Squiggle decor is experiencing a resurgence, and it has us wondering why this playful design trend ever left. With their curves and childlike whimsy, squiggles are often associated with colorful, personality-filled spaces. The shape is versatile, however, and can work well in traditional spaces, too. Keep reading to learn how the squiggle design gained popularity and how you can use it in your home today.
Squiggles gained popularity in the early 1980s in response to prior decades’ clean and simple design approaches, including midcentury modern and minimalism. Leading the new wave of color and pattern was Italian architect and designer Ettore Sottsass and his Memphis design style.
Named after Bob Dylan’s song “Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again,” Memphis design is the signature style of the Memphis group, a collection of artists and designers, brought together by Sottsass, known for their bright and bold style. Core components of Memphis design were bright colors, mixed geometric patterns and shapes, and the incorporation of curves and squiggles. Memphis design’s cult following included celebrities and artists such as David Bowie and Karl Lagerfeld.
Despite its fanbase, the Memphis company ultimately dissolved by 1987, but its out-of-the-box use of color and pattern became the signature style of the ’80s, and it is often what people associate with the decade. The use of striking colors, zig-zag and squiggle prints, layered graphic elements, and even the original MTV logo can all be credited to Memphis design.
Carmel Brantley
While clashing retro prints might not be popular today, squiggles are still used frequently in both the home and fashion worlds. Interior designers and DIYers alike are using squiggles to add playful accent walls to their homes. Emily Shaw created a wood squiggle wall in her bedroom for a subtle take on the trend, while Chelsea Zeferina used a red squiggle decal above her bed to fill an empty wall for a bold approach.
Recently, we’ve seen home brands turning squiggles into sophisticated details on decor and furniture. Squiggle drawer handles, candlesticks, and curved tables and chairs with squiggle edges are just a few examples of how the pattern is being translated into home items.
Whether you paint a bold squiggle on an accent wall or opt to use a lamp with a simple squiggle base, this swirling pattern is an organic way to lighten up any room. Plus, squiggles are sure to make people smile when they step into a space and that will never go out of style.
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