From movie remakes (Bill and Ted – yeah, really) to shows like Stranger Things, the '80s seem to be back on our minds.
The same goes for contemporary home style, in which Memphis Design has re-emerged. Founded in 1980 by The Memphis Group, the design style is characterized by bold colors, geometric shapes like circles and triangles, and squiggles. Its influence was seen in everything from art galleries to the set of the Pee-wee Herman Show.
"Primary colors and graphic shapes haven't seen this much action since the eighties," designer Carolyn Pressly told Elle Decor.
Designer Ettore Sottsass founded the Memphis Group with a circle of designers and architects who brainstormed the concept over drinks and a Bob Dylan song on repeat. "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues" played again and again, and the movement's name was born.
The Memphis Design comeback could be due in part to a consumer that's grown weary of sleek lines and monochromes. Memphis is like shoulder pads in a world gone naked. It's bold and vibrant, impossible to miss, and quite a statement.
Pressly said enveloping tub chairs and Vladimir Kagan-esque curved sofas are also appearing in their space planning, replacing straight, rigid furniture lines.
