The ’80s interior was a rebellious, high-energy proposition, rejecting the austere dictates of minimalist modernism in favour of something more theatrical. Famous for the quip “less is a bore,” coined by architect Robert Venturi in opposition to Mies Van der Rohe’s “less is more”, postmodernism traded clean functionalism for bold geometry and an irreverent mix of pop culture and historical reference.
In recent years, minimalism has once again come to the fore, with its pared-back palettes. But design, like fashion, is rarely content to sit still. Across the Belle Fanuli Interior Design Awards 2026 finalist, a familiar rebellion is taking shape. There seems to be a renewed appetite for the exuberance of the’80s, with a touch of postmodernism thrown in for good measure. Not quite a revival in the literal sense, but a return to the era’s appetite for colour. In defiance of bourgeois good taste, these interiors suggest what goes around comes around.
Photography: Clint Weaver | Styling: Jack Milenkovic
The influence of ’80s design
At The Landmark by Lexus pavilion, ascending across three levels at the lauded Flemington Racecourse each Melbourne Cup, Brahman Perera has imbued the semi-permanent steel pavilion with a palette of reflective surfaces that multiply the architecture. Beyond this, the colour-drenched interiors are a means of establishing an ebullient mood, given that attended of the Melbourne Cup are their to enjoy themselves. And when it came to decadence, the ’80s knew how to do just that, given that is was the decade of the notorious studio 54 club and all its debauchery.
Photography: Lillie Thompson
In Cinderella Deep, Geller Studio takes a more dramatic approach to entry and gathering room for Cinderella House in Redfern. This is particularly vivid in the semi-private areas, where steel-framed bookshelves encase the owners’ collectibles, while sculptural furniture fortifies the cinematic mise-en-scene, reminiscent of the kind of movie set design people swoon over.
Upon entering the home, the postmodern affections of Golden Light by Arent & Pyke manifest immediately. As its name would suggest, the home is basked in golden hues, which reflect the natural light infiltration, complemented by furniture such as a low-slung, gold steel-framed velvet sofa.
Photography: Anson Smart
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Saskia Neacsu
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