This Is What American Homes Looked Like in the 1980s

If there's a decade that's filled with nostalgia, especially for Gen Xers, it's the 1980s. Everything about the years from 1980 to 1989 evokes strong memories and feelings of the foods, music, TV shows, and even home designs. Take a trip back in time with a Gen Xer who knows exactly what American homes looked like in the 1980s. They're in alphabetical order and something every neighborhood home had in common.

This post was updated on November 4, 2025 to clarify the trendy carpet jewel tones, popularity of Nintendo, details regarding microwaves, popcorn ceiling popularity beginning in the 60s, and the most popular tile colors.

While ranches shifted to raised ranches in the 1960s and 1970s, homes of the 1980s were built to be asymmetrical. Facades were angled and met rooflines that lacked symmetry. Stone facades were often paired with wood siding in diagonal or vertical angles. Built-ins and cathedral ceilings were fashionable interior features.

While shag carpeting was popular throughout the 1960s and 1970s, it faded out in the 1980s. This former home trend was replaced by bold colors and plush carpeting. Bold plush carpeting in jewel tones (burgundy, hunter green, navy, dusty rose) were popular choices.

Another huge trend in 1980s décor was brass bed frames and other essential features within a home. While the frame wasn't true brass, it was brass-coated steel or aluminum that was polished until it shined. In addition to brass beds, brass was found on chandeliers and fireplace screens.

Lucky kids in the 1980s found their parents bringing home a personal computer and setting it up in a family room for everyone to share. The first computers used a floppy disk and DOS.

Until the 1980s, phones were rotary and had cords that kept you contained to an area within a few feet of the phone. The first commercial cordless phones came out in 1980, and they weren't as private as people might think. You could pick up your phone and hear a neighbor's phone conversation.

In some modern homes, corner tubs remain popular. Large, jetted tubs, often corner or sunken, became a luxury symbol in the late 80s. Carpeting in a bathroom was another common 1980s home decor feature.

Chintz's giant flower prints found their way into many homes. Large pink and green country roses were all the rage in the early 1980s. With floral chintz highly popular, country roses were a similar trend. Wallpaper coordinated with matching curtains and throw cushions in trendy '80s homes. Laura Ashley was one of the most popular designers for these floral items.

Furniture in the 1980s often had curves over sharp angles. Circular coffee tables, sofas, and chairs with rounded or curved edges and arms trended. Chaise lounges with curves along the sides and ends were also trendy.

The 1980s kicked off the trend of having a gaming system in your home. Early 80s consoles like Atari & Intellivision gave way to the Nintendo Entertainment System, which defined home gaming by the late 80s. These systems appeared on many children's Christmas and birthday wish lists.

Home design in the 1980s focused on bright colors and geometric shapes in abstract patterns. Bookcases would be at angles rather than straight lines, and seating might have an orange seat with green arms, a blue backrest, with black legs. In a teen bedroom, white comforters covered in geometric patterns in primary colors, black, and white were paired with posters of favorite musicians and actors.

Microwave ovens came out in the late 1960s, but they weren't a household staple until the 1980s. When prices fell, they became a must-have in every kitchen, even though they were giant and took up a lot of counter space. These bulky countertop microwaves became widespread.

Showers and baths often had glass block walls to separate the watery area from the rest of the room. Glass block walls were also popular for separating sunny rooms from others without impacting the flow of sunlight.

Drapes or heavy curtains were all the rage, and the longer and heavier they were, the better. The focus was often on flowered patterns or dark colors in textures like velvet or velour.

While people today loathe popcorn ceilings for good reason, they were extremely trendy home designs from the 60s-80s in suburban homes. Ceilings were coated in a paint that created a bumpy, popcorn-like texture that is hard to paint and keep clean.

Music on LPs, cassettes, and later CDs was played on large wood-grained stereo rack systems. In homes with larger budgets, individual components were combined to form a full system with speakers that brought the music to life. With the increased popularity of the boombox thanks to TV and movies, people shifted to these more portable options that could be used both inside and outside the home.

Tiles were a popular design in 1980s kitchens. In addition to tiled counters and backsplashes, tiled range hoods were equally fashionable. Tiles with added designs like flowers, fruits, or vegetables were also trendy. This tiled look stayed popular into the 80s, often paired with honey-oak cabinets. Harvest Gold lingered in early 80s homes, but almond and white took over later.

Hanging pendant lights were popular in the 1970s. Those lights faded from fashion in the 1980s. Instead, home designers shifted to track lighting. The white lights could be positioned to illuminate different areas of a room at the same time. It's a trend that remains popular, though the light fixtures offer more variety today.

As heavy drapes fell out of fashion, they were replaced with vinyl vertical blinds. Patio doors weren't complete without these vertical slats connected by strands of plastic or metal beads and ropes on pulley systems that opened and closed them.

Long before you streamed movies over the internet, you played them at home on a video cassette. The debate over VHS or Betamax lasting the longest ended almost as soon as it began. Both players came out in the late 1970s, but VHS would be the one that lasted. It was found in almost every American home until the DVD player made these movie and video players obsolete.

Wallpaper dates back to China's Qin Dynasty, though they used rice paper to adorn walls. Patterned wallpaper went up in many homes in the 1980s. Ferns, stripes, and flowers were especially popular.

While wicker and rattan furniture are still common outside a home, they were a popular option inside. Beds, sofas, chairs, and dining room furniture all boasted woven designs that looked great but were hard to keep clean of dust. Bedrooms were especially popular places for wicker furniture with bedside tables, headboards, and footboards all made from wicker.