Retro living room with a cool collection of vases by UPinteriors
Dear visitors, we invite you to discuss the increasingly popular retro style in the interior.
Retro style doesn't necessarily mean bright colors and a lively environment. After all, you can take only the best from this type of design, adding to it something from modernism.
For example, some modern things look very organic with objects from the last century, such as a fireplace, rugs or chairs. The pictures below will help you think in the right direction.
Sophisticated last century style for a modern living room
Modern living room from a different angle by Sarah Greenman
The bright orange floor radiates energy by Susan Diana Harris Interior Design
Paired chairs create a relaxed atmosphere by Chris Barrett Design
The most beautiful design idea for a small living room by Rachel Reider Interiors
The living room looks modern by Weego Home
Combine modern design with a retro touch by Holly Marder
Fireplace bright orange by maison21
Colorful abundance
Most often, retro ideas are associated with bold colors, unusual images and bright designs, which are sometimes perceived as too pretentious and excessive. However, if you choose the background and objects well, then this theme looks very original and organic.
Therefore, do not be afraid to experiment and try to combine classic items with things from retro or modern style.
Surround yourself with color
A shelf that can change the atmosphere of your entire room by Thomas Wold
Orange is the most popular color in retro by Kropat Interior Design
Specialized tables, cabinets or shiny chandeliers can also give a retro effect to the room. Just add throw pillows or rugs and you have a modern and trendy living room. When it comes to colorful 60s and 70s design, there's plenty of room for inspiration.
Antique Café sign in living room by Kailey J. Flynn Photography
Colorful living room
Colorful coffee table by Chimera Interior Design
Keep your space colorful and trendy! by Becky Harris
Room in the style of a 60s sci-fi series by Max T
Bright 70s style by Alex Amend Photography
Retro style elements in a modern living room by Smith & Vansant Architects
Retro and modern
In order not to do a full-fledged renovation, add only some points from the furnishings of the last century. By using curtains, a coffee table or wallpaper, even a modern room will evoke a feeling of nostalgia.
Chairs – furniture that best reflects the atmosphere
The elegant rug and wood paneling add wonderful warmth to the room. by Michael Moran
If you decide to remodel your space in a retro style, make sure that you really love it and you won't get tired of it anytime soon.
Bright couch and interesting wallpaper by Fotograf Lisbet Spörndly
Bold ceiling color
Bubble chair by Susan Jay Design
Warm yellow
A perfect combination of retro and modern by Madison Modern Home
Neutral colors can also be used by Burritt Bros. Carpets
Luxurious home with incredible charm by MAD – Modern Affordable Design Solutions
Living room with modern elements by Sarah Greenman
Contemporary designs inspired by the last century
However, retro is not only the 60s and 70s. The works of greats such as Eero Saarinen, Eames, Isamu Noguchi and Arne Jacobsen open up a world of endless possibilities. To move away from modern trends and understand the “vintage look,” choose furnishings in shades of pink, red or orange.
Bertoia Bird Chair among decorative pillows adds charm
Elliptical coffee table
Advanced style
60s style lounge chair by Jeni Lee
You really don't have to limit yourself to just one style. Don't be afraid to experiment and mix elements from a wide variety of eras.
Wonderful interior by Tara Bussema – Neat Organization and Design
Elegant design in fashionable colors by VisualLingual
Elegant rattan furniture By Marcelo Brito & Pedro Potaris
Stylish and fashionable fireplace in the shape of a ball by Marcelo Brito & Pedro Potaris
Posters from the golden era of cinema
Elegant pendant lamps by Mikel Irastorza
Wood stove and chair bags by kimberly peck architect
Retro style could be compared to vintage, since both tend to be antique. However, retro is only nostalgia for past times, absorbing the most recognizable and best of them. In such an interior it is not necessary to place things with a rich history; it is enough just to create the appearance of this antiquity, combining it with modernity. Even this is enough for this style to become widespread and popular among the people. Let's look at retro in different rooms and find out how it will manifest itself in each of them.
Living room
A living room in a retro style is a real testing ground for design talent, where this style can be fully played out by many means that can either fit into a ready-made interior concept or rewrite it from scratch.
Since there is a lot of space in the living room, it is not surprising that it can combine many bright colors, making the room itself bright, sometimes even colorful. In addition to the color orchestra, you can find many different patterns and unusual objects here.
