How to: Retro Room Decorating
Retro decorating a room is a fun project that ties the past to the present, projecting your favorite vision of energy, optimism and history into your living space. Whether your taste lies in 1950s Atomic, 1960s Hip or 1980s Miami Vice, you can incorporate retro elements into your own living space with the addition of color, pattens, furniture, accessories and art. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Before You Decorate
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Research your favorite era at the library, bookstore and online. Take notes, including the colors, styles, social issues, art, music and important events. In retro decorating, it is not just the style of furniture and color scheme, there is an underlying sense of history reflected in the room.
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Select a piece of furniture, lamp, rug, artwork, poster, album cover or other retro item to build your room around. For example, if you love lava lamps, they were designed in the '60s by inventor Craven Walker. If a shag carpet makes your heart beat faster, your decor is likely to center around the '70s. However, if the art of Andy Warhol makes you want to sing, the '80s may be your favorite era.
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3
Choose a color scheme. Many modern homes have a neutral color palette. A beige rug and walls will showcase the bright colors of your lava lamp and chartreuse sofa. However, even if your chosen era is the '70s, do not limit your color choices to avocado, burnt orange and harvest gold. Avocado combined with shades of oatmeal, lime green, chartreuse, royal blue or red is becomes an attractive color scheme instead of an overwhelming presence.
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Search for more retro items in the local thrift stores, yard sales and online. Use your research notes to keep you on track but if you find a piece you cannot live without, buy it and figure out where to put it later. Room design often incorporates pieces from earlier and later eras.
Decorate the Room
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Paint the room. If possible, remove everything from the room and paint. Mask off the light switches, outlets, baseboards and window trim. Use a roller on a pole and apply two coats of paint. Allow to dry completely. Consider painting the trim in a contrasting color. Use a brush for trim paint.
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Bring in the retro furniture and arrange it. If you added a rug to the decor, put it in place before setting the sofa in place. Walk around the room, making sure that there is enough space to move around comfortably.
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Hang the art on the walls and your retro curtains over the windows. Add coffee table books on era-specific topics to the end table or coffee table.
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Tips & Warnings
If your landlord will not allow you to paint, use the curtains, furniture and accessories to express your retro room.
Most retro furniture styles have contemporary versions available at local department and furniture stores.
Old album covers can be matted and framed as art.
Research the value of vintage pieces before repainting or refinishing.
If you have small children, check the paint and other finishes, especially on pieces intended for a child's room. Lead paint was used from the turn of the century to the mid century.
Thrift store shopping is addictive. Use caution or your room will become cluttered.
References
Resources
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