Retro Furniture

If you have a love of eclectic interiors, mixing and matching styles from different eras, and basking in a nostalgic atmosphere, then retro interior design is for you. The retro revival is here, and it’s becoming increasingly popular in homes everywhere. But how exactly do you transform your space into a retro retreat? Well, read on as we take you through what retro style is, and how you can incorporate it into your home.

What is retro style?

Generally speaking, retro refers to the mid-century period of the ‘60s and ‘70s. During this time, many new styles were sharing the stage, and interior design was experimenting with different colours, patterns, and furniture. But retro can also extend further than this, incorporating elements of other styles from the past, including art deco and Rococo style. Perhaps the first thought that springs to mind with retro style is mid-century furniture. While modernism focuses on clean, straight lines and low-profile furniture, retro is all about curves and angles, bold colours, and different materials, like velvet and chrome. A retro colour palette holds no punches, with an emphasis on bombastic and loud colours, from mustard yellow to cherry red. And don’t be shy with patterns and textures, either; take a look at mid-century wallpapers and shag rugs for inspiration. With that said, designing a retro interior isn’t an excuse to go completely overboard. It’s all about drawing inspiration from different eras of design and combining them to great effect, not throwing anything and everything at it and hoping something sticks. Instead, you need a starting point for your scheme. This can be anything you want, from a particular piece of furniture to a carpet. Once you have this foundation, you can then build on top by finding other design elements that fit your desired scheme. When picking pieces for your retro interior, don’t feel constrained to one era. Want to hang a Rococo painting next to your mid-century leather sofa? Go for it. Just remember, balance is the key to a stunning retro interior. If your chosen furniture is bright and bold, consider toning it down with the wall colour. If you’ve gone for a ‘70s style wallpaper, consider a dark wood art deco sideboard to cut through the vibrancy.

Retro living room ideas

There are a few key points to consider when designing a retro living room. Firstly, try to incorporate wood into your décor where you can. This could be as simple as a coffee table or as prominent as wood cladding, but whatever you do, make sure you have wood at the heart of your design scheme. Stick to warmer woods with an orange or red tint, and avoid pale, blonde woods like beech and ash. Next, think about your colour palette. Now’s your chance to get creative with some colour combos fresh from the past. Pair blue mustang with burnt orange or avocado green with mustard yellow for an instant statement. And don’t be afraid to add colour in unexpected places; a bold rug or painted sideboard are just as effective as a sofa if used strategically. When it comes to furniture, there’s really no hard and fast rules. It all depends on your own personal taste and what look you’re going for with your retro interior. Mix and match sofas and armchairs from one era with sideboards and coffee tables from another, and have fun with it. Your home is your space to express yourself, so if you have an idea, try it out. If it doesn’t work out, try something else. The great thing about retro style is it’s completely up to you to find a look that you love.

Retro dining room ideas

There’s a lot of inspiration to be taken from dining rooms of the past. Corner bench dining sets evoke images of a cool ‘60’s diner banquette, while more traditional dining sets can give off early 20th century vibes. The dining set itself may be a good place to start when designing your dining room, so find one that works with the space available and build around it. Just like any other retro room, you should go bold with the walls, and funky wallpaper is a great way of giving your dining room some pizazz. Wallpaper brings colour and pattern to the party, perfect for transforming the dining room from a formal space into a relaxing room. For a real mid-century vibe, you can’t go wrong with geometric patterns. Of course, you don’t need wallpaper to add pattern to your dining room. Retro dining chairs upholstered in patterned fabric would act as a focal point, or you could even go for patterned curtains if you’re feeling brave. Make sure you pay attention to the lighting in your retro dining room, too. There are countless examples of statement lighting from the last century and beyond, and grand lighting can make a dramatic centrepiece in a dining room. But don’t forget to add in some accent and decorative lighting to give your space some ambience.

Retro bedroom ideas

Going for a retro bedroom gives you the opportunity to experiment and find a style that’s unique to your home. If you want to make a statement in the bedroom, nothing says elegantly retro quite like a chandelier. Just make sure you keep the rest of the bedroom in check and use the chandelier as the main focal point to avoid your bedroom becoming too gaudy. For retro bedroom furniture, a large retro bedframe and matching nightstands will give you bedroom instant old-school vibes, and try to incorporate wooden storage into the look, like a vintage chest of drawers. Metal, especially brass, is also super retro, so go for brass lighting or ornaments to really seal the deal.