Sunny hues and warm tones are dominant in retro paint designs.
Popular between the 1930s and 1950s, "retro" style has been part of a decorating resurgence in the past couple of years. Created with simple color combinations, bright accents and bold paint choices, the effect is simple to create, and can work for just about any space. Most major paint companies provide samples and photos of retro style, and several home improvement magazines and blogs give an array of pointers and tips on pull off retro paint.
Exterior
To achieve a retro exterior, bold color is key. Sifting through period brochures, it becomes obvious that colors and combinations from the era were significantly more adventurous than the ones that are common today. Not based in pastels and neutrals, homes from the 1950s embraced lively pallets, including sunny yellows, sage green and turquoise. Today, there are several companies, including Behr and Valspar, that can provide color-specific matching, as well as a variety of shades identical to those found in older catalogs.
Kitchens
A common draw for remodeling, kitchens have become increasingly popular as retro makeover central. Over the past few years, everything from reproduction appliances to checkered-style tiles have grown in popularity. For a true retro feel, homeowners can review the colors of the era and use them to create a 1950s feel with modern touches. Most commonly, kitchen colors reflected the sunny exteriors, but could also feature military greens, navy blues and rosy reds. To tone down the brightness, cabinet colors were often left neutral and two-tone, with upper cabinets and lower cabinets in differing shades. Behr paints and most major supply chains can assist in color choices, as well as tools to digitally "paint" a room to help choose main colors, accents and cabinet options.
Modern retro
Choosing a retro exterior color isn't always possible in modern times. With some neighborhoods, especially those with homeowners associations or those that are considered historic areas, which often restrict exterior color options. One way around this is to choose accents or borders in-line with the 1950s style. Soft greens, bright yellows or watery blues are all usually neutral or cool enough to work in a modern color scheme as well as provide that touch of classic appeal. Interior colors are much more flexible, but can also be toned down by mixing and matching. Accent walls can be used to minimize the main color, and more muted colors can be used for appliances, accents and cabinets.
Ideal Colors
Behr is one of the leading paint manufactures in the United States and can be found at supply stores including Home Depot and Lowe's. As such, the company provides an array of colors, many of which can be matched to those used in old catalogs and paint samples. Top color choices for retro styles include Joyous, a bright yellow; as well as Fossil Butte, a military green. A full list of colors can be found online, and samples can be ordered or purchased.
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