Furniture in a retro living room can be futuristic or, on the contrary, have a classic simple shape, as in this case
The main element here is furniture, which is by no means antique and does not even have any scuffs. The sofa and armchairs have an interesting and sometimes even surprising shape. These are futuristic objects, as if inspired by science fiction films of the last century. If you want to take a more relaxed and practical approach, a classic set is suitable, which can be adjusted to the desired concept with the help of retro textiles.
The seating area can be equipped with a coffee table and a tall floor lamp, which are placed next to the sofa. This completes the arrangement of the zone. If there is enough space in the living room, you can add a small sideboard, a cabinet with high legs, chairs and a secretary.
It is very important to give these pieces of furniture a touch of antiquity - this is achieved by sanding or painting followed by varnishing.
Using stencils, the same pattern is applied to furniture elements, uniting them into a stylistically unified set.
To emphasize the style, a carpet with a pattern, especially popular half a century ago, or a plain one, but with a long, high pile, is laid on the floor. Crystal products, as well as glass vases and decanters, along with posters, pictures from drawings of past decades - all this will benefit the style. Objects such as a rocking chair or an old telephone standing on the nightstand are considered a special squeak.
The lighting is made bright in the old style. It is provided by chandeliers on cords; floor lamps, sconces or table lamps with fringe or lampshade help them in this.
Vinyl wallpaper in nondescript shades with stripes or floral patterns is perfect for wall decoration.
Rough plaster or painting the walls will do. The flooring used is parquet, carpet, tiles or natural wood. It is enough to whitewash the ceiling.
The color scheme plays an important role in the interior of a retro living room - here you can find color combinations that would not even be considered in other styles. In addition to red, black and white, which are the main colors of the interior, combinations of pink and green and orange and blue are used. All these colors are found in one way or another in furniture decoration and upholstery, as well as in accessories.
Kitchen
The retro-style kitchen can accommodate both a common dining table and a separate seating area where you can read the latest newspapers, as well as a work area for preparing your favorite dishes.
The source of inspiration is old, slightly restored furniture. In such cases, old tables, cabinets, chairs come to the fore, because they are imbued with the energy of the past decades and have exactly the charm that is so necessary to create a retro style. If such pieces of furniture are not available, it will not be difficult to find something similar that is already designed to match the style or can be easily customized. Typically, such a furniture is made of MDF and covered with PVC film.
Retro-style furniture has its own distinctive features - the presence of convex semicircular elements on cabinets and cabinets, smoothed corners and patterns on doors and glass.
Both a round and a rectangular simple table with a light top, often laminated, will look equally good. The chairs are very similar to those that could previously be found in Soviet catering establishments. If, in addition to this, you can find a refrigerator from the last century in good working condition, consider yourself incredibly lucky.
A kitchen with loft elements is great for creating a retro style
Decor plays a significant role here too. A retro-style chandelier, all kinds of boxes for spices and seasonings, porcelain plates and cups, carefully placed on shelves - all this will fit into the kitchen interior. It’s just important not to overdo it with their quantity. The main thing here is to indicate the spirit of the style and create a good mood. And bright colors, especially contrasting combinations, will help with this.
Retro style in the kitchen (video)
Bedroom
The real “trick” of a retro bedroom is the hard carpet on the floor, which became widespread in the 60s of the last century.
The same 60s are characterized by the presence of white, brown, orange, turquoise and other colors, which are essentially restrained. But in the 70s, the color scheme was no longer so diverse. A simple two-tone wall decoration is a clear example of this. Lighter colors were used for the top, darker colors for the bottom. But the decor in the form of rugs on the floor helped to somehow diversify the atmosphere. In addition, a large number of mirrors, as well as glass vases and figurines, made it possible to make the decor more lightweight.
The main feature of the retro bedroom is a double bed with a large headboard
In the 80s, the atmosphere in the interior softened even more and completely came to a calm color scheme. The furniture, like the decor, has acquired smoother features and elegance.
The only thing that remained unknown all these years was a large double bed with a high headboard and bedside tables or tables with nightlights placed on them on the sides. In addition, a solid wardrobe and a chest of drawers with drawers became business cards. To better convey the mood of that time, forged elements are used in furniture (mainly beds), and scuffs are created on wooden coverings.
