Synonymous with everything from the swinging ’60s to mid-century flair, the retro decor is all about emulating the most iconic features of home interior trends from the past within a modern setting. While this decor experiment may invoke some mixed feelings, when done correctly, it can transform your home into a work of art.
Alongside the aesthetic appeal of your dreams, all home offices need to be fitted with the latest tech devices to ensure maximum functionality and productivity. Shop popular annual sales like Black Friday to find the best deal on devices and home office essentials like desktops, printers, wireless modems, and The Good Guys iPads.
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What is Retro Style?
Retro decor is an aesthetic that celebrates the defining features of design and style from the 1940s to the 1970s within a contemporary setting. It is known for its iconic use of bold patterns, eclectic and confident color palette, and effervescent approach to curating rooms.
To achieve the ultimate retro finish, the perfect balance of vintage charm and modernity needs to be maintained, with showstopping pieces from both eras seamlessly combined to create magic.
The Beauty of Vintage
Vintage style is not just a design choice; it is a beautiful homage to historical beauty and celebrates the unique and memorable features of bygone eras. It introduces a sense of warmth and familiarity that makes any space feel lived-in and loved.
Two of the most common features of vintage design that are worth embracing in the modern world are antiqued furniture and aged decor pieces like old books and vintage photographs. Vintage furniture is the backbone of this aesthetic, and it doesn’t need to carry the hefty price tag of prized antique pieces to make an impact. Aged wooden tables, classic leather chairs, and ornate bookshelves showing wear and tear will add excellent character and charm.
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Retro Prints & Patterns
Retro style is about embracing bold geometric patterns, vibrant hues, and statement furniture pieces from past eras, like mid-century modern or tufted armchairs and vintage desks. Retro is primarily characterized by statement pieces and a bold color scheme to match.
Florals, stripes, and animal prints are perfectly complemented by earthy tones like terracotta, emerald greens, sapphire blues, and mustard yellows, with statement antique lighting fixtures to enhance the overall ambiance. Make the room your own by infusing your personal style and trinkets with decor pieces that honor the past but reflect your individuality.
Embrace Antiques
The beauty of retro style is crafting a space that includes a delicate balance of nostalgia and modernity, effortlessly blending past eras with contemporary pieces. Traditionally, retro style focuses on the decades between the 1940s and 1970s. But a fantastic way to add a sophisticated twist to this iconic aesthetic is by setting your clocks back even further and curating a space completely outfitted with antique and vintage furniture pieces and selected decor items.
From your desk and chair to art pieces and frames on the wall, these dated pieces add lovely charm and an inviting, cozy atmosphere that screams for a slower-paced lifestyle and relaxed approach. Mix and match these classic pieces with pops of color and fun patterns for depth and contrast.
Make it Moody
If you want to transform your home office into the ultimate cozy library, dark tones, and vintage accents will bring your dream to life. Black, dark grey, royal blue, deep forest green, and chocolate brown add depth and interest to the space, making the room feel more private and intimate.
Built-in bookcases can reflect a more lived-in appearance while providing much-needed storage space. Swapping out traditional floor or desk lamps for old-fashioned wall sconces ties the moody atmosphere together. Include floor rugs or curtains in bold geometric patterns and muted color schemes to introduce complementing contrast with a nod to retro chic.
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Extra Style Tips
When designing and styling any room in your home, including a dedicated home office or work area, consider three additional styling tips to maximize your space.
Use Vertical Space
In smaller spaces, particularly when you don’t have a separate room to dedicate to a home office, it is vital to utilize vertical space. Instead of selecting large, bulky floor furniture, opt for a desk and storage units or shelves that can be installed on your wall.
Building up towards the ceiling will offer more visual space, giving you more opportunities to add decor and color to create a comfortable, inviting, and aesthetically pleasing work area.
Add Houseplants
Introduce house plants into your home office to breathe life and color into the room. Not only do they do a fantastic job of cleaning the air, but numerous studies have shown the multiple physical and mental benefits they offer.
The number of plants you keep in your office is entirely up to personal preference, as just one plant can make a considerable difference. If you are concerned about your gardening abilities, opt for low-maintenance options that don’t require direct sunlight or regular watering.
Include Natural Light
Regardless of the style and design of your home office, you should always strive to include as much natural light as possible. It will make any space feel much bigger than it really is and allow plenty of welcoming and warm sunshine to flood in.
If you are concerned about your privacy and would prefer not to use blinds or curtains, consider applying fogged window film to all the windows. This will still allow sunlight to enter your space while preserving much-needed privacy.