5 Items for a Retro Perfect Dining Room

Today on Vibrant Vintage, I'm happy to present a guest post by Amy at LuxeDecor!  They offer a wide range of home furnishings with a retro touch.  They have handpicked some items that my readers will surely be interested in, especially those who love midcentury decor.  Enjoy! 

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Often referred to as the Golden Age, the 1950s were a time of funky furnishings, bold artwork and vibrant décor. Seeking to add some of this midcentury vintage drama to your dining space? Whether you want to overhaul an eating area into a total time warp or just want to add some cool graphic furnishings and colorful art pieces to an otherwise modern mealtime nook, there are plenty of options for filling a dining space with nostalgic style.

Here are five items fit for a retro inspired dining room:

Image Via Pinterest

Splashy and dramatic, a sputnik chandelier is the perfect fit for a midcentury dining room. Adding tons of light to the ceiling, this showpiece lighting fixture is a glitzy standout.

Image Via HGTV Home

Classic and cool, a metal bar cart offers any dining room tons of character. Filled with bar staples and classic mixers, this cart is bound to be a hit during parties and evening soirees.

Image Via Memorable Décor

A large hypnotic painting offers this dining room a fresh focal point and tons of dazzling retro charm. Perfect for giving an eating space a bit of glamour, this painting is a definite blast from the past.

Image Via BeeYoutiful Life

Forget a commonplace gray or brown rug and instead opt to give a space some serious sparkle with a bright orange rug. Perfect for plain or muted floors, this colorful floor covering gives a dining room a burst of energy.

Image Via Decoist

A dining room needs a space for noshing and nothing screams midcentury more than a classic table with tulip chairs. Ideal for entertaining, this Scandinavian style dining set is like an ode to 1950s family life.

Guest Post by Amy Spagnola for LuxeDecor

5 Keys for Instant Mid Century Style

Mid century design for the home has never truly gone out of style.  You just need to take a trip to your closest Ikea and you're sure to see how Scandinavian style influenced the homes of the 1950s and '60s.  Here are some basic things that are easy to include in your house for a touch of retro style.

1)  Streamlined furniture
Mid century modern couches, tables, and chairs usually have the trademark hairpin legs or narrow legs, which can be found on plenty of new designs, too!  DotAndBo has plenty of mid century modern inspired pieces at very reasonable prices.  If you have a piece that needs an extra something to complete the retro look, search online for hairpin legs or check out Ace hardware, which sells wooden table legs to add onto your own furniture.

2)  Atomic age motifs

A starburst clock or mirror is plenty to add some vintage flair to your living room.

From Life Magazine

3)  Geometric shapes

Along with the ubiquitous starburst, look for anything that has a pattern with clean lines.  A wall print or a cute sculpture can add a little more interest to the room.  Plus, if you're renting and can't paint, a big print on the wall (or even fabric hung from the walls) gives you a nice burst of color.

Wall art / Dot Bo mid century wall art / Photo poster

4)  A bright pop of color

Use colors that were popular at the time, but maybe with the brightness or saturation enhanced a little.

From KathyDavisAssociates.com

5)  Mixed textures

 Mixing things like patterned cushions, a shaggy rug, or gauzy curtains can add a lot of visual interest to a room.  Also, keep in mind that -- like now -- there were a plethora of influences on mid century design.  Scandinavian design was popular, as were Asian motifs.  So build on these aspects with your own style and taste, and then you'll have a unique and original room that will be just right for you.

• What's your favorite era for interior design?
• Any plans to update your living space soon?

Mid Century Den

It's taken a while to decide what style to go with in our living room, but it's very important to me since it's the largest room of the house and is the first impression on visitors.  We painted the living room a couple of years ago, but the space was still dark and not quite comfortable enough.  I've spent the last year or so collecting mid century modern antiques and coordinating pieces.  So here are a few photos to show how the room has come together so far!

My mom and dad found this piano at a school auction and got it for -- wait for it -- $1.25!  It needed a lot of superficial work, but all of the keys are working.  The Pantone paint color Cockatoo gave it back the liveliness it needed.  Now I just need to paint the piano bench to match.

The bicycle print over the piano is from a graphic design firm called Rockets Are Red.  We actually purchased it years ago and had it stored under the bed, since there was nowhere to put it.  And then we ended up using red and teal in the house, so now we have a perfect place for it!

This antique chair was a gift from my awesome friend, Molly.

This console table started my quest for mid century modern.  I found it sitting outside of a thrift store, and got it for an incredible $11.  It has a few dents and dings, but I love the character of it.  Best of all, the DVD player and Roku can be hidden away inside the compartment.

The sofa and chair was a free (!!!) set my sister found me on Craigslist.  The shape and color is a great match with the mid century aesthetic.

I got a little carried away with the Cockatoo paint...

I'm so happy this room finally all came together!  It's the perfect cozy space for reading, studying, or just watching TV.  It's so nice to have a living room that's bright and colorful and happy.

Do you have a favorite room in your house?  Is there any room that needs a vintage -- or modern -- overhaul?  Tell me about it in the comments!