Bathroom
Charm, sophistication, comfort - these are the characteristics of a retro bathroom. The main “ringleaders” here are a cast-iron bathtub with legs, painted wooden cabinets, a round marble sink, which, like a bathtub, is placed on cast-iron legs or a support is used instead. The charm of the interior is given by single-lever faucets in bronze or platinum and a toilet with a cistern - living witnesses of the Soviet era. These standards may be slightly modified, the main condition being that they match the style of the entered elements.
The main decorative element in a retro bathroom is a large mirror in a wooden frame with a large pattern. The wood, of course, must be treated with the appropriate composition.
The color palette should be restrained and laconic. However, the parameters of the bathroom do not allow you to create a bright or colorful interior. Typical colors for this room are white, black, orange in its calm version, brown and red (in small quantities). Tiles are laid on the floor; the checkerboard method of laying it is especially good. Some tiles can also be used on the walls, but the retro style still involves painting them.
A cast-iron claw-foot bathtub combined with an old watering can is a clear sign of retro style
Breath of the past
Retro is nostalgia for the past. It is used in their interiors by those who brought something good, bright, and memorable from the atmosphere of the 50s-70s. Thanks to bright fragments of the past century, we can diversify the boring decor of our apartment, bring into it something new and at the same time so familiar. This style is good because it gives a lot of room for imagination. It is certainly interesting and at the same time quite complex. To create an interior in a retro style, you need to imbue yourself with the spirit of the era, feel yourself in it and, based on the feelings you receive, create a cozy and comfortable space for yourself.
Photo gallery of retro style interiors
Bright retro living room in green tones 
Retro bathroom with green accents 
Bedroom with a typical retro pattern on textiles 
Retro kitchen with retro washbasin
Whatever the size of a retro-style room, it is important to maintain balance when using key items and accessories. It is necessary to correctly combine antique objects with modern objects, then the desired result can be achieved.
Whether you want to feel nostalgic or are seriously interested in the retro theme, find out about this exuberant era that shaped the interior to suit the lifestyle. Let's create a retro interior according to all the rules, despite the fact that the style is quite complex and multi-layered.
What is retro style?
I don’t know about you, but when I mention retro style, I immediately think of Kusturica’s films, with those shiny jackets, beaded curtains and a reckless lifestyle that reaches the point of being ridiculous. Retro style in interior design is brightness, cheerful mood and originality. The most notable design ideas of the mid-20s are reflected in interiors decorated in retro style.
In many industries, including music, fashion and design, the word "retro" is used to describe the imitation of old trends and styles. In the world of interior design, "retro" usually refers to furniture typical of the decades between the 1950s and 1980s.
Pieces may be vintage and originally produced during this era, or simply take inspiration from the shapes and colors that characterized the style of the time. The ultimate hallmark of retro style is an eclectic mix of old and new: design classics interspersed with new creations, combined to create a cohesive look.
In today's design standards, "retro" is a style that confidently combines an authentic look with the best of modern technology, while remaining worthy of nostalgia.
The history of the retro style
Retro style has become widespread in Germany, England, and North America since 1950. But the concept has been quite popular for many years. Currently, it is also popular and is being rethought by many designers. This style was used as inspiration, in particular, by such companies as Walter Knoll and Rolf Benz.
However, it is difficult to determine where the lines between Vintage, Mid-Century Modern and Retro overlap. All three styles are completely separate in their methods, but they have one thing in common: a love for the design ideas of the past. Saying that your "retro" design will be too vague, but it works by combining any number of suitable design styles.
Characteristic features of retro style in the interior design of apartments and other premises:
Retro style in interior design is all about fancy shapes, combinations of colors and textures. It is defined by brightness and originality: plastic figures with vinyl records, paintings with photographs of cities, lava lamps with sofa lips, a combination of glass, plastic, metal with synthetics (primarily artificial leather, velvet), beaded curtains and asymmetrical patterns.
Distinctive features
Retro is the style of the cheerful 50s, bright 60s and 70s. It is a mixture of hipster fashion with their beautiful clothes and charm, colorful hippie dresses with a floral theme and rainbow print, with a bright, explosive disco with acidic colors and "variety of shapes".
Retro style in the interior implies an emphasis on the past, mention of traditions, fashion trends of the last century: floral graphics, chrome chevrons, synthetic rugs, shiny patent leather, movie posters with heroes of those years, original furniture, rejection of everything boring and ordinary.
