This Flashy Old-School Design Trend From Italy Still Has A Place In Modern Kitchens

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When we pore over old-school kitchen trends from the '80s, Memphis design lurks in the background, arguably the unseen inspiration behind the spike in neon lighting and pops of black and white that spilled over into the '90s. You may not know this aesthetic by name, but millennials and anyone older would recognize it by sight based on ubiquitous pop culture references: the zany, pattern-heavy, high-contrast squiggles, stripes, and geometric prints that made the logo of "Rugrats," the sets of "Saved By the Bell," and the vibe of old MTV commercials so distinctive. You'd recognize the mixture of pastels and eye-popping brights, the unexpected shapes, and the reliance on shiny laminate everything. It's divisive, but it's also striking.

It doesn't hurt that Memphis design has bonafide haute couture roots that lend it a certain (admittedly wacky) elegance. Italian designer Ettore Sottsass founded this school of design with industry friends and collaborators who were sick of the boring colors, shapes, and patterns of 1960s and '70s décor. The Memphis group rejected the ho-hum blandness of Modernism and Brutalism and created fresh, postmodern infusions of pop art and Art Deco flair that was unlike anything that the design world had ever seen. Memphis design defined the visuals of the 1980s. It's not a design choice for the timid, as it definitely screams for attention. With that said ... dare we say that we're ready to bring Memphis design into our kitchens? If you're feeling even a bit daring, this can dramatically revamp one of the most-used spaces in your home.

While old-school wood paneling and the '80s graphic tile trend, both of which have experienced recent resurgences, can be difficult beasts to tame in modern cooking spaces, Memphis design is nothing short of challenging. It doesn't necessarily play well with, say, the simplistic farmhouse vibe that has dominated so much kitchen décor of recent decades, and a little goes a long way. While we've seen folks lean in fully to the Memphis movement, with rounded custom pantries, powder-pink tiles, turquoise laminate cabinets, and triangular built-ins that put one in mind of a retro kids' playhouse, there are ways to embrace what makes Memphis design cool without going full-send on the weirder aspects.

Color choices can do a lot of the heavy lifting for you if you are seeking a rad kitchen. Contrasting a pastel shade (think baby pink or blue, soft spring green, or Easter egg yellow) with a bold bright automatically gives an edge of Memphis cool. You can sprinkle in little touches that pack a punch without a permanent commitment, too, like this checkerboard wooden paper towel holder or some abstract wall art in a vibey print. If you are a little more daring, how about geometric line peel-and-stick wallpaper that's straight from the Memphis playbook? This might not be your forever décor, but choosing elements you can replace without too much difficulty is a fun way to revamp your kitchen into a room that makes a joyful, eclectic statement.