Memphis style – we’re going back to the crazy 80s!

Perhaps we should first start with the origins of the Memphis style. Does it actually stem from the city of Memphis in the USA? Well, it turns out that the name is misleading because the style has its origins in the sunny Milan and not in the USA. If that’s the case, where does the name come from? The story goes that a group of designers and architects led by Ettore Sottsass laid the foundations for a new interior design trend which was inspired by Bob Dylan's song "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again". Although it originated in Italy, the colourful and highly geometric nature of the Memphis style quickly became popular all over the world after the architects showcased their work at Salone Internazionale del Mobile di Milano (a popular furniture fair in Milan) in 1981. Thus began the international career of this bright and creative aesthetic.      

Memphis pattern wall mural - myloview.com

A colourful mishmash

At first glance, the Memphis style might look quite familiar to many people. Although the Italian designers pushed their ideas to another level, they were still based on elements from different well-known aesthetics. Which ones exactly? Geometric furniture forms - cubes, cuboids, cylinders and cones - are an intentional reference to the Art Deco aesthetic, which was largely based on such shapes. In this case, it’s the colours and not the materials that play the first fiddle, which is why the furniture doesn’t have to be made of precious materials or rare wood.  

Memphis-style decorations (Colourful labyrinth mural, Modern Memphis poster) - myloview.com

And that’s how we arrived at next source of inspiration behind the Memphis style, namely, pop art. The vibrant, vivid and garish colours might bring to mind comic books or advertising posters from the 50s and the 60s. What’s more, if you take a closer look at some of the furniture, it is easy to notice references to the stark style of the Bauhaus. This combination of extremely bold shapes and colours resulted in the creation of a truly unparalleled style.  

Memphis style in 4 steps

Every interior design style has a set of characteristics that make it distinct from other aesthetics.  Therefore, if you wish to decorate your space in a certain style, you should get familiar with its key features. In the case of the Memphis style, you’ll need a few elements that are absolutely essential in creating a harmonious design. Here are a couple of things you should keep in mind:   

• A neutral background    

The key to creating a space in the Memphis style is the right foundation in the form of a toned-down floor and walls in a neutral colour. If you’re planning to introduce these avant-garde elements into your interior, you should keep some kind of moderation, so that it doesn't create chaos and a confusing hotchpotch. If you’re set on creating a cosy space, you'll need wood flooring in warm tones. On the other hand, if you like vivid and modern interiors, we recommend white panelling or stamped concrete tiles with a small colourful rug.  

Pastel colours in the living room

• Vivid colours

The hallmark of this style are bold colours. So far we've talked about furniture. A tricolour couch, an armchair with a pastel backrest and neon armrests or chairs resembling furniture from a children’s playroom are what this style is all about. However, if you find this a bit over the top, you can keep your toned-down furniture and instead try introducing the colourful designs on one of your walls. A vibrant Memphis wallpaper with distinctive zigzags, spirals, squares or triangles will be a perfect choice! On a side note, this design is also a great idea for a child’s room. When combined with colourful furniture, it’ll create a truly magical space!

• Geometric shapes

The Memphis style derives inspiration from the heavily geometricized aesthetics of Art Deco, therefore it is important to use it with suitable furniture. However, not every piece of furniture has to be kept in this exact style. If you’re decorating a spacious loft you can surely fill it with the characteristic models, but if you’re decorating a smaller room, it's best to be moderate so as not to clutter the interior.

Geometric mural - myloview.com

An armchair with cylindrical armrests and a coffee table with conical legs are more than enough. To highlight the unique charm of this style, you can use other colourful accessories, which will become the final touch in your arrangement.

• Matching accessories

The aforementioned Memphis mural is not the only decoration that you can opt for. Another fantastic idea is using posters. What kind of posters? There are two options. You can decorate your walls with either a geometric design or a typographic one with a unique, colourful font. An optimistic phrase will mesh well with this type of décor. Some notable examples include posters saying "You look nice" for the bedroom, "Welcome" for the hallway and "Stop waiting, start creating" for the office. 

Memphis-style living room

The Memphis style is one of the most vivid and colourful ideas for decorating an interior. Not only will it liven up your space but also make you more energised and help you say goodbye to monotonous décor forever!