A Trip Back in Time: Retro Interior Design Inspiration

Eccentric aesthetics, authentic design, and emotionally charged interiors favoring sustainable materials, vintage furniture, small manufacturers, and local crafters have become the norm.

In these trying times, we seek comfort in the familiar. As an antidote to the overall uncertainty, there is a growing need for small moments of mindfulness and joy at home.

People are turning to color inspired by retro interior design to help them create a more uplifting environment and keep anxieties and pressure at bay.

Color is used as a therapy to encourage optimism and healing, but also as a tool for self-expression and storytelling.

Interior trends 2021: Color therapy as an antidote to uncertainty

What is Retro Interior Design?

Retro design is a style that is a reproduction or imitation of trends, fashions, or styles from the past. It can also be a combination of old and new elements.

The word “retro” is short for retrospective, which means looking back at past events. In design, it usually refers to drawing on previous design trends to create a new, modern look.

While retro style can be used in any era, it is most commonly associated with the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s—the post-World War II era when many countries were experiencing an economic boom.

This was a time when people had more disposable income and were able to purchase items that were not essential for daily life. As a result, design during this period was often flashy and ostentatious.

Some common retro design elements include:

- Bold colors
- Geometric shapes
- Atomic age imagery
- Pop art influences
- Midcentury modern furniture

Vintage vs. Retro Style

When it comes to design, the terms “vintage” and “retro” are often used interchangeably. However, there is a difference between the two styles.

Vintage refers to furniture, decor, and other items that are from a specific time period – typically 20 years or older. Retro, on the other hand, describes a style that is influenced by elements of the past but updated for today’s tastes.

If you’re interested in incorporating retro style into your home, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, focus on bold colors and patterns – this is not the time for subtlety.

Second, don’t be afraid to mix and match different decades – the goal is to create an eclectic look. And finally, have fun with it! Remember, retro style is all about making a statement.

The Retro Interior Design Trend

Retro interior design is becoming increasingly popular for a number of reasons. First, retro style can be used to create a unique and stylish space that is both eye-catching and practical.

Second, retro design often incorporates vintage pieces or reproductions of classic furniture and accessories, which can add a sense of history and charm to a room.

Finally, many people are drawn to retro style because it evokes a sense of nostalgia for simpler times.

Nostalgia-driven interior trends have been around for a while. What started as the mid-mod design obsession is now shifting towards the aesthetic of the peace and love movement of the 1960s and the early 70s.

Investing time and money in the pursuit of calm, happiness, and stability at home is only expected to grow. The focus is on the lounge where we gather and spend most of the quality time now that our travels and gatherings outside are limited.

We feel drawn to the optimistic energy and the spirit of the retro color palettes such as Pantone's Eclectic Folk, as we associate them with hope, ideals, and safety.

Pantone's Influence Using Color

Following this path, the Pantone Color Institute Eclectic Folk is described as a crafted and eclectic expression of the politically savvy generation of eco-activists, which is still as relevant in 2023 as it was in 2021.

With more people buying into the ideals of small-batch, local production and handmade products, there is a backlash against mass production in favor of independents. People are also turning away from new and synthetic materials, in favor of more natural or recycled alternatives.
- Pantone

Color is Political

As big brand distrust continues to rise, millennials and Gen Z find solutions in socially responsible, eco-friendly, small-batch alternatives.

Driven as much by political motivations as aesthetic preferences, young people are using their purchasing power in protest of environmentally disastrous fast fashion habits.
- Pantone

Could this alternative, eco-activist philosophy become mainstream? One thing is for sure - color has become one of the most powerful tools for voicing opinions and defining purpose and identity.

Pantone 2020/2021 Eclectic folk creates a complete case for inclusiveness, trust, and resilience. It recognizes the cry for slower design, socially responsible brands, and sustainable materials.

It plays along with the current retro interior trends and favors vintage furniture.