Help decorate the ultimate '80s lair

It's a comment I hear all the time: "I bet the Spears Lair is a museum-like monument to the '80s. You should put photos of it online."

Sadly, that's so far from the truth. I have a Hunter S. Thompson poster, a couple of small paintings of Key West and a shelf full of DVDs. That's pretty much it. So I'm thinking that with the new year, the Spears Lair needs a new look. An '80s look. And I want your opinion on things to add to it.

Here are a few options I found for sale online (and feel free to suggest anything else you can find):

RISKY BUSINESS POSTER: Sometimes, you gotta say what the ... hey, $132 for a movie poster? What the %#%#??? Check it out. I could buy a smaller one for $20.

BEAN BAGS: Dating way back to the days when I'd feather my hair and play Hi-Infidelity before school each day, I have an unnatural love of bean bag chairs. And then I get a girlfriend and I'm forced to throw it away. Should I give it another shot?

VALLEY GIRL POSTER: I go back and forth on which is my favorite '80s flick, but this one definitely is top 3. (Sadly, the Vegas Girlfriend hates my other fave -- Where the Buffalo Roam.) Also, the poster looks nothing like Nic Cage or Deborah Foreman. For sale here.

SPUDS MACKENZIE NEON SIGN: Remember the days when selling beer wasn't about calories? It was just about adorable pooches. For $479, which is probably outside my budget, I can score this cool neon sign.

THE CLASH POSTER: Just $16 for a London Calling poster? Done and done. Can you think of a better band to immortalize on the wall?

GIANT RUBIK'S CUBE STEREO SPEAKER: The frontrunner for the coolest thing you'll see on the Internet today. Sadly, the neighbors of the Spears Lair would disapprove of a 15-inch subwoofer for my stereo. And the $1,586 price tag would mean no more grocery shopping until July. But I can dream.

ALBUM COVERS: These blasts from the past make cool wall decorations. Bananas Music and Movies in St. Petersburg has the largest collection of old vinyl in the known universe. Last time I visited the place with Sean Daly, we spent an hour in the warehouse and came home with covers to Duran Duran's Seven and the Ragged Tiger, Styx's Paradise Theater, Cyndi Lauper's She's So Unusual and a dozen more.

Okay, that's a start. What else could I add?

Comments

[Dbuggd]

This is what I would recommend:
A can of AquaNet (preferably WITH the CFC's for authenticity), Danger Mouse and Jem & The Holograms action figures, A Better Off Dead Movie poster, Q-Bert Video Game (Arcade Style), A "The Police" Concert Poster, I do love that "outatime" license plate idea from Lyle up there!, A "Frankie Says Relax" T-Shirt, New Coke can (if you can find one), Live-Aid DVD constantly playing on the TV as "80s background music/ambiance".

I could go on all day, so I will stop at these suggestions. :)

[JeffW]

I guess this is more late 70's, but the Farrah Fawcett poster is key.

[surfdog]

jeremy...

"bright light"

makin things with bright light"

remember?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soFXG2FaONw

[surfdog]

"mickeys big mouth"

aahhhh

brings back the high school daze

drinking a bunch at 9 a.m. with all the bro's before graduation day

priceless

[David P]

How about a Bryan Adams dartboard?

[Katy]

swatch watch face pillow on ebay (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/80s-Retro-swatch-watch-cushion-cover_W0QQitemZ110333475432QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Home_Garden_Cushions_Throws_LE?hash=item110333475432&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1296|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318)
That's all I have that hasn't been mentioned already :)

[Spears]

An Old Milwaukee neon sign -- brilliant.

Though down here, Milwaukee's Best was another popular cheap brew for the 80s. Along with Mickey's Big Mouth.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mickeys-big-mouth-NEON-bar-SIGN-BEER-Mickey's-malt---_W0QQitemZ290286938164QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20090104?IMSfp=TL090104114003r17568

[Papa Bradstein]

Did you also put up the laser-etched vinyl from Paradise Theater, that had the theater marquee art etched around the border of the LP, which you could see if you held it at the right angle? Of course, you'd have to build a case for it that held it at the right angle and mount a light to highlight the etching, all of which might put it out of your budget range.

