To implement the Retro Design within our interior, we first must grasp what Retro is.
Retro Design is a style that draws inspiration from the past, often evoking nostalgia for a particular period. It incorporates design elements, aesthetics and motifs from previous decades into contemporary contexts. Retro design is in various fields, including interior design, fashion, graphic design and product design.
It can encompass a wide range of periods, such as the Victorian era, the 1920s – 1980s, and often incorporates antique or retro furniture, patterns and accessories to create a sense of charm and history.
Below, Rearo share some key characteristics and examples of Retro Design styles from different eras and suggestions of how you can implement them into your kitchen and bathroom to achieve a retro-inspired look:
Art Deco (1920s – 1930s)
One of the great things about this style is, despite being from the early 20th Century, it can feel as modern or retro as you like. Art Deco is an influential retro design style known for its geometric shapes, symmetrical patterns and luxurious materials. It often features bold colours, streamlined forms, and decorative details. The Chrysler Building in New York City and the furniture designs of the period exemplify Art Deco aesthetics.
Art Deco is known for its use of bold geometric patterns. Incorporate these patterns in your kitchen and bathroom through tiles, wallpaper, or backsplashes. Look for designs featuring chevrons, sunbursts, zigzags, or stepped patterns to create an authentic Art Deco feel.
Choose materials that exude elegance; marble, mirrored surfaces, or high gloss finishes. Consider using these materials for worktops, wall panels or accent pieces to add a touch of glamour to your kitchen or bathroom. You can choose monochromatic colours in black and white for a classic Art Deco look or incorporate rich jewel tones for a more dramatic effect.
Mid-Century Modern (1940s – 1960s)
This design style emphasises functionality, simplicity, and clean lines. It features organic shapes, natural materials and focuses on indoor and outdoor spaces. The Eames lounge chair and the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright are iconic examples of mid-century modern design.
Clean lines and a minimalist approach lend themselves to a mid-century modern design aesthetic. Opt for simple and streamlined fixtures like rectangular sinks, freestanding tubs, and wall-mounted toilets for this vintage bathroom look.
Consider using retro-inspired appliances that blend modern functionality with mid-century design aesthetics. Brands like Smeg offer refrigerators, stoves, and other Appliances in retro colours like pastel blue, pink or mint green.
Incorporate natural materials such as wood, stone, and tile to add warmth and organic elements to the space. Visualise the use of wood effect wall panels, worktops, or flooring, as well as natural stone or terrazzo.
Pop Art (1950s – 1960s)
Pop Art is a vibrant and playful style that incorporates popular culture. It often uses bright colours, bold patterns and commercial imagery. The works of artists like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein epitomise the pop art movement.
Add accessories that reflect the pop art aesthetic. In your bathroom, choose fun and quirky items like toothbrush holders or soap dispensers in the shape of iconic pop art symbols like a cartoon speech bubble or a colourful comic book explosion.
For your kitchen, why not hang pop art-inspired prints or artwork on the walls to infuse the space with the essence of pop culture? Display colourful kitchen utensils, cookware, or small appliances on open shelves or countertops to add pops of colour and playfulness.
Opt for bold hues like bright red, electric blue, sunny yellow, and vibrant pink. Use these colours on wall panels, cabinets, tiles, or accessories to create a lively and energetic bathroom and kitchen. Consider using a mix of colours or a colour-blocked approach to achieve an eye-catching effect. Balance the boldness of the cabinets with neutral countertops and splashbacks.
Psychedelic (1960s – 1970s)
In the counter-cultural movement of the 1960s, psychedelic design embraces vibrant colours, kaleidoscopic, intricate patterns, and mind-bending, trippy visuals. It draws inspiration from hallucinogenic experiences from the hippy period and incorporates elements like swirling patterns, rainbow colours and optical illusions. A popular toy of the past was the kaleidoscope, which consisted of a tube holding a coloured glass, tinsel, or bead fragments and mirrors that imitate images of these fragments. Adapt these patterns endlessly by rotating the loose glass fragments, creating a psychedelic retro design.