The 50s introduced chrome handles on cabinets, table legs and chairs. Upholstery on chairs made of faux shiny leather, color combinations:
In the 60s, the hippie movement (flowers, peace symbols, rainbows) was relevant. Slightly more subdued colors and geometric patterns (along with floral motifs) were at the peak of popularity at the time.
70s - disco era: previous shades were expanded with gold, blue, bright green. Glitter, brightness, fun - this is how you can describe the mood of that period. Large sofas, bar stools, wardrobes, sideboards, coffee tables, and ottomans were in fashion.
Where does retro style fit?
This style is popular in big cities; it is widely used to decorate apartments, cafes, hotels, and cinemas. Restaurant interior design in retro style or cafe interior design implies brightness, original functions, stylish bar stools, tables, smooth shiny surface of cabinets, bar counters.
The interior design of an apartment in retro style is comfort, ostentatious charm, and a cheerful mood. Furniture of unusual shapes, beaded curtains, old-fashioned figurines, posters with heroes of yesteryear, bright colors - all this creates a special retro-style mood: bright and warm.
Modern interior design in this style is seen by designers as follows:
- A skillful combination of materials (PVC, synthetics, plastic) creates an atmosphere of lightness and fun.
- Expressed individuality of the interior from the use of unusual furniture and decor.
Bold, unexpected design solutions: multi-colored chandeliers, colorful curtains, bright furniture, surprisingly convenient mixing of glossy lacquer surfaces and leather upholstery elements. Variety of colors, custom photos in retro style.
Interior style: Overview and examples
Retro style creates a special mood: unrestrained, cheerful, bright, unique. This is a memorable chic, joyful atmosphere, an unusual combination of antiques and artificial materials.
The most common prints:
- floral theme;
- "Oriental cucumber";
- geometry;
- abstraction;
Actual shades:
More restrained colors - olive, cream, mustard.
Retro style in the interior is a bright appeal, a current fresh and original look at familiar things.
Features of retro furniture
The retro furniture style originates from the traditional Bauhaus style. It arose due to the market need for high-quality, comfortable, but inexpensive furniture.
With new milling techniques in the 60s and 70s, furniture appeared with perforated holes or even holes as a decorative design element on metal fronts. More and more, the chair was reduced to its immediate function. The backs became shorter - in most cases they did not exceed the length of the shoulders. The padded armrests were removed, so that the furniture with filigree legs, despite the comfortable upholstery, received a very light overall appearance.
Main characteristics of furniture
Retro furniture from the 50s to 70s originally took the form of relatively clean, simple designs from a basic base. Depending on the piece of furniture, either it was made with new covering methods (for example, with longitudinal or transverse seams on the back), or the materials were mixed so that the cabinet could contain metal legs with a wooden frame, often with drawers or fronts in different colors.
The mix of materials also focused on coffee tables and nightstands - a solid wood or metal structure with a gold metal frame overlaid with a heavy marble slab - the mix of materials was a trendsetter in retro furniture design.
Wardrobes were muted, such as dirty yellow, sea green, beige, brown, but also muted orange appeared in the 50s and 60s. Popular types of wood were red-tinted shades such as cherry, walnut, oak, and beech.
Mid-Century Modern: 1920s - 1960s
The movement began in the 1920s as a reaction to the Art Deco style and continued for decades. The transition from "vintage" to "mid-century" may have been a little slower than later design changes, but it was a clear transition from clean, ultra-strict decor to something a little cozier. After the end of World War II, the design industry picked up where it left off in the 40s, resulting in the 50s expressing its own design style that took interior styling to a whole new level.
Main points:
- Sleek and Minimalistic: it has sleek shapes with minimal details.
- Famous designers to this day: Famous designers included Eames (Charles and Ray), Mies van der Rohe and Iero Saarinen, who were also architects.
- Retro chairs: Classic pieces like the Barcelona chair or the Womb chair are essential for serious retro collections.
Geometric shapes, patterns with straight lines, soft curves, and asymmetrical motifs look beautiful with metallic accents, glass, concrete, and wood in rooms designed in a mid-century style. Old switches and doorknobs, lamps and retro wall clocks help add nostalgia to modern homes.
Here are some ideas:
1 Patterns. The influence of pop culture, the hippie movement, and the passion for floral patterns bring symbols of peace and floral prints into interior design. Beaded curtains in doorways or used as partitions are another great mid-century decorating idea.
