Luxurious Retro Furniture Collection at MA+39: We are conveniently located in the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills area.
Selecting your home furnishings best reflects your personal taste and daily life. Retro pieces bring historical connections into your modern life.
In this guide, we will talk about how retro furniture can add some beauty to your home. We will look at the key characteristics of these accessories, where you can buy them, and the distinctive styles that you can pick from.
Explore our retro furniture collection
Defining Retro Furniture: What Makes it "Retro"?
The term retro is often mistakenly used interchangeably with vintage, but retro furniture differs from vintage items. In simple words, retro furniture is a unique piece with a distinct style that draws design inspiration from previous decades. To put this into perspective, vintage or antique products are actually designed from a past era, while retro items are manufactured in a modern era but replicate those older designs to create a sense of nostalgia.
The transformation of furniture items into retro requires them to reflect cultural designs and trends from distinct historical periods. They embody the dawn of modernism of the 50s, the space-age influence and pop art of the 60s, the earthy tones of the 70s, or the eclectic designs of the 80s.
Popular Retro Furniture Styles by Decade
You will find below detailed explanations of what types of furniture styles each decade represents with examples.
1950s Retro Furniture
During the 1950s, there was a significant shift toward furniture designs that incorporated natural materials along with functional aesthetics and clean lines. The furniture style during this time period evolved into sleek forms in order to obtain a modern appearance. This included atomic-age designs, diner booths, pastel colors, etc.
1960s Retro Furniture
Inspired by space exploration and new technologies, the retros in the 1960s were made from newer materials like plastic and vinyl, which featured playful shapes and geometric patterns. Egg chairs and mid-century armchairs represent typical furniture styles from the 60s period.
1970s Retro Furniture
The 70s introduced new forms of retro furniture, which reflected the decade's adoption of relaxed design aesthetics. The furniture from this period mixed earthy tones with natural elements, including wicker and rattan. Popular furnishings in this era included shag carpeting and rattan furniture pieces.
1980s Retro Furniture
The 1980s furniture designs stood out because of their bright color palette, Memphis designs, and noticeable geometric patterns. The resurgence of Art Deco also influenced the furniture styles of that decade, as many people often go for bold patterned designs.
Key Characteristics of Retro Furniture
Here are the key characteristics to look out for when identifying retro furniture.
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Materials: Retro furniture is constructed from natural materials. This includes wood surfaces, plastic components, and metal structures alongside vinyl finishes or upholstery fabric
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Colors and Patterns: Retro items stand apart because of their striking color scheme and captivating pattern designs. To create a welcoming atmosphere inside any space, designers typically pair these colors with both floral prints and geometric patterns.
- Shapes and Forms: You will notice these furniture items instantly by their distinctive shapes, which are derived from mid-century and atomic-age design styles that don’t compromise their functionality.
Incorporating Retro Furniture into Modern Spaces
When decorating your space with retro furniture, you need to put thought into its placement. These suggestions explain how to add retro furniture pieces to your existing home setup successfully.
Living Room
Your living room is among the ideal areas to display your collection of retro furniture. Incorporating retro sofas and coffee tables in that space can create a focal point for your interior decor. Vintage rugs and chandeliers added to your room strengthen your home's stylish appearance.
Bedroom
A matching dresser combined with vintage mirrors alongside your retro bed frame will enhance your bedroom design. Bedside tables next to your bed frame help you build a comfortable space for reading.
Dining Room
A classic dining set with retro chairs helps you build an attractive dining space. This will also ensure you always enjoy a comfortable dining experience. To add a touch of elegance and sophistication, we recommend pairing your furniture with vintage bar carts and sideboards.Where to Buy Retro Furniture?
Below are some of the right places where you can find the right retro furniture for your home.
Antique stores and vintage shops
Antique stores and vintage shops like MA+39 remain your best choice for finding nostalgic furniture elements because of their curated selection process. We boast of experience, superior craftsmanship, and a vast collection of valuable pieces that are appreciated over time.
Online marketplaces
In recent years, more and more people have been shopping online because of the ease of buying things in the comfort of your home. Therefore, you can hunt for the latest collection of retro furniture from top online marketplaces like eBay or Etsy. You can also browse our online store, ma39shop.com, check our available selections of vintage furniture, and place your order online.
Flea markets and estate sales
You can find unique vintage furniture at reasonable rates by shopping at secondhand marketplaces. Direct purchases from sellers at flea markets and estate sales let you talk down the asking price.
Tips for Decorating with Retro Furniture
Retro decorations provide a reflection of your personal aesthetic preferences. Here is a list of tips to guide your creation of attractive retro-inspired decoration themes for your residence.
Mixing and matching styles
When it comes to retro-inspired designs, don’t be afraid to mix and match elements and styles from different past eras. The use of retro furniture alongside contemporary décor provides an exciting opportunity to build eclectic spaces that reflect perfect design balance.
Creating a focal point
Pieces from past times draw attention in any space because of their bold hues and unique shapes. The distinct pieces serve as the focal point for your home's interior design. For instance, a brightly colored center table can become the centerpiece of your living room.
Using color palettes effectively
Since retro furniture features vibrant colors, you must also choose colors that complement them without outshining them in the design. You can go for retro colors like mustard yellow or avocado green as accents against a neutral background.
Caring for and Maintaining Retro Furniture
You should generally clean your retro pieces regularly using a soft, dry cloth to remove dust and debris. To preserve the beauty and extend the lifespan of your retro furniture, follow these tips to care for its different materials.
Metal: Select a metal polish made specifically for your furniture's actual metal type, whether it's silver, brass, or iron.
Wood: Wood finishes need mild treatment because strong chemicals can damage them. The finish stays protected best when you use the right furniture polish.
Plastic and Vinyl: Exposure to too much heat or using abrasive solvents can damage the surface of your furniture.
Upholstery: Vacuum regularly to remove dirt and debris, or hire a professional for deep upholstery cleaning.
In addition, do not expose the furniture to extended sunlight or high moisture locations.
Find Your Ideal Furniture Item at MA+39
Experience a world of exquisite timeless pieces where history meets contemporary design with MA+39. Our selection covers bespoke designs alongside rare antique collections and mid-century modern furniture created with superior skill and refined design principles. Whether you need a statement piece or a unique blend of furniture to complement your interior design, we offer unique furniture mixes to match your design plans plus capture your individual taste. Discover your ideal furniture today when you shop at MA+39!
Explore our retro furniture collection
