Kitchenset Design Ideas For A Vintage Look – Country Living editors select each product featured. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Why trust us?
Diners have something that feels like home. Of course, the wonderful comfort food has a lot to do with it, but inviting bar stools, bright colors and nostalgic memorabilia are also part of the experience. So what could be better than a welcoming retro look in your kitchen? Don’t worry, we’re not talking about spending thousands on renovations, we’re talking about serving up old-school Americana with thoughtful yet practical details that will restore that vintage diner feel.
Kitchenset Design Ideas For A Vintage Look
For a complete retro look, start with a checkered floor. (Try Villa Lagoon from The Home Depot for a similar look.) Opt for a crisp white and all the retro accessories you’ve added will pop. This homeowner started with Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace on the board and batten walls and open shelving and added a retro SMEG refrigerator.
How To Create The Perfect Retro Style Kitchen
In addition to the food, the cozy booths are at the heart of any diner. Those comfy red leather seats practically say, “Sit down, stay a while.” If you really want to go all retro, try a classic red cabinet for your kitchen. For a less expensive option, try bar stools or dining-style chairs in red, black, or mint green.
If you don’t want to spend money on a retro fridge or oven, add pops of color throughout the room. Here, yellow instantly brightens up the room, and the classic red pops up on the cabinet knobs, chairs and hood. Mint green worktops complete the retro look. Old-fashioned pendant lights also shine.
Any kitchen can create a dining experience with the right stools. (Try these bar stools for a similar look.) The bright red color pops off the light blue island color (Benjamin Moore’s Rhine River) for an attractive look.
For a more diner vibe, update your cabinets with a diner-inspired makeover. Colors like country green or powder blue are perfect for enhancing your dining space.
Rustic Kitchen Ideas For One Off Rural Charm
You’ve probably noticed that diners have a lot more old-school gadgets than you do. A 1950s-style Smeg refrigerator is sure to add decorative charm and a nice pop of color to a small kitchen. But since these big-ticket appliances come with hefty price tags, you might also want to consider smaller gadgets like a Smeg toaster, popcorn maker, vintage can opener, ice cream maker, or pop-up hot dog toaster. (Yes, that last one is a real thing.)
Have you ever noticed that diners have the coolest watches? From quirky catchphrases to clocks with neon lights, diners have mastered the art of telling time. If you want to step back in time with a more classic option, the brand’s red lunchtime watch will never disappoint.
Wall decoration is an easy way to reinvent your kitchen. For a bold look, display wordmarks such as “Eat,” “Canteen,” or “Kitchen.” (The brighter the colors, the better!) If you want to go the authentic route, display vintage advertising posters, road signs, vintage license plates, or framed vinyl albums—all of which can be found on Amazon or eBay.
Even if you’re not a soda drinker, you can’t deny Coca-Cola’s permanent place in American culture. Emblazoned on everything from boxes to coolers to syrup dispensers, the logo has made the brand iconic, perhaps why it’s a constant presence in old-school diners. Incorporate the iconic brand into your decor with a Coca-Cola straw dispenser, place mat and napkin holder, or find a vintage soda find at a flea market.
Luxury Kitchen Ideas To Inspire Your Dream Remodel
It’s hard to find a diner without memorabilia (posters, old records, small figurines, and more) honoring 1950s icons like Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, or the Beatles. Add a small framed photo to your growing wall art collection in your kitchen.
Who doesn’t like searching for their favorite song on the diner’s jukebox? Music has become a beloved part of the classic dining experience, and there are easy ways to bring it home. Since a full-sized jukebox would cost thousands, opt for jukebox-inspired electronics like a Jukebox radio or Bluetooth Jukebox speakers.
The fastest way to bring your kitchen back to the golden age of diners is to choose the right accessories. From vintage cookie jars and unique cutting boards to ketchup and mustard dispensers and lunch-style mugs, it’s easier than you think.
Marlisa is the web editor for WomansDay.com and hails from the Bronx, New York. She is currently obsessed with blogging, Instagramming just about everything, and of course, Netflix (with wine).