Add an element of fun with colour-changing lighting. Install LED lights or colourful light fixtures that can switch between different hues. LEDs can create a dynamic and ever-changing ambience in the bathroom.
Create a captivating focal point with a splashback featuring psychedelic patterns. Look for tiles with a swirling or kaleidoscopic design in vibrant colours. Incorporate patterns like paisley, floral prints, or abstract art-inspired motifs.
Choose a vibrant and bold colour palette for the walls. Electric blue, neon pink, lime green, or sunny yellow are great colours to opt for. Consider using bold and contrasting colours on walls around the room or create a colourful accent wall to set the psychedelic tone.
1980s Retro (1980s)
1980s design style is bold, with neon colours, geometric shapes, and futuristic aesthetics. It often features shiny surfaces, pixelated graphics, and references to technology and video games of the time. Despite several decades since the invention of the famous Rubik’s Cube, it remains a staple of 80s culture and is one of the first things that comes to mind when thinking about things from the 80s.
Use chrome accents and fixtures to capture the sleek and futuristic aesthetic of the 1980s. Choose chrome-finished cabinet handles, taps and lighting fixtures to enhance the retro vibe.
Opt for glossy finishes on kitchen cabinets, countertops, and appliances to create a sleek and polished look. High-gloss laminate or lacquered cabinets can add a touch of retro elegance. Pastel hues were popular in 1980s bathrooms. Consider soft shades of pink, mint green, baby blue, or lavender on walls, tiles, or fixtures to create a nostalgic and dreamy ambience.
These are just a few examples of retro design styles, but there are many more to explore. The retro design allows for the reinterpretation and appreciation of past aesthetics whilst blending them with contemporary sensibilities. It offers a way to create a unique and nostalgic visual experience in various creative fields.
Remember, the key to achieving a Retro Design look in your kitchen and bathroom is to balance the vintage-inspired elements with modern functionality, simultaneously respecting the past whilst catering for the future and keeping in mind its inspiration, not re-creation.
Why choose home renovation?
Is it better the devil you know than the devil you don’t? This is a well-known saying, but it can be one of the questions you will ask yourself when considering either renovating your current home or moving to a new one.
A brand-new shiny home can seem very attractive, but you won’t know its hidden issues until you have the keys, and by then, it will be too late and perhaps very costly to remedy. Whereas, by staying put and renovating your existing home, the trouble spots will already be evident and can be focussed on during the works.
Here we have compiled some common considerations of why renovation speaks louder than moving and what time-saving updates can add a new sparkle to your well-loved home.
Reasons to choose home renovation rather than moving
Attachment
Many people develop a strong emotional attachment to their current home. A home is much more than just bricks and mortar. It’s a place where sentimental memories are made and shared. Those special moments that you don’t want to leave behind, perhaps including your baby’s first footsteps, when they graduated, celebrations with friends, and chilled days cultivating your prized garden. These are all strong reasons why you may want to stay, update, and enhance your home whilst continuing to make new memories, preserving the familiarity, and perhaps passing the family home on to the next generation.
Location
The location will undoubtedly be one of the main factors in why you chose your current home in the first place; a good school, nearby parks, great walking routes and of course, a local pub, where you got the chance to meet the community and make good friends with the surrounding neighbours. Just some of the possible reasons why your home was the one you fell in love with its location. If you are happy with your current location, renovating allows you to stay in the area you love without having to compromise on your preferences. So, instead of leaving, why not stay? You can keep enjoying times with your neighbours, starting with a party at your newly renovated home.
Customise
Renovating your home gives you the opportunity to customise it to your specific needs and preferences. You can design the space to suit your lifestyle, add desired features, or create a layout better suited to your requirements. Do you need a large kitchen island for socialising around? Or a shower room specially equipped for ageing parents that live with you? Chances are, even a stunning new home won’t have everything on your wish list. It can require significant additional investment to achieve the level of personalisation you need.
