10 Retro Kitchen Accessories You Need Right Now
10 Retro Kitchen Accessories
Retro designs are as popular today as they were when they first appeared in the media and homes all over the country. With more and more people looking to inject a retro aesthetic into their homes today, it’s never been easier to get your hands on retro (or at least retro-looking) accessories and appliances. Since fashion and trends are cyclical, retro interior design is making a huge comeback and you’re not the only one looking to achieve the vintage look in your home.
But the difficulty with designing (or redesigning) your home interior is knowing where to start and how to make the first changes. That’s why we’ve put together this list of 10 retro kitchen accessories you need right now to get that classic vintage aesthetic you’ve been dreaming about.
A Quick Note on Color
Before we get started, we thought it would be useful to go over a key point that relates to every one of the following items – color. Getting the color right is hugely important if you’re going for a specific decade or era. So, to help make your job easier here’s a general rule of thumb. For early 20th century looks (the 1910s-40s), polished wood paneling and solid wood furniture is a must. As we get to the mid 20th century, colorful wallpaper and patterns are more common, with pale blues, pinks, and yellows peaking in the 50s before bright, vibrant colors came in during the 60s. From the 70s onwards, almost anything goes color-wise, but there was a trend for deep yellows, oranges, and brown colors…sometimes all at the same time!
We’ll leave it up to you to decide how far you want to take the color palettes into your interior design, but we had to mention it. Now let’s get to the specific accessories you need.
1. Stove
A stove is an essential item and should ideally have an integrated gas hob and grill. If you want to go further into the retro world, you might even invest in an aga. The key thing to keep in mind here is the color. Colors such as yellow, green, or pale blue and pink are classic options for a retro stove.
2. Stovetop Kettle
A stovetop kettle is an essential retro accessory which not only does the job, but it looks extremely visually pleasing too. You can bet this will be an instagramable addition to your kitchen.
3. Electric Kettle
If you don’t want to worry about a screaming kettle (although that is retro), an electric kettle works so long as you stick to the retro color palette. It’s also much easier to use and look after on a daily basis.
4. Toaster
A retro toaster should match the color of your other appliances without being overstated or bulky. It’s best to keep it simple with this one.
5. Refrigerator and Freezer
A large refrigerator and freezer unit will have your retro kitchen looking put together. After all, it’s the biggest item in the room and gets noticed right away, so ensure it matches or compliments the other colors. The handle and any other features on the front of the appliance should be polished metal or even wood for it to truly look authentic.
6. Dining Bench or Chairs
Dining chairs and kitchen benches are a pretty classic staple of retro design. While the design features vary drastically depending on the decade, classic metal and wooden frames are essential for later 20th-century design. But for that quintessential 50s/60s look, opt for metal frame chairs with bright colored cushions, especially those with vinyl or laminate-type finish which reflect light.
7. Glassware
The key features to look for in vintage glassware are bright colors, vivid prints, and decorative sculpting. Bonus points if you find a set of glasses with all three features!
8. Cookware
Pots and pans are no exception to the colorful and patterned rule of retro interior design. The brighter and more decorated the cookware, the more retro it looks. However, if you’re going for early 20th century vibes, you should opt for stainless steel hot pot or cast iron where possible.
9. Crockery
Matching crockery is essential for a real retro look. Plates of different sizes, bowls, teacups, and saucers should all feature the same colors or decorative patterns. Whether the colors are bright, pale, or dark or whether the decoration is under or overstated, matching sets in coordinated designs help to achieve the retro look.
10. Lighting
Retro lighting designs vary a lot between decades and what works for one era won’t work for another. If you don’t want to pigeon-hole yourself into one era, go for lighting with exposed bulbs and minimal decoration. While that might look modern to our eyes, it fits well into most time periods. Otherwise, go with classic metal lampshades in the color shades that best fit with the era you’re going for.
Final Thoughts
Now you know how to get the retro look in your kitchen with these top 10 accessories. If you’re going for a specific era the most important thing to keep in mind is consistency. You don’t necessarily need to match all the colors and materials but they should fit together and complement each other as much as possible.
Source:
- Outfitting Your Retro Kitchen – EstateSales