How to Create a Kitschy Kitchen

Some people dream of a shiny, newly remodeled kitchen. Others have a nostalgia for the kitchens of their parents and grandparents. Fortunately, retro style is back en vogue and kitsch is a big part of that style. The good news is you don't have to forgo modern conveniences to create a kitschy kitchen of your own.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Repaint your kitchen using a retro-style palette. Think back to the avocado green appliances of the 1970s and the sunshine yellows of the 1960s.

2. Raid the attics of relatives. Perhaps your grandmother had a cool canister set or an old-fashioned breadbox. As they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure. If they've held on to the kitchen accessories of old, see if you can put them to good use.

3. Toy with possible kitschy themes if you want a unified, pulled-together look for your kitchen. Consider the atomic patterns of the 1950s. Perhaps you enjoy cows, sunflowers, or a specific fruit or vegetable. Buy all of the themed accessories you can for your kitchen and go wild.

4. Go for a little bit of silliness. Set the table with novelty or figurine salt and pepper shakers and napkin holders. Accentuate the stove area with cartoonish oven mitts and pot holders. Remember, it's not about being stylish or cutting edge.

5. Decorate the walls with retro advertising signage. This can be found at antique shops as well as pop culture specialty boutiques.

6. Remember to have fun and do what appeals to your taste. After all, the kitchen should reflect the person who spends the most time in it. In the end, if you enjoy your kitchen, it's mission accomplished.