How to decorate a retro kitchen with vintage designs?

There’s something about having a retro kitchen that just brings the past alive. Whether you grew up in the fifties or have a fondness for the seventies, there is no escaping our love of nostalgia and style from decades gone by. 

When you think of a retro kitchen, what comes to mind? Probably images of outdated appliances, worn-out cabinets and an overall outdated look. However, this is not the case for every retro kitchen. There are some pretty awesome retro kitchens that incorporate vintage designs with modern appliances. The result: an entirely updated and functional space that looks as good as it works. 

Retro kitchen decor is one of those things that has come back into style over the last few years and we can’t get enough of it. After all, who doesn’t want to eat in a kitchen inspired by the golden era of yesteryear? 

With so many retro kitchen design ideas out there, finding one that will work for your home can be challenging. That’s why we have put together this article with some of the best retro kitchen design ideas. Whether you are looking to revamp your current kitchen or require ideas to help spruce up your exterior, these designs should do the trick!

1. Plan your retro kitchen before you decorate

Planning is essential with any kitchen renovation project. This is especially true when you have a retro kitchen in mind. 

All too often, homeowners will jump into a renovation project without doing any research first. This is a recipe for disaster and will almost certainly end in frustration and wasted money. 

When planning your retro kitchen renovation, it’s important to think about the overall style of the kitchen. You don’t want to go for a retro style only to find a completely different style of kitchen in your home. The style of your current kitchen will help determine the style of the new kitchen. If your kitchen is functional and spacious, it should be the focus of any retro kitchen renovations.

When planning your retro kitchen renovations, you should also think about the budget. Depending on the size and style of your kitchen, retro kitchen renovations may cost significantly more than a standard kitchen renovation. This means that you need to have an idea of the budget before beginning work.

2. Make sure your current kitchen matches the theme

If you are going for a consistent retro kitchen theme, it’s important to make sure your current kitchen is retro too. Is your kitchen big and spacious? Does it have a vintage feel to it? If so, you have most of the ingredients to have a successful retro kitchen renovation. 

It’s also important to make sure your current kitchen is retro in colour. Retro kitchens are usually a specific colour palette. This can be a specific colour from the past, but it should preferably be from the sixties or seventies. 

You may need to become a little creative when looking for retro kitchen decor. Retro kitchens are often accentuated with retro kitchen accessories like retro coasters or retro salt and pepper shakers. You may also want to look into retro lighting fixtures as retro kitchen decor accessories.

3. Pick a colour palette and stick to it

A key part of being successful with any type of kitchen decor is picking a colour palette. The best way to do this is to look at your current kitchen and see what colours are dominant. Are they sixties or seventies colours? If so, you are off to a good start. 

Once you know what your dominant colours are, it’s time to pick a colour palette. There are a plethora of retro kitchen colour palettes you can use. Depending on your preference, you can go with a classic retro colour palette like brown, yellow, or green. You can also go with a more modern colour palette like red, white, or black.

4. Add some vintage charm with old-school appliances

When it comes to decorating a retro kitchen with vintage vibes, the first thing you’ll want to do is upgrade the appliances. Sure, your 1950s-era fridge is cool, but you’re looking to update the space, not dive back to a different time. Instead, choose modern appliances with a vintage vibe: an old-school stove, an old-school fridge, an old-school dishwasher—whatever you can find (and afford, of course!). 

When it comes to choosing old-school appliances, don’t stop at just the stove and fridge; any appliance that is more commonly used in the ’50s than the ’40s will work! Example, a 1950s-era sink, bar-style range and counters, an old-school double-oven range, and an old-school microwave oven.

5. Keep it functional. Be sure everything you install is needed

When you are getting into a retro kitchen renovation, it’s important to keep in mind what your end goal is. Is your end goal to simply have a more nostalgic kitchen? If so, you could go for a retro kitchen decor style that is purely functional. 

Alternatively, you could go for a more ambitious project that includes revamping your kitchen to include some of the best retro kitchen design ideas. This would require some retro kitchen design ideas and retro kitchen renovations.

6. Don’t forget to hang some artwork

If you are planning a retro kitchen renovation, it’s important to remember to hang some retro art pieces. What better way is there to incorporate a retro theme into your home than through art pieces? Retro wall art can be hung in almost any room of your home including the kitchen. You can hang it on the wall or a piece of furniture.

There are a plethora of retro wall art pieces that you can choose from. Depending on your taste, you can even make your retro wall art using a poster, an old photograph, or even an online design. It’s also important to hang your retro art pieces in an inspiring spot. 

You can find inexpensive prints online, or you can use an old, hand-me-down wall art piece. If the kitchen walls are white, you can even use chalk or paint to add a vintage touch. You can also go with more modern wall treatments, such as wallpaper or paper-backed vinyls, to give your kitchen a more modern feel. You can even go with a custom design to create a cohesive scene in your kitchen that has a cohesive feel.

7. Create a cohesive scene with tiles 

Adding vintage-style tiles to your kitchen floor is a great way to tie the room together with a vintage feel. You can go with large geometric tiles to tie your kitchen together with geometric shapes, or you can go with smaller, more detailed tiles to give your kitchen a more individual feel. 

8. Lights, how do you not love them?

Another retro kitchen design idea that is worth considering is retro kitchen lighting. Retro kitchen lighting is a wonderful retro kitchen design idea because it offers a sense of nostalgia but also adds a modern touch. 

There is a myriad of retro kitchen lighting options you can go for. This includes old-school chandelier lighting or even modern pendant lighting options. You can also go for a mix of old-school kitchen lighting and newer options to create something truly unique. 

9. Don’t forget the flooring

You may want to paint your kitchen, but you don’t want to forget the floor! This is when you should think about flooring options in your retro kitchen renovation. You can go with a more classic look with a hardwood floor. Alternatively, you can go with a more contemporary look with a laminate or engineered wood floor.

Wrapping up

Retro kitchens are a great way to update your kitchen and make it functional and safe. These kitchens can be transformed into functional spaces that are safe for families to use. This can be done with the right vintage-inspired kitchen renovation. You can add some old-school charm with vintage appliances and lighting, update the lighting with modern fixtures, pick a color scheme that ties your kitchen together, and keep it clean and organized with an updated flooring option.