[Mick in Sydney]

Mate I reckon the tabletop arcade is a must. But my suggestion is that it has to be Donkey Kong 1,2,or 3. That way you could sit the tumbler filled with Jack Daniels right on top and sip as you go along. You must be able to find an Above the Law or raiders poster to put up or maybe an Old Milwaukee lamp.

[80sfan]

I have a bonus room/office that I have been in the process of decorating for years now. I do have 5 framed movie posters, Silence of the Lambs, rare Aliens poster, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Raiders of the Lost Ark 10th Anniversary, and Star Wars 10th Anniversary (this one has a couple of autographs).

I also have a couple of autographed Rick Springfield posters hanging up and a Rick Springfield standee from Working Class Dog.

I have on many occasions looked at adding albums covers to my wall. I have plenty of LPs but would need to purchase some others to truly have a defining display.

I am also in needed of replacing my turntable that is suddenly playing at a slower speed and will often to turn itself off.

The bean bag idea is a great one if you can get in an out of it.

I use to have a huge Studs Mackenize stuffed animal that was won at a theme park around 1989.

A couple of decorating ideas: Pac-Man phone, some collectible lunchboxes, vintage hand-held electronic games.

[jo]

THE ULTIMATE 80's SOUNDTRACK FOR THE SPEARS LAIR:

For a very reasonable price you can get --VLASTA-- to play "Twist & Shout" ~LIVE~ on the accordion, just like she did on the float in FB's Day Off.

She's available for weddings & other SIT80s functions too.

[Jeremy]

Much to the chagrin of my wife, I've managed to turn our humble home into an 80s time capsule. It all started when I bought an autographed Fast Times at Ridgemont High screenplay (Cates, Penn, Jason Leigh, Reinhold)from a store at Downtown Disney (and I know you're in Florida as well) called Starabilias. From there, I searched high and low for autographed LPs and have managed to collect everyone from Culture Club and Duran Duran to Madonna and Milli Vanilli. eBay is a great place to collect old toys and posters for a bargain. There's one website that I'd recommend, though, for furniture. It's called Jellio. Take a look at these:

http://www.jellio.com/store/cubetable.html

http://www.jellio.com/store/lighttable.html

[John Hart]

If you don't mind a reprint of the Risky Business poster try this link.
http://www.movieposter.com/poster/MPW-19403/Risky_Business.html

[Dave from MN]

Hey Steve, I just recently got all of my old poster out and was wondering what I should do with them. I'll look through them and send you a list of stuff you might want. Also, at Son of Nostalgia Zone there a hundreds of posters I haven't put on the site. I'll go through those as well and send a list (Emmanuel, The Stewardesses...).

[Richard]

You don't wanna go there Steve! I have heaps of these links for you!

Microsoft T-Shirts: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/softwearbymicrosoft/

iPod Ghettoblaster:
http://fredflare.com/customer/product.php?productid=4595&cat=103#

you can update the blog from home the old way, with this typewriter: http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp;jsessionid=B23266B9268E58225FC56795D85DE00B.app12-node5?itemdescription=true&itemCount=10&startValue=1&selectedProductColor=&sortby=&id=15327067&parentid=A_ENT_MUSICCAMERAS&sortProperties=&navCount=12&navAction=poppushpush&color=
you then photocopy it, fax it to work, where Sean can scan it, convert to pdf, and post to the blog on your behalf!

but i think the best thing you could have in the lair is this awesome mash of technology: the cassette USB hub: http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/new-arrivals/usb-tape-hub/index.html

[CHAD]

imagine that neil, i also have a van halen poster framed on my wall. i have the cover to OU812 in my living room. i got it on ebay for something like $9.00. posters.com has a good selection as well, lots of movie posters and band posters. now i want a lava lamp, i never did get around to getting one.

