Retro style

Retro style refers back to a particular period in the past. It draws mostly on the design language of the mid twentieth century and the decades that followed: rounded corners, furniture on slim metal legs, bold patterns and saturated colours. Unlike antique collecting or period restoration, it does not copy the past; it reinterprets it in a contemporary room.

Elements of a retro interior

Mustard, orange, olive and teal are familiar colours. Geometric wallpaper, terrazzo floors, teak or walnut veneered furniture and globe or cone-shaped lights all signal the style. A good retro room is selective. A few strong period pieces against a quiet background have more impact than surfaces that all point to the same decade, which can quickly feel like a film set. Kitchens and bathrooms can pick up a retro mood through lacquered doors and coloured tiles.

Retro interiors in rendering

In visualization, a retro room is convincing only if the colours sit at the right saturation. Push them too far and they look digital; pull them back too much and they look dirty. Warm evening light often suits the style best. For other directions in interiors, see trends in 3D interior design.