Theme is one aspect of home decor that can make or break your home. Before you even get to buy your paint or furniture, you must have a theme in mind. What message do you want to send out? It could be a nature theme full of plants and the like or a futuristic theme with some aspects of what life could be like in years to come. Whatever your choice, style is an aspect that really never goes out of fashion. Looking at the retro and vintage styles;
According to Merriam Webster, the term vintage relates primarily to wine and is an altered form of the French word vendage, meaning “the grapes picked during a season.” One of its secondary definitions is “a period of origin or manufacture” (e.g., a vintage 1960s Mercedes) or “length of existence: age.” Ruby Lane provides a much more helpful explanation; an item described as ‘vintage’ should speak of the era in which it was produced. Vintage can mean an item is of a certain period of time, as in “vintage 1950’s” but it can also mean (and probably always should) that the item exhibits the best of a certain quality, or qualities, associated with or belonging to that specific era. Ruby Lane also suggests that ‘vintage’ should not be used in reference to objects less than 20 years old.
Merriam Webster defines retro as “relating to, reviving, or being the styles and especially the fashions of the past : fashionably nostalgic or old-fashioned.” Retro furniture may not actually be old but it references styles of the recent past. Anything you would consider last season is retro.
When choosing between retro and vintage, there are 3 main points to look at:
Furniture
Retro style furniture has an abstract feel to it. Sofas are broad and elongated with multi-coloured throw pillows for an added dash of colour. It’s not uncommon to feel like each piece is almost fighting for the limelight as the focal point of the room.
In vintage decor, the furniture is more aged. You look at it and feel transported to a different era. It is more subdued with small cushions and simple upholstery.
Colours
Retro colours tend to have a bit of everything. You will find pieces with yellow, blue, bright orange. It seems like too much is going on at one point yet it all seems to work. Avocado green is by far the most popular retro colour choice, followed closely by mustard yellow and combinations of black, white and red. You can also go for tie-dyed fabrics, and checkered patterns.
Vintage decor tends to have more relaxed and uniform colour tones. Simplicity is key in vintage colours. Colours you should go for are beige and light green. Dull and subdued shades are the best options.
Accents
When it comes to accessorizing retro styling, there’s no limit. You can go for fuzzy throws, door beads and any other piece that you think will fit. If you have art, it should be bold and unusual, something no one might think of hanging in their home.
For vintage, the accessories tend to be more about emphasizing the tine of the furniture. You can have trimmings on you cushions, black and white photos or a grandfather clock. If you have art, it will be landscapes and still-life as opposed to abstract pieces.
These are a few things to think of. In some ways retro and vintage are similar. It is all about a certain era and personal taste. You could choose to blend both styles or opt for one. The best thing is to keep your choice simple and go with what your mind comes up with.
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