2 Interior color. Brown colors of wooden furniture with red, black, pink, yellow, turquoise, sea are a good choice for decoration. Muted tones of all primary colors are excellent for decorating. They create a comfortable design and give a natural feel to living spaces.
3 Modern interior design ideas. The exciting thing about mid-century style is that the design has no significant limitations on color or texture combinations. Interiors can look eclectic, mixing and matching old and new furnishings and ideas. Elegant simplicity, functionality, comfort are the design elements.
50s style brings the past into the present, while designers bring modern or futuristic style to homes. This increases the effect of creating unique, functional, modern interiors. Be inspired by this wonderful photo selection of mid-century style and take your favorite ideas into your home.
1950s kitchen design
Color schemes: Popular color schemes include black and white checkered tile flooring, with bold accents such as cherry red, turquoise, hot pink.
Characteristic materials: The predominant materials for furniture and other finishes were light wood, chrome, vinyl, Formica countertops, plexiglass (plexiglass).
Diner style (diner): Since this period plays well in kitchen design, consider adding banquette seating to the kitchen or a pair of '50s diner-style bar stools to your breakfast table.
Rebellious 1960s
Advances in technology led to home improvements that radically changed the course of interior design, taking a new turn in the late 60s. The new range of colorful appliances has helped create a strong foundation for home design.
Contrasting colors also played a big role in giving each room a distinct personality. Combinations of moss green with black and white or lilac and purple with yellow chartreuse were at the peak of popularity.
This new palette offered an exciting change of pace for the home. Not only did color schemes evolve, so did patterns. Widespread flowers, dynamic prints. These exciting projects were a sign of the times when the world was moving at a fast pace.
Popular colors: decor with avocado green, copper, orange or mustard yellow and beige.
Wallpaper: Wallpaper became very popular during this period, especially flock wallpaper. Today there are many prints from the 1960s, such as paisley or floral.
Characteristic furniture: Look for molded plastic, rectangular chairs, as well as streamlined wooden Danish furniture, including tables, coffee tables, cabinets.
Other accessories: Complete the look with Andy Warhol-inspired pop art as well as a deep-pile rug. If you really want to channel the 60s retro, you'll need a lava lamp with an oversized beanbag.
Rhythmic 1970s
The decor of the 1970s has a lot in common with the 60s, as a period of formation of something new. Just a few decades ago, design was the same for everyone, but now the “70s” offered an individual style for everyone. Now there were no standard projects. Bright colors and wild patterns grew in popularity, filling the home with new vitality.
70s design is often referred to as “psychedelic”, and rightly so, as the bright colors and wild patterns are kaleidoscope-like. The house was filled with a variety of textures, from deep-pile carpeting to Lucite chairs, from velvet to chrome.
More vibrant colors: 1970s wallpaper was made of glitter foil, bamboo patterns, grass.
Eye-catching carpets: Carpet pile length has increased and patterns have become bolder.
Kitchen colors: Autumn shades such as orange, rust, brown, wheat were very much in demand. Making sure your kitchen appliances fit has proven to be a must.
Changes in materials: Popular surface finishes included wood wall panels, heavy drapery with padded borders, stained dark wood, rattan furniture, wicker, paisley prints on almost everything.
As the 70s came to an end, psychedelic interiors began to veer towards the new “funky” designs of the 80s. Less frantic, these interiors are more cohesive. Projects have become more organic rather than “fussy.” It was during this time that various trends began to take hold and the world of interior design was on a path of continuous evolution.
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Retro style is a fashionable and practical solution, a direction where various elements of the past acquire a modern interpretation. This style solution will always be popular because it has absorbed the best from each past era.
Advantages and disadvantages of a retro-style living room
Living room interiors in retro style (photo) are very interesting and varied. Each era has its own time characteristics, and this is an important point when creating the chosen style.
This direction has a number of advantages:
- abundance of decorative components
- naturalness and simplicity
- the presence of bright colors and shades, ensuring the exclusivity of the solution
- does not require large expenses for the implementation of the project.
The disadvantages of retro style include:
- complex selection of furniture and decorative elements.
The interior of a retro living room differs from modern design solutions in the rationality of its elements, as well as the laconic forms of decorative decorations. The main task for the owner is to accurately convey and correctly interpret the specific era chosen as the design.
When choosing a retro style in the interior of the living room, you need to arrange everything in such a way as to best meet the fashion trends of that time:
- furniture must have the required colors and shapes;
- harmonious color scheme of the room;
- correct selection of parts and accessories for the overall interior.
