How To Find Your Retro Style

Mid-century modern

1950s or mid-century modern retro interior design is characterised by a unique blend of post-war optimism, bright colours, and furniture, which at the time was seen as futuristic. This decade introduced an exciting mix of modern and retro styles, as homeowners began to shake off the misery of the preceding decade and embrace bright, cheerful hues like turquoise, mustard yellow, pink, and red. 

These energising colours were often combined with neutral tones like cream or grey. Pastel colours were also popular, especially in mid-century modern kitchens and bathrooms. Geometric patterns remained popular but evolved into starbursts and atomic motifs, reflecting the mid-century fascination with science and space exploration, which influenced everything from curtains and wallpaper to light fixtures and furniture design.

In more recent years, the still stylish mid-century has received a bit of a makeover into the guise of Mid-Century Millennial. Mid-Century Millennial captures much of the beauty of the 1950s with its clean lines and exposed wood but with a more modern twist. You can learn all you need to know about this exciting trend in our Trend Focus: Mid-Century Millennial blog.

Bohemian Styles

One of the most on trend retro styles is currently the 1970s. The eclectic combinations of colour, pattern, texture and styles associated with the 1970s resonates very well with contemporary designers and as a result, the 70s retro revival is here to stay. Mustard yellows, olive greens, and burnt oranges were prevalent,

Additional key elements of the 70s include rattan furniture, macramé wall hangings, velvet upholstery and window furnishings, alongside unique lighting that create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Designers are blending these vintage aesthetics with contemporary functionality, making the 70s revival both a nod to the past and a fresh, stylish approach to today’s interior spaces.

The use of bold geometric patterns, rich colour palettes, and layered textures evokes a sense of playfulness while embracing a timeless appeal. You can learn even more about the 70s revival in interior design in our Embracing Nostalgia: The 1970s Revival blog.

Art Deco interior design

Made popular in the 1920s and 30s, the Art Deco movement has become a gold mine of inspiration for stylish homes. This style is characterised by the Great Gatsby, Clarice Cliffe and much of the New York skyline.

Influenced by the striking geometric forms of Cubism and the Vienna Secession, Art Deco makes fabulous use of colours ranging from black and gold to teals and rich blues. Moreover, Art Deco in interior design is synonymous with geometric designs, rich woods and brocade patterned velvets.

Metal furnishings and metallic fabrics are equally relevant, so too are lacquered wood, mirrors, and marble. If real marble is a little out of your budget, you can find plenty of valuable inspiration in our How To Use Marble Effect Fabrics In Your Interior Design blog.

For a more subdued style, look to the 1930s interpretation of Art Deco. During this decade, Art Deco became softer with more creams, brighter saturated primary colours and oranges used to make a space pop in a more gentle fashion. While more restrained, 1930s Art Deco styles are just as stylish as their predecessors. You can learn more about art deco in interior design in our Trend Focus: Art Deco In Interior Design blog.

Swinging Sixties Style

The 1960s is one of the best known decades for what we now see as retro styles and cultural change. This decade was personified by yellow submarines, mini skirts, go-go boots and the birth of barbie. Combine this with Mr. Wilson’s white heat of technology and the scene is set for ten years of radical change. 

Interiors in the sixties were truly modern and groundbreaking in their time. Bright psychedelic colours,  mixing materials and busy, flowing patterns are all at home in a 60s-inspired home. Dots, stripes and geometric patterns in a pop art palette paired with all-white sitting areas will create a mixture of Andy Warhol and Mad Men all in one. Our advice is to be very careful with these patterns however as without thought, your home can end up looking less Carnaby cool and more Magic Roundabout. 

Ultimately, Don’t be too worried about whether something is exactly right, like the whole decade, this should be about free expression. This was, after all, the decade of peace and love and rock & roll, the rules are supposed to be broken. 

Postmodernism

Postmodernism may have its roots in the earlier decades of the 20th century, but it really came to the fore in the 1980s. While the 80s was a very tough time for many across the UK, it’s become a retro staple with recent hits including Stranger Things, Cobra Kai and GLOW. 

Where modernist design emphasised simplicity, functionality, and uniformity, postmodern interiors embraced eclecticism, bold contrasts, and playful ornamentation. This is where the neon and vibrant colours synonymous with the 80s come into play.  

Bright colours, geometric shapes, and unconventional materials such as plastic or laminate are typical features, alongside exaggerated forms and patterns that challenge traditional notions of beauty and coherence. The result is a whimsical, often ironic style that values individuality, creativity, and a sense of humour in design. A key aspect of postmodern interior design is to embrace the contradictions and breaking of design rules. In a postmodern space, you might find classical-style white lamp shades paired with a sleek, minimalist coffee table or an ornate, baroque chair next to a hot pink curtain.

As the 20th century drew to a close, the nineties taught us the valuable lesson of cultivating your own personal style and taking inspiration from a wide range of sources. In the years that followed the nineties, up until today, the idea of taking pieces from different decades, blending retro items from various styles and throwing out the rules has continued to remain relevant allowing you to create the home you want in your own eclectic style.