Home Décor – Ugly Homes

Here’s a Peoria, Arizona home built in 1996 with Southwest décor throughout.  Long live pastels!!

Design Through the Decades – part 77

Home décor & interior design in Phoenix homes during the 2000s are best defined by the color brown.  Nearly every wall was painted some shade of brown.  Furniture and accent pieces were brown or black.

Black leather headboard and bench.  Brown toned drapery panels on hook loops.

Tropical themes were popular in the 2000s.

Metallic bed frames, headboards, lamps, and other design elements were silver or brushed nickel in the 2000s instead of brass or bronze from the 1990s.

Accent walls of a different color were used in many homes in the 2000s.

Sleigh beds.  Black furniture and decorations.  Sheer fabrics in windows.

Bathrooms had warm brown colors.

Family rooms also had brown paint colors, contrasted with white outlet covers and white floor boards.

Large sectional furniture continued in the 2000s, a carry-over from the 1990s due to great rooms and large family rooms.

For the rare 2000s home with white walls, brown furniture was still used.

Patios and outdoor spaces were made to resemble resorts with privacy panels, sisal rugs, and indoor furniture.

What can we expect with home décor & interior design in the 2010s?  Here are a few predictions from experts.

Color:  Colors based on nature will be used, such as warm, rock-colored grays, taupes, and beiges.  Floor boards that used to be painted white to make the wall color “pop” will instead be painted the same as the walls in the 2010s.

Furnishings:  Smaller furniture will be in; furniture with skirts or overstuffed couches are out.  Large sectional sofas are out.  Armoires for TVs and entertainment are out.  Flat-screen TVs will be showcased, sometimes framed to resemble artwork.

Flooring:  Dark is in.  Wood floors will be stained black or a deep charcoal gray.  Lighter colored area rugs will create excitement against the dark floors.

Window Treatments:  Less is in.  Thinner materials are in.  Sometimes nothing.  Roll-up window treatments (Roman shades) will be popular too.

Lighting:  Cylindrical lampshades will replace pleated or conical lampshades.  Pendant lighting will still be popular.

Accessories:  Overstuffed china hutches are out, if used at all.  Baskets and fake plants & vines on top of kitchen cabinets are out; they collect too much dust.

What do you think will be home décor trends in the 2010s?

Home décor and interior design in Phoenix homes in the 1990s were mostly about color (or lack of color) and Southwest motifs.

Let’s start with Southwest décor since it defines the 1990s so well (or so bad).  Here’s a Southwest themed bedroom with brass headboard and brass lamps.

Kokopelli figures and dream catchers were very trendy in the 1990s in Phoenix.  Add a little Southwest pink paint too.

More kokopellis.  A whitewash entertainment center with smoked glass doors was very popular in the 1990s.

What would the 1990s be without howling coyotes and cow skulls?

This Phoenix homeowner went a little too far with the Southwest décor.

Another example of Southwest decorations with another kokopelli.

1990s was the age of sage.  Sage green, that is.

Pale green paint and flower pattern sofas were found in many Phoenix homes in the 1990s.

Marine blue, aquamarine, teal, and any other combination of blue-green or blue-gray were very 1990s.

If you didn’t care for greens or blues, white seemed like the only other color choice in the 1990s.  Navajo white, especially.

White on white was a common design in the 1990s.  White paint and whitewashed cabinets and white countertops.

Faux paint changed from splash & brush strokes & mixed colors in the 1980s to rag rolling and sponge painting to resemble stone, marble, or natural elements.

Don’t miss out on our article about 1980s homes!

Faux paint to resemble an old stucco’d wall.

Shiny bedspreads became popular in the late 1990s.  Note the sage green accent wall.

White on white décor in this 1990s bedroom.

Great rooms became such a popular design element in 1990s homes, but their size required large furniture.  Huge sectional couches helped fill the space.

Back to the Southwest décor in this bedroom.  Note the heavy wood armoire, which was found in nearly every Phoenix home in the 1990s.

These armoires would eventually become functionally obsolete by the mid 2000s as Phoenicians traded in their analog TV sets for flat screen TVs.  Nowadays, you can’t give these armoires away.

Coming Up:  What will interior design and home décor look like in the 2000s?

