Going Old School: Bringing Home the Retro Flair

The world of design often reintroduces a period every 20 years or so. In interior design, this gets even more emphasis. It’s no wonder that many look forward to having a home that features a retro style. This design concept, however, is more than just putting together any random colour combination from the ‘40s to the ‘70s.

There are different ways to bring the retro flair to your home. Here are some of them:

Picturing Psychedelia

One of the most memorable aspects of retro is everything psychedelic. This design style is all about colour. You have to be creative in playing with different hues to create eye-catching designs that encapsulate the essence of psychedelic designs.

Often, this features paisley, kaleidoscopic, or fractal patterns — which is something you could use for a dining room mural. Stick to bright and contrasting colours, but make sure that every aspect of the design has clear details. Don’t be afraid to morph objects — often, surrealistic designs — and collage them together. Motif repetition is also good.

Playing with Pastels

In the ‘50s and ‘60s, pastels were the big thing. They’re beautiful, but not overly so. This is a retro design concept you can use for your home. With pastels, you have to mute the hues to strike a unique look, which often results in a dramatic appearance. Less saturated colours create the perfect backdrop for that one bold feature your design will sport. Moreover, it’s easier to associate the colour scheme to the feelings of the yesteryears when the hues appeared flat, old, and vintage.

Nailing it with Neutrals

What many design articles leave out often is the importance of neutrals in retro design. It’s not always about the bright colours of psychedelia or the muted, minimal appeal of pastel, as it’s also about how the blacks and whites fit in the design.

Take the inspiration from retro-inspired cafes and restaurants and notice the black and white, chessboard-like flooring. This is how neutrals can create the base of the retro design. This is a common characteristic of the vintage retro style from the 1940s, which puts emphasis on white walls.

While it’s important to have the right décor and furniture in your home for a retro feel, what really makes the difference is how you handle the paintwork.

At Barker-Whittle, we have years of experience in painting homes and commercial spaces. With our help, you can surely achieve the perfect look you want for your home. Contact us to enquire about our services.