A Stylish Blast from the Past: The Benefits of Retro Interiors

I have always had a weakness for retro interiors, so when the time came to furnish my first home, I already knew what I was going for. As it draws inspiration from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, retro design has the fun and lively feel of those decades, which makes it very appealing for people who long for those better times. While it’s certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, if you have the guts to pull it off, retro style can give your home a vibrant personality that draws people in thanks to its following benefits.

Funky & Functional Furniture

Let’s start with the furniture – the most characteristic aspect of retro interiors. Just go around any retro furniture store and you’ll notice pieces that have an abstract feel to them as though they came straight out from a Picasso painting. Sofas and armchairs are characterised by their voluminous shapes, broad seats, contoured backs and sensuous textiles. But besides giving the space a funky vibe, these retro pieces perfectly fulfil the main function of seating – to encourage you to assume a relaxed seating position with proper posture.

Freedom to Play with Colours

Many people love retro design because it places no restrictions on the colour palette you can use in your space. It really allows you to get creative and play with all the colours you want. What’s more, there’s more variety of furniture you can choose as every retro furniture store is full with pieces in all the colours you can imagine. Although there’s no limit to the colours you can include, be careful when doing so. Strive to create some balance where the different hues do not compete with each other. To do so, you can opt for one or two (at most) primary colours which will dominate the space. You can use these colours for the larger furniture items such as the sofa. Additionally, you can include a plethora of other colours with the help of accent furniture such as ottomans or accessories such as pillows, plant containers, wall art, and so on. What’s more, there are certain colours that are more retro than others, like for instance avocado green, mustard yellow, teal, hot pink and purple. So, make sure to include a splash of those.

Accents That Trigger Nostalgia

Similar to the unrestricted colour palette, there’s also no limit in the types of accents and accessories you can use, as long as they have a retro flair about them. With that being said consider decorating the space with items such as fuzzy throw rugs, lava lamps, scoop stools, door beads, an old rotary phone and similar things that trigger nostalgia. When it comes to art and sculptures – the more unusual the better. To nail the retro style, opt for abstract and geometric pieces instead of landscapes, portraits or still-life.