Investment
With house prices being so high recently, there may be a temptation to take advantage and sell your home to capitalise on this. But of course, you will also need to buy a new home yourself. Other owners will be aiming for high prices too. You could end up priced out of the market for what you really need and want. Home renovations can also be an investment in your property. By improving and updating your home, you can potentially increase its value. A successful home renovation can be beneficial if you plan to sell your home in the future, as it can help attract more buyers and allow you to command a higher price sale. Remodelling your home can compound the equity, and over time, you’ll recoup the costs of your renovation and increase the overall value of your house.
No Moving costs
Renovating your current home can be more cost-effective than buying a new one. Moving involves expenses, such as estate agent fees, closing costs, moving company fees, and potential house price inflation. On the other hand, renovations allow you to improve your current space without incurring these additional costs.
Hassle
Moving to a new home can be a stressful and time-consuming process. It involves viewings, finding your new home, minor improvements to the current house to sell it, and constantly keeping it presentable for potential buyers, packing, coordinating the move, and adjusting to a new environment. Home renovation allows you to avoid the hassle and disruption associated with moving and create the space(s) of your dreams, in your perfect location.
Time saving home renovation ideas
1.) Bathroom Wall Panels
If your bathroom could do with reinvigorating and refreshing, the most obvious choice would be to update the wall finishes. So, why not consider some stylish and easy-to-install bathroom wall panels?
Whether you prefer a tongue & grooved or square edge, Rearo Selkie panels can be seamlessly joined together using sealant or a combination of trims and sealant, creating a watertight seal and a leak-free bathroom. Choose dark Palazzo Black Marble or Textured Concrete stone effect panels with black trims for a contemporary, high-end architectural look. Or choose light neutral panels with white or polished chrome trims for an airy, serene relaxation space. Quicker than tiles and more cost effective than marble, stone, or real wood finishes, they provide a neat and professional looking surface that will stand the test of time.
There’s no need for the added expense of a tiler. Decorative shower wall panels can be placed over your existing tiles, reducing the labour time even further. Once installed, there is little maintenance needed. You can say goodbye to mould and the hassles of grout cleaning and enjoy a low-maintenance surface. In no time at all, your bathroom update will be complete, and you can lie back and enjoy the new look.
2.) Luxury Vinyl Click Flooring
Perhaps, you have welcomed a new addition to the household, a four-legged furry friend, be it a cat or dog, and lovely as they are, you know that that carpet just won’t hold out, and you now need to look at a pet-friendly renovation. Choosing suitable flooring for pets is a must. Of course, style is important, but what other factors does this flooring need to achieve when considering your pets? Scratch resistance, durability, water resistance and easy maintenance are the main aspects of a pet-friendly floor. A convenient way to cover all these factors, as well as the floor, is luxury vinyl flooring. Even with the constant clatter of claws, rain-drenched animals or newly-training puppies/ kittens with Clixeal Vinyl Click Flooring, you don’t need to worry about the floor. Slipping isn’t an issue either, as the surface provides enough friction to allow your pets run about without any bumping mishaps. A good, luxury vinyl floor will last 10 years or more and be a worthwhile update and investment in your home renovation.
3.) Painted Cabinets
There are many more time-saving renovations, but let us finish on another quick, convenient, and cost-effective renovation – painting your kitchen cabinets. Painted kitchen cabinets is an aesthetic upgrade which gives you the freedom to experiment with colour and customise to your preferences and particular taste. It’s also very cost-effective compared to replacing all your cabinetry. This budget-friendly option allows you to give your kitchen a fresh new look that will reflect your style and improve the appearance of your space.
Of course, the decision between home renovation and moving, ultimately depends on your personal circumstances, financial situation, and individual preferences. It is important to carefully consider all these factors before making a decision. Hopefully our guide will start you in the right direction towards your perfect living space for many years to come.
For more information, or for a one-to-one consultation about your house renovation, visit a Rearo showroom now.