Residential

Interior design is all about choosing the right design theme and accessories to create the perfectly amazing space. When it comes to home interior design, the chosen design theme speaks a lot about its residents, their preferences, and how they want their guests to feel when they visit. While each interior design style has its own distinctive features and characteristics, retro and vintage interior design give a strikingly unique yet beautiful ambience. When we talk about these interior design themes, often they are used interchangeably. But are they really the same or different? Here, we will discuss in detail what retro interior design is, its salient features, pros and cons, and some great inspirational ideas to get an amazing look in your home. Are retro and vintage interior design styles the same? Before moving on to discussing the fine details about retro interior design, let us answer the very common question of whether vintage and retro are the same in interior design? Plainly speaking, no. Retro interior design and vintage interior design are different from each other in that the vintage interior design houses original pieces and design styles from the 20th century whereas retro interior design focuses on recreating a somewhat older style by using new elements that have been designed to create vintage feels. On the outlook, both interior designs may give a similar vibe but on contemplation, one can see that they both are different in the kind of furniture, style pieces, and general theme incorporated. So let us dive into the details of retro interior design and how you can incorporate this theme into your home. Retro interior design style The retro interior design style takes its roots from after the industrial revolution when new elements and pieces were designed to replicate the styles of various past eras. A retro design is one that has been inspired from the past to recreate a past era. How far back in time you want to go to revive it depends on you; there are no fixed requirements in that matter. The main idea is to create nostalgia for a particular era of your choice. Retro interior design is a popular choice among homeowners in Singapore as it creates a getaway from the modern interior designed homes one sees around so abundantly. It creates a nostalgic feeling which one can cherish and relive all the past moments. Mid-Modern Centruy designs and Modern retro interior design is also a popular version among homeowners where they can combine old and new elements in beautiful balance. Significant Features Retro style’s main hallmark is a fine and lively outlook which is achieved by using just the right type of furniture, colors, and statement pieces. Furniture Retro furniture is often whimsical with bright and bold colors that give a very lively outlook. The furniture may be angular with curves; the idea is to have them in unusual shapes that look fun. Moreover, furniture inspired by the olden eras with a fun twist can create an interesting focal point in a retro interior. Colors The colors used in a retro interior are often bold and not quite bright. The reason is that even bold incompatible colors are used in the space, if they were bright, it would have created visual chaos. So, stick to bold colors with less saturated hues to get just the right amount of color and balance in the space. Patterns Interiors of the olden eras often used intricate patterns and motifs in different design elements. Therefore, a retro interior focuses on recreating that vintage vibe by adding patterns on the walls and floors. This look can be achieved by choosing heavily patterned wallpaper for the walls. For the floors, you can either choose hardwood flooring with very clear grains and wood patterns or use a rug with bold, vivid patterns. This eclectic mix of elements creates a stylish yet interesting visual space. Textures Another significant feature of retro interior design is the use of textures in solid colored spaces to bring life to them. Thus, for furniture upholstery, you can use textured solid colored fabric that creates a funky yet bold ambience in the interior. Statement pieces Since a retro interior is the revival of the eras gone by, it cannot be complete without a few nostalgic pieces from the past. These could be old pictures, an heirloom displayed on a shelf, or any piece of art that makes you nostalgic and makes you remember the good old days. Pros and Cons There are several advantages of choosing retro interior design theme for your home: Apart from these advantages, there are a few disadvantages associated with retro interior design: Inspirational portfolio @ Guan Chuan At Space Factor, we take pride in creating amazing interior design styles in your homes to make them the home of your dreams. One such inspirational portfolio at Guan Chuan recreates the times of olden days by incorporating retro themes in all rooms of the house. For the living room, the retro theme is added in the interior by using a wooden frame sofa with leather seats and back. The simple yet functional shape of the sofa immediately takes you back to the old country house and triggers a feeling of nostalgia. The sofa cushions also feature the distinctive patterns of the past which help recreate the vintage look. Also notice the little Japanese interior design details like the frosted paneled windows and the big bowl shaped center table. Together, all elements create a fusion of Japanese and modern retro interior design. Coming towards the hallway, we can see the distinctive brickwork that may at first glance give the illusion of an industrial themed home but when looked in connection with the displayed wall art and other decorative pieces, it manifests as part of a retro-vintage theme. The old photos displayed on the wall along with small decorative elements that trigger nostalgia, all create a very meaningful retro interior. The staircase also depicts the retro style