The retro living room furniture stands out for its unusual configuration and color scheme. The 50-60s of the last century were characterized by sofas and chairs that were square in shape, not too soft and with little upholstery without frills. However, already in the late 60s, asymmetrical and geometric patterns began to be present in fabric patterns. The next decade is characterized by furniture with rounded shapes, characterized by softness and streamlined elements.
As a material for furniture, you can use plywood, natural wood, plastic, fiberglass. Retro style in the living room can be represented by cabinets that are decorated with patterned doors and glass shelves, chairs with chrome trim, an old dressing table, a long wide sofa, lined with a fireplace with tiles cracked by time.
Let's diversify the living room in retro style
The retro-style living room photos of which are presented should include the most popular colors characteristic of this trend:
- pink, red, orange;
- blue, white, acid green;
- chocolate, black.
The decorated room can look in any of the listed shades, the main thing is that the color you like is saturated. When decorating a living room wall, retro designers often use a purple or mustard background. You can also decorate the walls with wallpaper with a primitive pattern. The ceilings are painted white, whitewashed or rough plaster is used.
When decorating a retro living room, it is advisable to cover the floors with natural wood or linoleum. Bright rugs and high-pile carpets that will harmoniously fit into the overall style picture will look original on the floor.
When creating a retro style in the interior of the living room, you should pay attention not only to the furniture, but also to the electrical wiring. It will help create coziness and comfort in the room. For this purpose, you can use ceramic switches and sockets. Ceramic elements are an excellent addition to a retro-style interior. The retro living room photo, which is striking in its originality, emphasizes a certain style.
When arranging a retro style in the living room, you can use printing products, posters with images of heroes of the chosen era and other retro posters for the living room.
The fashion trend for the 60-70s was bar cabinets, coffee tables and sideboards, which showed guests the available kitchen services. Hemispheres and circles are widely used in the design of the room - wooden sideboards are often placed in the living room, where painted plates, figurines, vases and bottles are placed.
Harmoniously combined styles
Ancient retro style is a brother of high-tech, modern and minimalism. The only difference is the requirement when decorating the interior to use textiles and decorative items with features of retro design trends.
To decorate your living room in an original way, find forgotten things that will help decorate the room.
The art of interior design is not only about creating a comfortable and stylish environment, but also about “traveling through time.” For example, a retro-style room recreates the atmosphere of the 50s-70s of the last century, both so recent and so distant.
Bright shades of furniture highlight retro style
The nostalgic retro style is very cinematic. The past appears before us not in a detailed and methodical reproduction, but as if through the haze of time, as an image of a passing nature captured on film. Of course, the signs of bygone years and things authentic to them are extremely important, but these are all just colors that allow the art of design to create “portraits” of any era, to capture its elusive appearance. Or rather, our ideas about it.
One of the features of retro style is the blurring of time frames. This can be a stylization of both the bright 60s and the respectable 70s.
Attention! Before you start decorating rooms in this style, you should decide on the time period, and also take into account the specifics of each of them.
When creating interiors in a retro style, close attention should be paid to:
- room furnishings;
- selection of suitable accessories;
- color scheme.
When creating interiors in a retro style, close attention should be paid to the furnishings of the rooms and the brightness of the colors.
The emergence of retro style is a reaction to the harsh and bloody 1940s. It is no coincidence that the 1950-1970s are characterized by bright, expressive fashion, the emergence of youth subcultures and great musical groups, and a general atmosphere of joy and serenity. But still, every decade has its own unique appearance.
Specifics of retro styles
Retro 1950s are characterized by:
- an abundance of chrome and other details referencing the industrial aesthetics of those times;
- furniture is rectangular in shape, without any ruffles or frills. The seats are hard, covered in laminated fabric reminiscent of patent leather;
- the emergence of fashion for images of popular musicians and film actors;
- colors – red, pink, turquoise, sea green, black.
Retro 50s style features hard seats covered in laminated fabric reminiscent of patent leather.
Key features of 1960s design:
- minimalism;
- light asymmetrical furniture of unusual streamlined shapes;
- the decor is dominated by floral, ethnic and space themes;
- bright and bold color combinations.
Retro 60s combines bright colors
The retro style of the 1970s is characterized by:
- desire for comfort;
- distribution of softer and more comfortable furniture conducive to relaxation;
- the emergence of fashion for coffee tables, ottomans, sideboards, bar cabinets - everything that contributes to a pleasant time with friends;
- complex intricate patterns in wall decoration;
- the predominance of warmer and natural colors.
