Retro Home Décor That's Totally Cool Today

For some people, furnishing and decorating their home is simply a matter of choosing a particular style, era, or mode and installing it. For others, there's so much fun to be had in creating a strong sense of personality in each room of their home by mixing and matching elements from different periods and reflecting different design philosophies. Here's a look at a few vintage and retro home décor items that have been trending lately. They all have major potential to help enliven your home. And don't worry about your home going out of style if you opt for retro elements; as long as you choose things you love, they'll always be perfect for your home.

1950s Kitchen Appliances

Yeah, everyone loves stainless steel. Such a cliché, and sometimes it seems so cold. There's a new trend for reviving 1950s-style kitchen appliances—especially ranges. Don't worry, though; today's models have all the contemporary features and functionality, but they mimic the classic look of the era. Their retro design and colors are amazingly effective at adding character and warmth to your kitchen.

Vintage Wallpaper

That's right: it's not cool to hate wallpaper anymore. The wall covering has been making a serious comeback lately, especially for use creating accent walls. In other words, wallpaper in moderation. In particular, patterns and color schemes from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s are re-emerging in a big way. Adding it to a single wall to complement the monochrome paint on the other walls is great way to add vibrancy to a room and give it more of a stamp of your personality.

Wood Paneling

The very same wall style from the 1960s and 70s that so often triggers shudders is now being successfully updated in modern homes. Today's versions typically feature more slender panels that are completely smooth and painted in neutral colors, rather than being left au naturel or coated in latex primer to show their wood color, grain, and texture. As with wallpaper, this is catching on especially for use in creating accent walls.

Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Home furnishings from the 1940s and 50s offer an elegant simplicity that goes so well with a wide variety of vintage and contemporary décor. Their “less is more” design philosophy and clean lines make mid-century modern furniture pieces amazingly versatile, and they can accentuate a minimalist approach or anchor the busiest spaces equally well. They also give a room a homey, nostalgic sense of comfort, calmness, and security.

Bar Carts

Back in the 1950s, no proper host had to go far to whip up a martini, gimlet, or sea breeze for their houseguests. Bar carts were a popular, classy way to store a variety of spirits, mixers, and glasses close at hand in your home's primary entertainment space. As people have recently been rediscovering, they provide a convenient alternative for people who don't have a full bar in their living room.

Retro Light Fixtures

Lighting is an often overlooked part of a room's décor, which is a shame, because there's so much fun to be had. Light fixtures had distinct styles in every period through the twentieth century, and each has a unique way of blending form and function in chic, playful ways. Mixing and matching older styles with either contemporary or other vintage décor lets you really build up the character in a room.