[Spears]

Patrick Nagel posters!!! Oh my jeebus, I think we have a sure thing. Just hope the VGF approves.

[Glenn]

A pair of Patrick Nagel posters!
http://images.google.com/images?q=patrick+nagel&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title

[don in tulsa]

i recommend a large wooden cable spindle to use as a table. that was quite commen in oklahoma. also milk crates for shelves. you could always "liberate" some of them from the local grocery store. if not there's always the classic board on top of cement blocks for a shelf.

[JohnnyVinyl]

I was visiting NYC a few years ago and came across frames to house album covers in Urban Outfitters. On my return I couldn't find them anywhere in Australia so I had two made. They were not that expensive. Now I can display the Lp covers I want, interchange them to suit my mood and oblige the lovely Lady Vinyl. At the moment I have the soundtrack to 'Electric Dreams' in one and 'Brotherhood' by New Order in the other. Go on Mr Spears, take down the Key West paintings and bust out the wax.

[Kevy Metal]

Stock the fridge with Bartles & Jaymes wine coolers. If they are vintage era, even better - one bottle will either put you out on the floor or in the hospital with a stomach pump down your gullet (or do they put those in through the other end?).

[julie in nc]

art.com has a TON of movie posters...

[Spears]

I found a Tiki Bar neon sign that I bet the VGF is drooling over:

http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-TIKI-BAR-PARROT-PALM-TREE-NEON-LIGHT-BEER-BAR-SIGN_W0QQitemZ380094474615QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item380094474615&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A2%7C240%3A1318

[Jan Wesner]

The Spuds sign is a must-have! Find a way to fit it into the budget.

And somehow incorporating concert shirts into the decor is genius. Maybe you could frame them and hang them on the wall.

Another suggestion: Pictures of yourself, friends, family, etc. from the 80s. An old prom picture would be perfect!

[specialkness]

I think decorating with old album covers is a brilliant idea! They now make bean bags for grown ups that I think look very comfortable.

[Spears]

I do have a VCR already from the old days, but it's not even plugged in. I have maybe a dozen VHS tapes still though. Mostly stuff they haven't yet released on DVD.

[Bassnote]

Okay, I'm stupid. I did not read the last item on your list. Sorry.

[Bassnote]

Get a bunch of 80's album (and I do mean ALBUM) covers, and wallpaper one of your walls.

[Gary in Gilroy]

Steve, don't include a VCR in the new lair, unless it's for decoration only. VHS was officially pronounced dead last week. In memory, "Be kind. Rewind.".....

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-vhs_bddec28,0,492307.story

[Neil]

I have a few 80's things around my house. I have a lava lamp, which every dorm room had when I was in college. I also have a framed Van Halen poster. It is funny I looked up my poster online, and it now goes for over 200 dollars. That is insane. I do want to buy a real arcade game, I want to get a game called Tapper. I loved Tapper, I could play that for hours. I would also get a black light with some black light posters.

[Spears]

It's more of a "whimpering" sound coming from the Lair most nights. Unless VGF is in town.

[Miguel]

But you know,Steve maybe there is an Ian bellow you on your building concerned about the nocturnal lovemaking sounds of Spears.

I do miss some retro games.Frogger,Donkey Kong.
You know you can played them at http://www.2q9.com .Did anybody have the Gremlins vidogame?Because i had it and i don`t know anybody who have heard about it. Oh,and The Football Manager one(the real football).What a great game it was.

[Sean Daly]

Since I'm often stuck in that hellhole, I highly recommend the cocktail-table Galaga game. I can hide behind it when Spearsy comes at me with his "sleepy sleepy" routine.

[Spears]

After my first divorce, I actually did buy a pool table to replace the dining room table. It was lovely, heavy and very cheap.