The retro style of the 1970s is characterized by the spread of softer and more comfortable furniture conducive to relaxation.
An important and remarkable feature of retro style is the enormous space it provides for creativity and flight of fancy. In this style you can:
- create an endless number of images of your favorite time;
- play up the era with the help of numerous accessories and other decoration elements;
- choose an original and cozy interior just for you.
An important and remarkable feature of retro style is the huge space it provides for creativity and flight of fancy.
Retro style room design
In addition to following the stylistic features of the 1950-1970s, you can use another, no less interesting tactic: create a generalized image of the post-war period in the interior of the room, mix in it all the most striking features of bygone years, without adhering to a strict chronological order. The main thing that needs to be done is to convey the general upbeat atmosphere of that era, the belief in inevitable happiness and a wonderful future.
In the interior, the main thing to do is to convey a common belief in inevitable happiness and a wonderful future.
This attitude should be embodied in all elements of the room’s decoration, starting with its color scheme.
Color spectrum
The khaki color that was dominant in the 1940s was replaced by bright, saturated colors in subsequent years.
A retro style room should be made using the following colors and shades:
- yellow;
- red;
- orange;
- hot pink;
- blue;
- juicy green;
- purple;
- emerald;
- turquoise;
- bright brown.
The color scheme of the room can be varied
An interesting solution is a combination of incompatible colors: yellow and pink, gray and green, blue and orange, light green and white, etc.
Decorating a room in retro style
When decorating interiors in retro style, a wide variety of materials can be used: each room is unique, and the rules for its decoration are born here and now. However, some general guidelines should be followed.
On a note! When finishing the ceiling, it is best to use wood. The ceiling can be painted either in one color or in several bright colors. A whitewashed ceiling is also appropriate.
When making floors, natural wood and parquet are often used. The wooden covering can be replaced with a light wood-look laminate. The floors are also covered with carpet, rug or carpet with a geometric pattern.
The floors are covered with carpet, rug or carpet with a geometric pattern
Walls are most often covered with striped or floral wallpaper. It is also appropriate to paint walls over rough plaster. The color options are quite varied. There are practically no restrictions on this, and it all depends on personal preferences and taste.
Furniture and other interior and decor items
Retro-style furniture should be bright and unusual. It doesn’t have to be authentic to the era chosen for stylization. The main thing is that it must correspond to the spirit of the times. For example, a retro 1970s room might be decorated with a replica of Salvador Dali's famous lip sofa or armchair.
The materials from which the furniture is made do not play a big role. It can be either plastic or natural wood. The main thing is originality. Of course, old furniture would also be an interesting solution, but only with the addition of modern elements that emphasize the time distance that is so important for this style.
The materials from which the furniture is made do not play a big role. The main thing is originality
Another interesting solution for decorating furniture is applying various prints to it. These can be images of flowers, stripes, fruits, toys and other unexpected things. The uniformity of furniture styles is not at all necessary. Let the room resemble a creative workshop or a furniture museum.
The number of decorative items that can be used when decorating a room in a retro style is simply limitless. There is only one problem in choosing accessories: the inability to stop. I really want to place in the interior of the room all the interesting and bright things characteristic of a certain era, but this can lead to clutter and loss of any intention. Important! It is necessary to choose only poignant, symbolically loaded things that accurately and succinctly convey information about time.
- gramophones;
- transistors;
- dial telephones;
- vinyl records;
- posters with images of famous musicians and film actors of the 1950s-1970s;
- posters for films and concerts of popular rock bands;
- rugs and carpets that were fashionable in the 50-70s of the last century.
Other interior and decor items are also appropriate:
- multi-colored decanters and vases;
- crystal products;
- wooden panels;
- birch bark products;
- mirrors;
- framed photographs;
- bright dishes;
- watch;
- books on the shelves;
- flower pots.
Attention! The lighting of the room should be as artificial and bright as possible. Numerous floor lamps, wall and table lamps, and chandeliers on cords serve this purpose.
Retro style design is always a romanticization of the past, creating a joyful and serene image of it. The absence of strict rules, huge scope for imagination, variety of incarnations and limitless possibilities of this style allow you to create bright, original and comfortable interiors that satisfy any requirements and requests.
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