A Collection of Some Really Intense Interior Designs From the 70s and 80s

John Summers • Contributor

Jun 9, 2025 7:00 PM EDT

How do you tell if an interior design is from the 70s or 80s? Easy. If it's so green it looks like the inside of a freshly mowed lawn (and makes you a little queasy), you're in the 70s. If it's all about minimalist shapes and colors that would make a box of Crayola markers jealous, it's definitely the 80s. At least, that's what I've gathered from surviving my childhood home's décor - no expert here, just a witness to some seriously questionable style choices.

I grew up in a house where the bathroom was floor-to-ceiling green (because apparently that was peak sophistication?), and the living room was just one giant shag carpet that doubled as a static electricity trap. It was a vibe, and not always a good one.

So let's take a moment to appreciate the intense, sometimes dizzying interiors of the 70s and 80s—because no matter how questionable your current wall art or furniture might be, at least it's not a psychedelic green bathroom or a living room that looks like a geometry homework assignment exploded.

Here are 38 examples of those over-the-top interior designs that'll make you grateful for your "boring" modern home décor. Scroll down and let the nostalgia (and confusion) wash over you!