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by Jensson 1701 days ago
The room ins the 80's looks like modern rooms. The decades before looks more alien/old, so it seems like furniture stopped changing much about 40 years ago.

To me it is interesting seeing how progress was fast and then slowed down at different points in different fields. Like, how far back do you have to go before you start noticing that these things aren't new? For webpage design you see how it was really different 20 years ago, but not that different 10 years ago, game graphics mostly peaked 5-10 years ago depending on genre (people still happily buy and play gta5 that is 8 years old without cringing at its graphics) etc.
1 comments
vintermann 1701 days ago
40 years ago was when teak went out of fashion (possibly out of concern for the rainforest?) and pine went in. But I think it has changed a lot still from that, 80s living rooms still look alien to me even though I'm old enough to remember them.

The IKEA 80s living rooms have some things in common with those I've seen in old films and sitcoms (e.g. Back to the Future), but it's still not quite the same. IKEA 80s catalog images are as it was in Norway though, totally.

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Jensson 1701 days ago
I really can't see any notable difference between the 1983 catalogue and the 2013 one. Mostly that the more modern ones has messy rooms with people and stuff in them, but the furniture looks the same.

If you care a lot about furniture fashion maybe it is easier, but to me those are the same.

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vintermann 1701 days ago
I can hardly be accused of caring for furniture fashion, but I know that even finding a carpet like that on the 1983 catalog would be hard today, except of course in a used furniture store. Likewise the drapes.

If I wanted to give that 1986 couch to a charity shop, they would probably refuse and say they could never sell it.

Of course there are some more neutral, "timeless" things too. The 1983 cover couch would not stand out at all today, and I believe the little tables are still for sale at IKEA (I have one, though it's in the laundry room)

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Jensson 1701 days ago
> but I know that even finding a carpet like that on the 1983 catalog would be hard today

That carpet is literally in the first room of the 2013 catalogue. Or maybe it is a different carpet, but I can't tell the difference.

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