Design Through the Decades – part 75

Part 2 of 2: What was home décor and interior design like in Phoenix in the late 1980s?  The pastels and creamy colors took over, such as mauve, rose, salmon, peach, and seafoam green.  Brass accents appeared.

Flexstone texture was added to furniture and decorations.  Paint splash wallpaper and parquet flooring.  Because 1980s home décor is so distinctive, many homeowners today are remodeling their homes for a fresher look.

Let’s take a closer look at the late 1980s in Phoenix homes, starting with a 1987 Phoenix home.  Pinks and greens.  Berber carpet.  Pouf window valances.

Hunter green was extremely popular in the 1980s as seen at this 1987 Phoenix home.

Mirrors with a geometric design, brass & glass table, and pillows with heavy fringe were very 1980s.  This is a 1986 Scottsdale, Arizona home.

Floral pattern couches and chairs were big in size and popularity in the late 1980s.  From a 1988 Phoenix home.

Floral wallpaper and parquet flooring.

Bright blues and turquoise combined with other bright colors made an impact in the late 1980s, especially as a Southwest motif.  This is a 1988 Glendale, Arizona home.

The Southwest theme was used in many Phoenix area homes in the 1980s.  The couches, lamps, paintings, drapes, rugs, & decorations were all connected.  This is a 1989 Peoria, Arizona home.

Dried flowers were all the rage in the late 1980s.  They work well with the Southwest décor, right?

This 1989 Tempe, Arizona home shows off the pale green drapes, the knobby wood dining set, and the wood laminate inlay table.

One final photo of typical 1980s home décor and interior design in Phoenix homes.

Design Through the Decades – part 74

Part 1 of 2:  What was home décor and interior design like in Phoenix in the 1980s?  It had a wide variety of colors, designs, patterns, and textures.  Framed Nagel drawings on the wall.  Red, white, & black colors used together.  Because 1980s home décor is so distinctive, many homeowners today are remodeling their homes for a fresher look.

Let’s take a closer look at the early 1980s in Phoenix homes.  Geometric patterns, shapes, & angles in home design were, like, very 1980s, for sure.  Totally rad designs with olives, oranges, & yellows like this.

Aqua, aquamarine, teal, or any variation of blue-green were seen on and in many 1980s Phoenix homes.

Parquet wood flooring, wood tables, patterned sofas/couches, and gauzy or burlap-type drapes on dark wood dowels defined the 1980s.  Here is a 1981 Phoenix home.

Combining hunter green color with wood furniture was a common interior design motif in the 1980s as seen at this 1984 Glendale, Arizona home.

Darker pastel colors just as rose, mauve, and seafoam green were used in window treatments and furniture.  Again, dark wood furniture was common.  This is a 1984 Peoria, Arizona home.

Mirrors were big in the 1980s, especially with patterns.  Hanging macramé planters added some flair to this 1980s living room with plush Saxony carpeting.

More mirrors!

There’s that teal/aquamarine/green-blue color again.

1980s dining room with glass chandelier, mirrors, and black furniture offset by pink drapes, vase, & rug.

Wallpaper with tiny flowers was totally in style in the 1980s.  This is a home outside of Arizona, but you get the idea.  Hollywood-style make-up lighting and blue-green towels.

Design Through the Decades – part 73

This is part 3 of 3 for home décor & interior design of the 1970s in Phoenix.  The late 1970s were known for dark colors: oranges, browns, and golds.  Plaid patterned sofas with wood arms were popular as was wood paneling.

Dark carpeting and more wood paneling at this 1970s Phoenix home.

How about the infamous 1970s cork tiles and mirror tiles set in a checkerboard pattern?

Bar stool chairs were found in many Phoenix homes in the 1970s.

Oil lamps thrilled many homeowners in the 1970s.

Here’s a Phoenix home with a hanging macramé planter and a macramé owl.

Shiny, striped wallpaper was all the rage in the 1970s as seen at this 1979 Scottsdale home.

Light blue striped wallpaper, vinyl flooring, flower petal light, and bar stools are on proud display at this Glendale, Arizona home.

Lots of wallpaper at this 1970s Mesa, Arizona home.

