How to Decorate Retro in Every Room in Your House

Calling all fans of retro decorating: have we got the blog post for you! Inspired by the retro revival of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, we’ve pulled together affordable and stylish home improvement ideas to get vintage vibes in every room of your house. Scroll down to check out our favorite retro decorations for home…and home office!

Retro Home Style: Bedroom

The bedroom is one of the easiest areas of your abode to weave in vintage-style home decor – without adding major home improvement projects to your list of to do’s. From textiles to wall hangings to furniture, it’s easy to swap out existing pieces for those with a little more old-school flavor.

Headboard & Bed Frame – Scour your favorite antique and vintage stores for low-profile wood or veneer for a modern century feel, rattan or wicker with a curved design for a 1970s/1980s look, or glossy lacquer and sharp edges for that unmistakable 1980s style.

Large Format Art & Wall Hangings – If you’ve got the space for it, adding a substantial piece of artwork from whatever era you’re aiming to serve is a simple home improvement that can quickly root the room in the right time period. Think pop art, abstract expressionism, graffiti, or art deco. If the 1970s is your retro decorating era of choice, buy or make macrame wall hangings and plant holders.

Bed Covers – The lowest impact DIY home improvement project you can take on for a vintage bedroom is to customize your bed covers. Try tie dye, batik, or even quilting to create the desired effect. Add a couple of complementary throw pillows to round out the design.

Retro Home Style: Living Room

The living room is probably the room that’s most on display in your home. If you want your home remodeling ideas to have a big impact, this is a good spot to focus on. Retro furniture, décor accents, and artwork can all be added (or refurbished) to give the room a bit of history and depth.

Coffee Tables & Side Tables – Not all retro furniture is the same. An antique upholstered couch or side chair can be incredibly uncomfortable for our modern tushes. This is why we advise that you stick to vintage pieces like coffee tables and side tables in the first stages of your remodeling or redecorating project. Depending on the design decade you’re targeting, teak, mahogany, brass, glass, or veneer might do the trick – just be sure to look for furniture with good bones.

Accent Chairs – While we cautioned you above about the (dis)comfort levels of some antique seating, you can still invest in an accent chair to add a bit more flair to the room. Butterfly chairs, for instance, are a comfortable and easy way to make a big statement and are available in all types of fabric – from faux fur to leather to cotton. When you’re out in your favorite secondhand shops, keep an eye peeled for textured chairs, like those with velvet, caning, or rattan, as they can have a big impact on the overall look and feel of the room.

Art – The living room is another great place to add artwork or design items of yore. Look for a simple piece that can rest atop your mantle or coffee table, or expand the appeal with a retro wall hanging or floor sculpture to immediately catch the eye. And don’t forget music! A working record player offers an appealing way to catch a vibe.

Retro Home Style: Dining Room

A dining room itself is a bit of a vintage concept in today’s modern society. If you’re lucky enough to have one to work with, there are many ways to incorporate modern retro interior design to your dine-in time.

Sideboard – One of the top pieces of retro furniture to source for your dining room is a sideboard. These can be opulent and ornate (think marble tops and antique brass fixtures) or sleek and sophisticated (think clean lines and low profiles). Whatever style floats your boat, make sure it’s got plenty of storage space, that the drawers and doors work well, and that there’s no wood rot or other significant damage.

Dining Chairs – We recently discussed mixing old pieces with new on the blog – and there’s no easier way to do it than adding vintage dining chairs to a newer style table. Look for styles that wear well, and are easy to clean and, as mentioned above, comfy for your rear. Fabric can be a risky choice for dining chairs, especially if it hasn’t been treated with stain-resistant coatings.

Bar – Bars are one type of retro home furniture that can instantly call to mind a bygone era. A bar is also a relatively easy home renovation DIY project you can take on over a few weeks, as this tutorial from Apartment Therapy illustrates. Add more flair – and more fun – to the look with vintage liquors and serve ware.

Out with the new and in with the retro? Keep all of your furniture handy. Find Storage Near You.

Retro Home Style: Kitchen

Kitchens may not be the first room that spring to mind when you’re thinking of how to update your home with vintage/retro home décor. After all, we’ve come a long way when it comes to culinary tools and appliances. But a retro home doesn’t have to give up all the conveniences of modern life, as our examples below illustrate.

Flooring – Facts are facts: a black and white checkered floor can instantly evoke a simpler time. If you own, and are wondering how to remodel a house on a budget, replacing flooring can be a relatively inexpensive way to make a big splash – especially with something as eye- catching as a checkerboard pattern. If you rent, these peel and stick options might be the best way to go.

Kitschy Accents – There’s a reason kitsch and kitchen go so well together. Collecting and displaying mugs, towels, and canisters from the 1960s and 1970s can root your kitchen in the past without too much cost or effort – and without sacrificing the modern advantages we’ve come to enjoy.

Window Coverings – Kitchen curtains and valances are a vintage home decoration idea that is easy and quick to DIY. You might be surprised at the availability of vintage fabrics (or curtains themselves) from a variety of eras. Other window covering ideas include wooden shutters, mini-blinds, or Roman shades.

Retro Home Style: Home Office

Given how modern the technology is that allows so many of us to work from home, it is an interesting contrast to add vintage styling to the experience. Give your next Zoom call a little more flair with the suggestions below.

Lamps – Lamps are a mainstay of retro decorating – and with good reason. They’re cheap, portable, storable, and easy to acquire. Recycle the ring light and choose an older style that casts a much more flattering glow instead.

Desk – Whether you’re in the market for a majestic centerpiece of a desk – or a much smaller secretary style – vintage is the way to go. Look for one with plenty of interesting details – and nooks and crannies – to level up your office storage while providing a totally unique appeal.

Throw Rug – Warm up the space – and add some texture – with an antique area rug. There are a number of online vintage rug retailers to choose from, or you can keep an eye out at thrift stores and neighborhood estate sales. From rag to shag, you’ll have your pick.