- If you like the bold retro diner look, choose paint in high gloss white and black as well as red and a bit of turquoise for the scheme. If you want something more subtle, look for muted tones of these colors. Some colors popular in the 1950's include chartreuse, pink flamingo, apple blossom, holiday turquoise, and classic French gray. (see the resource section for paint examples).
- In the 1950's, images were strong and bold. When decorating in 1950's style, look for fabrics and artwork with a bold pattern. Some very popular motifs you can draw from are Disney characters, horses, and strong, abstract graphic designs. Look for these patterns and images in fabric, wallpaper, borders, and murals.
- Furniture created strong focal points in the 1950's. Stylish furniture was uncomplicated, clean lined, and somewhat futuristic. While bold colored, high-gloss vinyl furniture was all the rage in the 1950's, a modern version of this furniture would be vintage Italian leather pieces. Chrome table, chair and sofa legs will make your vintage furniture look authentic.
- Shopping for accessories is the most delightful part of decorating in 1950's style. The era was so popular that there will be no shortage of home accessories. It's wise to pick a theme and stick to it so your design isn't overly eclectic. Some options for accessory collections are classic cars, jukeboxes and music, Coca Cola, and nostalgia such as metal soap box bins and signs.