Design Through the Decades – part 72

This is part 2 of 3 for home décor and interior design in Phoenix in the 1970s.  Let’s take a look at the mid 1970s where the biggest shift in design was color.  Olive green carpet was replaced by gray, blue, or white.  Chairs and drapes went from oranges and greens & golds to blues.

Looks like the green on the carpet from the early 1970s transferred over to the chairs.

Velour chairs in wine and blue became popular.  Wood tables started to show up in the mid 1970s.

Dramatic drapes were still in vogue in the mid 1970s.  Whites and yellows were used in this Phoenix home.

Blue-gray carpeting.  Oil painting of a landscape.  Classic 1970s décor.

Large lamp shades, blue chairs, gold carpet, and a wall of mirrors.

Large lamp shades, orange chairs, and blue carpet at this 1970s Sun City home.  Was there only one furniture store in all of Phoenix selling only one style of chair?

Check out those casual dining chairs at a Mesa, Arizona home.

Another Mesa, Arizona home from the 1970s.

Design Through the Decades – part 71

Interior designers in the early 1970s in Phoenix loved home décor with greens, yellows/gold, and oranges.  This 1971 Phoenix home had olive green carpet, gold drapes, orange velour chairs, table lamp with big shade, a hanging lamp, and wire wall sculptures (replacing the cityscape paintings of the 1960s).

Green swivel chairs and gold vinyl flooring have stood the test of time at this 1971 Sun City home.

Green carpet and orange chairs plus wood paneling are found at this 1971 Phoenix home.

For a down home feel, just add some yellow theme wallpaper to the brick kitchen as seen at this 1970 Phoenix home.  Note the orange counter top and the flower metal light.

Cool pastels in paint and carpet were popular design choices.  Here is a 1973 Glendale, Arizona home.

Back to the green carpet, pale green drapes, large table lamps, and hanging light of the 1970s.

More green carpet and green drapes in the bedroom, along with a God’s eye art piece.

I think we get the idea now.  Green carpet, gold drapes, large lampshades, velour chairs (this one is pink!).  Classic 70s.

Sculpted carpet (green once again) was a popular flooring choice in the 1970s.

Some homeowners opted for ivory and cream whites in the 1970s.

Design Through the Decades – part 70

Part 2 of home décor in the 1960s looks at Phoenix homes from 1965-1969.

Green carpet and floral print couches highlight this 1966 Phoenix home.

The master bedroom of this same 1966 Phoenix home.

Light colors were standard in most parts of homes.  But dark colors & wood paneling in family rooms created a warm cozy feel as seen at this 1965 Phoenix home.

Orange chairs.  Stereo console that doubles as a padded bench.  Painting of a cityscape.  All common design elements from the 1960s.  This is a 1967 Phoenix home.

Orange plush carpet with thick padding and a wall mural are featured in this 1967 Scottsdale home.

This 1969 Phoenix home has orange velour chairs, yellow drapes, hanging lamp, & cityscape painting.  Darker wood furniture began to appear in the late 1960s.

A 1969 Phoenix home with billboard-sized photograph mural.

Green leather chairs and wood paneling were hot ticket items for 1960s interior design.

One last photo of 1960s home décor.

Design Through the Decades – part 69

Interior design and home décor in the 1960s in Phoenix homes did not change too much from the 1950s until the last half of the 1960s.  In Part 1 of 1960s home décor, we’ll look at Phoenix homes from 1960-1964.

Marble top tables, ornate lamp bases with large lampshades, muted green heavy drapes with valance, sculpted carpet, and chairs not large sofas defined the 1960s.

Similar design theme in this 1960 Phoenix home.

Hanging lights were popular in the 1960s as were tiered tables.  This is another 1960 Phoenix home.

Here’s a 1960 home from Scottsdale, Arizona with 1960s furniture. The carpeting, however, is actually from the early 2000s, believe it or not.

Sculpted carpeting in the 1960s usually had thick underpads which gave a soft cushion to your feet.  Stereo equipment became furniture by concealing the equipment into a cabinet.  Tree trunks with fake leaves were popular design accents in the 1960s.  This is a 1961 Phoenix home.

Heavier patterned sofas and couches gained favor with Phoenicians in the 1960s as seen at this 1962 home.

This is a 1964 home in Sun City, Arizona.  Couches with bottom ruffles were common.  God’s eye artwork could be found on many walls in Phoenix homes.