Good suggestion on the retro-gaming system. Right now, I just use PS2 (but only for EA Sports games).

But I miss Pitfall, Frogger, et al.

[Spears]

It's a rental unit, so there will be no painting of walls or fastening LPs to the ceiling. In fact, my landlord reads this blog, so suffice to say I'm taking great care to keep it in mint condition. Though I guess if something tragic were to happen to me, he could turn it into a Stuck in the 80s shrine/museum and charge admission.

I am embracing the Rob Gordon look for sure now though. Thankfully I'm on the top floor and don't have to worry about the nocturnal lovemaking sounds of Tim "Ian/Ray" Robbins.

[billyshakes in istanbul]

Some random suggestions....

Don't forget your Atari 2600 game system (SEARS version if you are cheap....though you could add in a "P" and make it say SPEARS game system. That could be cool. You could play non-stop 20 min Pitfall sessions.)

As far as posters go, you definitely need a pin-up. Maybe Cindy Crawford, Samantha Fox, or a Fall Guy-era Heather Thomas.

I like Anne's Miami Vice concept. You are in Florida...it would work. You'd also need some neon lights randomly lighting up niches in the wall.

My mom took all my old 80s concert Ts and made them into a quilt but you could do pillows too (if you aren't still wearing them!)

I think it might be over your budget but the neon Spuds sign needs to go near a pool table and near that table needs to be a poster of the Huey Lewis and the News Sports album.

[Anne]

You could go totally Miami Vice with some aqua and pale gray paint for your walls.

[Miguel]

In my room at my parents,there`s still my Kim Basinger poster(so many nights looking at it.....innocently!Just admiring the beauty.)

At my place,not much 80s.A VCR stucked in a corner,he seems really sad about the lack of use.I was trying to get that London Calling poster.It´s an idea.
Spears,somehow i thought your lair was a bit like Rob Gordon`s one.Apparently not,then.

[Spears]

My coffee table sadly also doubles as my computer table, kitchen table, drinking table and spare DVD holder.

It's the single-most used piece of furniture in the lair.

[Brad]

Get rid of your coffee table and get a cocktail table arcade game.

(I'd recommend Galaga, personally.)

[Joe]

A Tesla Coil light is always nice.

And take those EXTRA vinyl records out of the jackets and cover the ceiling with them. That's what they did at WZRD-FM, THE WIZARD, in Chicago.

[Lyle]

If you can find a suitable replica of Lloyd Dobler's boombox you should put that out somewhere (with some Peter Gabriel all cued up). I think you also need a replica flux capacitor (though they're about $250-500 on Ebay they even light up!). But imagine that as the first thing people see when they enter the lair (definitely appropriate). A less expensive alternative might be the Outatime replica license plate from Back to the Future. For more subtle touches you can also get a replica of Marty's sports almanac (though technically it's from the 90s sequel), or a replica of the Goonies copper bones key. In fact, I would go so far as to recommend one of the spring exercise items that Brand uses in the Goonies if you can find one.

However, my favorite and most subtle item for nomination is a replica of Marty McFly's family photos which you could discretely hang on the wall somewhere. You can find most of these items on Ebay (I didn't want to provide the links because they're too long).

Of course if you have an extra $25k you can even get your very own used Delorean - can you imagine pulling up to work every day in that!? Get the hover conversion and you'd be all set.

[Mike in Austin]

Some 80's items for the wall:

-Godfather III poster
-Huge, large size swatch
-Wall posters from The Cure and Depeche Mode
-a shelf or shelves with 80's memorabilia (Star Trek figures, stuffed animals given by girlfriends or T-shirts that you can't wear but still darn proud to have and let all know you were there and 80's concert programs)

[Spears]

I have a mini-poster for Where The Buffalo Roam, so that will work out nicely.

[Vegasgirlfriend]

Oddly enough, I do like the poster for Where the Buffalo Roam.