Colours of the 1980s

This era was all about major changes both industrial and economic. Pac Man video games, Walkman radios, boom boxes and personal computers coincided with the end of the Cold War, hard rock, heavy metal and ‘glam rock’ music with the bizarre makeup and glitter and – the ultimate luxury – carpet in the bathroom and toilet. Women had big hair, even bigger shoulder pads in their ‘power dress’ suits and casual clothing embraced ripped jeans, crop top sweatshirts, neon bright clothing, leg warmers and head bands lots of lyrca and Aviator sun glasses.

Along with watching Halleys’ Comet and Michael Jackson’s Moon Dance and doing a lot of jazzercise people got in touch with their creative side and stencilled and sponged, stippled and rag rolled their walls. Wallpaper featured chevron waves, diagonal stripes, bamboo foliage and kitchens were pale grey, white, silver and red.

Bright colours of the era were (from the BS5252 and Multifinish collections):

Resene Midnight Express	Resene Deep Koamaru	Resene Paris M	Resene Resolution Blue
Resene Cyprus	Resene Mosque	Resene Lima
Resene Rose Bud Cherry	Resene Hot Chile	Resene Flame Red
Resene Fire Bush	Resene Golden Tainoi	Resene Turbo

Clear mid tones appeared, in colours such as:

Resene Lochinvar	Resene Stromboli	Resene Xanadu	Resene Bud
Resene Madang	Resene Reef	Resene Honeysuckle
Resene Waikawa Grey	Resene Ship Cove	Resene Jordy Blue	Resene Anakiwa
Resene Quicksand	Resene Eunry	Resene Petite Orchid	Resene Mandys Pink	Resene Wax Flower
Resene Marzipan	Resene Tequila

Neutrals were featuring more beiges and greys and peachy creams, such as:

Resene Gull Grey	Resene Ghost	Resene Iron	Resene Geyser
Resene Westar	Resene Spanish White	Resene Pearl Lusta	Resene Scotch Mist
Resene Sazerac	Resene Egg Sour	Resene Gin Fizz	Resene Oasis	Resene Forget Me Not
Resene Ebb	Resene Pearl Bush

Information thanks to Carolyn Atkinson.