Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Inspiration
  3. Evergreens

7 retro decorating ideas we love

By

Old-school fashion, styles, patterns, and music can be the inspiration for retro design. Decorating with this style in mind is all about thinking historically. You can have a lot of fun with the quirky patterns, bright colors, and interesting textures of the past. Whether you want to transform your home with a retro makeover or just add some little retro touches, check out some of these fun decorating ideas to add some retro flare to any room. 

Add retro decorations to any space

One of the great things about retro design is how versatile it is. There is no set way on how to achieve a retro look; you can include your favorite colors, patterns, and textures to put your own spin on it for your home. Some fun ways to decorate in retro style include:

  • Checkered flooring. The classic black-and-white floor tiles are a retro staple. It can be a great way to put a retro spin on your kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room floors. Although you can have real black and white tiles installed for hefty prices, a more simple and affordable option includes peel-and-stick tiles, which can be purchased for as little as $0.20 per square foot. To use, simply peel off the backing and press them onto the existing floor.
  • Record player. A record player is not only a fun, retro decoration; it is also a functional piece of art. Vintage record players can be found on a variety of online stores. You can pick out your favorite color and find your favorite records to enjoy.
  • Retro wallpaper. Wallpaper has historically been a very common decorating tool, making it perfect for vintage design. There are a lot of great vintage-inspired wallpaper designs to choose from. Like with flooring, peel-and-stick wallpaper is an option for folks unable to spend hours papering an entire wall. This wallpaper has an adhesive backing, allowing you to simply peel off the paper and press it onto any flat surface. Peel-and-stick wallpaper can easily be removed and readjusted without leaving any residue behind.
  • Old-school furniture. Decorating with furniture can be one of the most impactful ways to execute a specific style. There are a lot of great furniture options with vintage inspiration to choose from. Typically vintage furniture has features like wood panels, green tones, quirky lamps, metal handles, metallic shimmer, offset wooden legs, and pops of vibrant red colors. As with any style, you can always look for inspiration online and on social media.
  • Retro paintings. Retro paintings are all about color, color, and more color. They are vibrant, lively, and quirky pieces of art that can put anyone in a good mood.
  • Retro color palettes. Choosing the right colors for your walls, furniture, fixtures, and more can help you achieve the perfect retro design. Check out classic retro color palettes online for the perfect color scheme.
  • Vintage toys. Adding some fun, small decorations like vintage toys – robots, toy planes and trains, or dolls – to shelves, tables, and more can be an easy way to add some retro touches.

What exactly is retro style?

Retro style is about bringing old design to current times. It mixes and matches styles from decades of American design and fashion to create something truly unique. While there is no set rhyme or reason to achieving a retro design, there are a few staple features of this style that will get you started:

  • Pick a specific decade to be inspired by
  • Utilize classic shapes, logos, and colors
  • Employ weathered and old-looking items in your designs
  • Incorporate retro fonts
  • Pick some of the classic textures and finishes in retro design: golden, metallic, polished, and mirrored

Regardless of how you utilize retro style in your home, it can be a great way to bring some liveliness to any space. Retro decorating is all about celebrating the past and bringing some old-school style to your home. You can choose to redecorate a whole room or just add some small retro pieces for little pops of personality. No matter how you execute vintage and retro decorating, it just may be the perfect way to express your own style in your home.

Can’t tell the difference between retro and vintage furniture? Read on further to learn all about it!

Topics
Keep your oak kitchen cabinets fresh and modern with these tips
Transform your outdated oak kitchen cabinets for a luxe, modern design
Modern kitchen with red oak cabinets and white countertops

Oak kitchen cabinets are a staple in many traditional homes. Their earthy tones and elegant appearance have placed them at the top of the ladder, making them one of the most beloved cabinet materials in recent decades. While this wood has stood the test of time in interior design, keeping an oak-heavy kitchen from looking out of place in a redesigned home can be challenging. Oak cabinetry often caters to traditional decor, making it hard to implement these gorgeous tones and textures into a more modern or contemporary space.

If you’re a modern enthusiast who wants to maintain the traditional oak cabinet look without creating a tacky design, then we have the tips for you. Here’s how to dress up your kitchen to balance modernity with traditional oak cabinets.
How to make oak kitchen cabinets look modern and contemporary

Read more
How to plant flowers in 6 steps for a gorgeous garden
Bring some life and vibrance to your outdoor space
Tulips in a border flower bed

Flowers lift the spirit. They can brighten your home from within a vase or they can add splashes of color around your yard. Either way, vibrant flowers add beauty, color, and charm wherever they are. Whether you're ready to plant the best perennial blooms that you can enjoy for years to come, or you're looking for annual flowers that will bloom for a single season, you’ve come to the right place.

Read more
Transform oak wood decor with these stunning accent colors
These colors can give oak wood a modern, refreshing look
Kitchen with black cabinets and dark wood inspired by midcentury design

Whether you’ve just installed your favorite oak kitchen cabinets or you’ve decided on a stunning oak wood floor for your home, it can be difficult to find a modern color palette that looks seamless alongside these warm wood tones. While oak wood is stunning with traditional design, modernists who favor its classic appeal might find blending this tone with their existing palette frustrating.

Oak wood has a tendency to look outdated or overly traditional in a home's design. This happens for several reasons. For example, a dark or brown color palette makes oak look a bit drab in spaces where modernists prefer light or airy tones.

Read more