White And Gold Kitchen Design Ideas To Up The Luxury In Your Home
Peel and Stick These Fun Patterns on Your Walls Our Favorite Farmhouse Bedroom Ideas Barn Door Design Ideas to Add Charm to Your Home The Best Blue Colors for Every Room in Your Home
Meet your new favorite reading chair. Modern Farmhouse Style 15 Of The Best Plants For Your Bedroom Explained 11 Best Backyard Chicken Coops
65 Rooms That Perfectly Embrace Country House Style 26 Painted Floor Ideas Brown Colors That Will Add Coziness To Any Room 20 Wood Ceiling Ideas Country CharmCheckerboard Floors, Farmhouse Sinks, and Brushed Accents. Yes, we’re rounding up the best antique kitchens modeled after modern renditions.
Why buy an old appliance when you can get one with decorative charm like this 1950s-style Smeg fridge? Bonus: they take up less space!
Vintage Kitchen Ideas That Prove Modern Isn’t Always Better
One easy way to throw it back? Throw out the wallpaper, whether it’s a polka dot background from the 50s or bold, busy prints from the 60s.
Encaustic tiles like the ones seen here have been around since the Middle Ages, but they’re making a comeback in modern kitchens, and we can see why! On the back wall, beadboard adds barely-there texture (and retro appeal) to this stark white room.
Your mom or grandma probably had one of these hanging in her kitchen. They can now be found built into the sides of islands.
Back then, glassware was proudly displayed, such as wedding china or this gorgeous jade collection (popular during World War II).
Modern Kitchen Ideas We Love
Even though it now holds silverware instead of baked goods, this old bread box adds to the farmhouse look.
Early American kitchens had fireplaces for cooking. Electric ovens have now taken their place, but we would die for this quirky, historic piece in our modern homes. In the foreground, the sweet little stools resemble an old-fashioned soda shop.
Kitchen islands were not as important in the past as they are today. Here, a humble butcher block does the trick.
Peel and Stick These Fun Patterns on Your Walls Our Favorite Farmhouse Bedroom Ideas Barn Door Design Ideas to Add Charm to Your Home The Best Blue Colors for Every Room in Your Home
Kitchen Ideas To Help You Plan Your Dream Space
Meet your new favorite reading chair. Modern Farmhouse Style 15 Of The Best Plants For Your Bedroom Explained 11 Best Backyard Chicken Coops
65 rooms that perfectly embody country house style 26 ideas for painted floors Brown colors that will make any room cozy 20 wood ceiling ideas for country charm We have independently researched and tested products for more than 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.
When your kitchen starts to look dated, or if it was originally purchased with an outdated and historic look, renovation becomes essential. If you want to turn your kitchen into the space of your dreams with elegant colors and a thoughtful layout, then retro aesthetics are worth considering.
Browse our retro kitchen ideas for inspiration on how to transform your cooking area into a classic yet modern space. Although you may think that retro interiors have a negative connotation, this is not always the case. Whether you’re drawn to the look of the 1940s, 1950s, or another intriguing decade, retro design schemes can be fun. For example, the perfect combination of vintage touches with modern appliances is a great way to create a design. You can transform your kitchen into a completely retro design or stick to subtle accents to experiment with the trend. From checkerboard floors and quirky patterned walls to a colorful palette and brightly painted furniture, the design and renovation possibilities are endless (and fun to mix and match to your ideal aesthetic).
Our 1970’s Kitchen Remodel
Checkerboard floors are classic when it comes to retro looks. Go for a combination of yellow and white for a clean yet vibrant feel.
Remember those lava lamps that were popular back then? Install pendant lights with similar appeal above the kitchen island to create a focal point. Choose a design in a dark purple shade to complement the wooden furniture in the room.
If you want to keep the modern feel of the kitchen, choose a bold patterned floor. Using an intricate pattern will create a retro vibe while staying true to its original look.
Coca-Cola has been around since the 1880s, so take inspiration from the iconic brand and try red cabinets and seats for a playful look.
A Few Exciting Vintage Cabinet Ideas That Were Abandoned Wrongly By Many Of Us
The mix of warm and dark tones throughout this kitchen can inspire your space. Revamp the look with a dark accent tile wall and antique island.
The right color