How to bring the 80s diner-inspired home office decor to life

Kimya Creative Studios
Apr 25
4 min read

I created a post last week breaking down the design process for this 80s diner-inspired office. If you'd like to read it before diving into how to actually select the pieces, then click here. But just as a reminder for those who have seen, below is the final layout and concept we came up with for the office space.

In this post, we look into specific pieces we could use to make this space come to life. If you hope to recreate this look, make sure to take measurements for your own space and select the right sizes for your items.

P.S. These items are mostly Canada friendly for shipping/delivery, but let them be an inspiration for you as you search for similar items in your area.

Paint color selection

Cream #fffdfa or RGB 255/253/250
- Pantone: Stalactite 11-4101
- Sherwin Williams: Arcade white SW 7100
Teal #0a7165 or RGB 10/113/101
- Pantone: Fanfare 18-4936
- Sherwin Williams: Really Teal SW 6489
Burgundy #610100 or RGB 97/1/0
- Pantone: Sun-dried tomato 19-1531
- Sherwin Williams: Show Stopper SW 7588

Items Selection

Floor tiles: Black & White Checkered Marble Texture Tile Stickers 18” $160

If the design feels to cold or the idea of using stick and peel tiles does not appeal to you, try using a rug for that extra coziness in the room.

Wall tiles: Chroma 2 in. x 18 in. Red Porcelain Subway Tile (7.42 sq. ft./Case) Home Depot
Red Office Chair : Pro-Line II Conference Chair $470 - $1000 Wayfair Canada
Round table x1
- Brilliana Round Dining Table $600 Wayfair Canada 42”
- Didcot Round Dining Table $1100 Wayfair Canada 48”

To stay as close to the design as possible, the first option is spot on. I added the second option for its size. If you have a bigger space to work with, a fuller size table would work best.

However, a larger table can easily add up in costs. If you find another table of the desired sized in another color or material, use spray paint or even wallpaper with a metallic/silver finish to create the look.

Sheers: Cordless Layered Sheer Roller Shade $134 Wayfair Canada
Floating Shelves: Brakebill 5 Tier Wall Shelf $100/unit Wayfair Canada x2

The shelves come in white, but slap on some of that beautiful Sun-dried tomato color to align them with the overall design.

Metal shelf unit: HYLLIS Shelf unit, indoor/outdoor, (23 5/8x10 5/8x29 1/8 ") $20 x 3 Ikea

Be mindful of the size of your room to know how many of these to order. Since the wall to cover is on the larger side, 3 of these shelves are required.

Dry erase board: Boissonneault Wall Mounted Glass Board $1040 Wayfair 48” x 72”
Clock: Art Deco Metal Wall Clock, Mid Century Modern Clock, $193 Etsy 27”

Settling on this clock was so difficult as the other options worked just as well. I picked it mainly for its unique, fun yet elegant design and the use of metal.

Wall Sconces
- Stella Wall Sconce $292 x2 Mitzi
- Hadleigh 8-Light Wall Sconce $74 The Brick
Overhead light x1: Chandelier Black Ceiling Light 5 Light $227 Amazon Canada
Wall décor: Abstract Geometric Metal Wall Art - Etsy $650 59.1”

Etsy is great to get your items custom. You may need two different sizes to fill up that wall or contact the seller to get a custom size.

Custom Items

Speaking of custom items, it is best to go this route for the banquette, neon sIgn, and poster wall art. Etsy is again a great option for those but look around your area to see if anyone specializes in the making of those items.