store, and it's in demand on eBay and Etsy. While dainty patterns and traditional chintz fabrics have started appearing everywhere, people are also going big with their blooms. Liz Williams, founder and principal designer of Liz Williams Interiors, told Good Housekeeping that people have been gravitating toward bolder prints "because they make a statement."

No matter what the florals are on, you'll want to properly plant them in your space. The key to giving '80s home decor a modern upgrade is to not commit to the whole proverbial garden, but rather mix those blooms, whether bold or dainty, in with other patterns. A complementary geometric print, for instance, can balance organic patterns. You could, for example, add a striped border to the floral throw pillows on your bed or sofa. The contrast helps bring a pretty print that might otherwise feel old-fashioned into the modern day. Likewise, bold or dusty solid colors can help dispel the grandma's house reputation of a floral print, too.

If you're still hesitant to help the floral trend take root in your home, start with just a bud or two. Consider digging in with a Xiblc 100% Cotton Floral Boho Throw Blanket on a mustard yellow faux velvet couch. Or, if you're feeling a bit bolder, create a vignette in a modern, minimalist bookshelf with a small table lamp fitted with a floral shade and some vintage curios. Pairing floral prints with less delicate fabrics, textures, and shades helps them feel more contemporary. For a truly '80s-coded statement in the kitchen, hang frilly, floaty, bloom-covered cafe curtains in the window over the sink. After all, what's the point of looking back for design inspiration if we're not going to lean into a little nostalgia?