When renovating or redecorating, the main goal is often to spruce up a room and modernise it, especially if you’ve recently moved in and the place looks like it was still stuck in 1989. That being said, vintage and retro style is ever-popular and can add a lot of character to your interior. While it may not be wise to do a full vintage room, incorporating some elements of past decades can be a great way to make your home décor more retro without feeling like you’re on the set of Mad Men.
Vintage Furniture
When it comes to vintage furniture, the key to getting it right tends to be less is more. Choose a single piece and stick to it. A vintage sofa can look great in a modern living room, while a full set of sofa, chairs and coffee table may be too much. A sofa, armchair or table will be a bolder choice that is bound to get noticed. If you feel like you want to dip your toe into the world of retro before diving in, start with a smaller piece of furniture like a side table.
You can also opt for modern furniture that takes inspiration from past decades, so you have brand new furniture that has that retro vibe you’re looking for. For example, my dream piece of vintage-inspired furniture (if I had no limit on the budget) would be the vintage style Eames chair used in Frasier.
It’s a safer option for those new to the retro style. Still, it’s best not to overdo it either, so balance your contemporary and vintage-style pieces.
Cast Iron Radiators
You may be used to those classic white radiators that blend in the background, but if chosen well, your heater could become your next standout piece. Cast iron radiators are a great choice because they have that old-school design while performing just as well as a new model.
While you can find some very ornate designs, you can also find more streamlined models so there will be something for all tastes. They usually come in striking finishes, including anthracite, bronze, gold or copper – no surprise that they can be such showstoppers! You can even choose electric ones to conveniently add them in a room as an additional heat source, for example.
If you’re looking for a large selection of cast iron radiators, Trade Radiators has a great collection that will cater to all tastes.
Kitsch Wallpaper
Granted, ‘kitsch’ doesn’t always sound appealing, but used well, it can become a real asset in your retro décor. Those wallpapers usually have big, bold patterns or motifs such as flowers or geometrical shapes.
Covering all walls may be a bit too much. Still, this kind of wallpaper can be ideal for creating an accent wall, whether that’s highlighting a feature of the room like a fireplace or simply creating a focal point in the room.
If you want to get started and see if this is for you, we recommend choosing smaller, more discreet motifs that will be easier to integrate into your interior.
Vintage Artwork & Accessories
If you’re not looking to make big changes to a room, you can always focus on artwork and accessories. Vintage or retro-style posters are a firm favourite. They are very easy to add to a modern room without making drastic changes and are usually quite affordable. Just make sure you frame them to look tidier than a poster clinging to a wall with Blu Tack.
If you want to think out of the box, you could source a unique piece such as a gramophone, an antique coffee grinder, or any vintage piece that you find will look great on display. You could always browse specialist antique stores, but some treasures can sometimes be found in flea markets and garage sales.
I hope this has inspired you to add some retro touches to your interior! For more tips and advice, check out the interiors category of our website.
