Selecting the right piece of furniture for your home decor style involves more than making a choice based solely on an item’s purpose, appearance, or comfort. The nest of tables, chairs, beds, sofas, and lighting that we choose to bring into our home reveals something about our identity, and who we are as individuals. This is because our choice of furniture ultimately reflects our individual tastes as much as it reflects the prevailing trends of the times. This is one reason why some retro designs and items of decor remain so popular decades after they were introduced.
Despite Changes in Design, High Quality is the One Thing that Never Goes Out of Style
Furniture designs and home decor styles have certainly changed over the decades, thanks to new materials and manufacturing methods, coupled with changing preferences. When it comes to interior decorating and design there is only one thing that remains the same and has never gone out of style. This is the overwhelming preference for beautiful, expertly crafted, highly durable furnishings such as those made by Thomasville Furniture.
Design Trends by the Decades
Trying to achieve a certain look in your home can be quite a challenge. The following list is a brief overview of some of the most popular furniture designs of the last several decades that will hopefully provide the inspiration that you need to select just the right pieces to create a warm and inviting home that celebrates your personal sense of home decor style.
Top Furniture Trends of the 1960s
The 1960s were known for their unprecedented level of upheaval and change, as teenagers and young adults began to question conventional modes of living. Technological advances led to the first moon landing, and space-age design themes became all the rage.
Furniture styles responded to these influences by entering the “post-modern” era. Furniture made at this time featured departed sharply from the heavy, dark wood finishes and well-defined lines that defined furniture from prior eras.
Bright colors and metallics dominated the appearance of furniture and furnishings. Most items of decor from this era, from television sets to bean bag seats, featured rounded edges that evoked space. Textured fabrics such as shag carpets also started to become widely popular.
Interior Design Trends in the 1970s
The 1970s were known for their emphasis on individual wants and desires. This decade embraced bright, bold colors and unique textures. Some of the most popular shades used in home interiors during this decade are avocado green, burnt orange, and mustard yellow.
Except for the disco ball, geometric shapes quickly replaced circular forms, and the open floor plan was born. There was also a drive to bring more of the outside into our homes.
Natural materials such as stone and pine began to be used in wall and floor coverings, and potted plants were commonly dispersed throughout the living space.
Home Decor Style in the 1980s
The 1980s saw a strong preference for more subdued colors. Light, airy pastels and floral chintz patterns replaced bright, psychedelic colors found in fabrics and wall and floor coverings.
Traditional kitchen tables with natural wood finishes made a comeback, replacing the 1970s kitchen bars with elevated stools. Small, movable kitchen islands became popular. They were brought out solely for food prep before being rolled back against the wall for easy storage.
Large- scale electronics, halogen lamps, polished brass fixtures, glass coffee tables, and heavy drapery that swept from ceiling to floor were additional design elements popular during the 80s.
Home Decorating During the 1990s
The 1990s saw the invention of sponge-painted walls and faux finishes, floral wallpaper borders, and track lighting, thanks in large part to the explosion of on-air home decorating programs. Overly large, overstuffed furniture was another 1990s staple.
Shades of hunter green, dusty rose, and ivy and plaid prints were all the rage at the beginning of the 90s before giving way to more neutral shades. During this time, the most popular finish for cabinetry and other wood furniture was a glossy, light oak.
The 2000s to Today
Modern electronics such as TVs and computers now emphasize customization, and furniture styles have mirrored this trend. Today, there is a heavy emphasis on blending old and new styles.
Most homes now feature an eclectic mix of furniture styles and retro designs from the past several decades. The most popular furniture trend at the moment involves DIY home decor projects that refresh the look of old furniture or re-purpose it into something different altogether.
Kitchens have now largely replaced the living room in importance. With kitchen islands increasing in size and becoming an all-purpose focal point. All-white color schemes, free-standing cabinetry, subway tiles, farmhouse sinks, and stainless-steel appliances are top design trends as are fixtures with oil-rubbed finishes.
Where furniture styles and home decor will go from here is anyone’s guess, but once this is certain, what is popular today will certainly change.
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