Retro Home Accessories That Transform Your Living Space

May 31, 2025maurizio almanza

Outstanding Italian Retro Home Accessories Collection at MA+39: We are conveniently located in the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills area.

Let's be honest—your coffee table books aren't fooling anyone. That pristine copy of Architectural Digest hasn't been cracked open since you strategically positioned it next to that mass-produced candle holder that's currently collecting dust in 10,000 other living rooms across America. Your space deserves better. It deserves character, stories, and that magical quality that makes guests stop mid-sip and ask, "Where on earth did you find that amazing piece?"

Enter the world of retro home accessories—those delightful time travelers that bring decades of style, craftsmanship, and personality into modern spaces. At MA+39, we've made it our mission to hunt down the most extraordinary Italian and European retro treasures and bring them to style-conscious Los Angeles homes. From sculptural table lamps that look like they teleported straight from a 1960s Milan design studio to crystal decanters that would make Don Draper weep with envy, our collection of retro home accessories speaks to those who understand that true style isn't bought in bulk—it's curated one exceptional piece at a time.



How to Style Retro Home Accessories in a Modern Interior?

The beauty of retro home accessories lies in their versatility—they play just as nicely with sleek contemporary furniture as they do with other vintage pieces. The key is creating conversation between eras rather than a chronological shouting match. Here's how to make retro accessories sing in your modern space:

The Rule of Three: When displaying retro home accessories, the magic number is often three. A trio of differently sized Italian crystal decanters on a sideboard. A cluster of three vintage picture frames on a wall. This creates visual rhythm without veering into "I raided my grandmother's attic" territory. At MA+39, we often guide clients through creating these perfect trios from our collection of European retro accessories.

How to Style Retro Home Accessories in a Modern Interior?

Height Variation: Nothing makes retro home accessories pop like varying heights. Place that spectacular Italian marble table lamp next to a shorter decorative box and a medium-height sculpture. This creates visual interest and draws the eye across your carefully curated display. Our brass candlesticks from 1950s Italy make perfect height-adding elements in any grouping.

Color Anchoring: Choose one dominant color from your retro accessory (say, the amber glass of a vintage Murano ashtray repurposed as a catch-all) and echo it subtly elsewhere in the room—perhaps in a throw pillow or art piece. This creates cohesion without being matchy-matchy. Our collection of retro home accessories spans every color family, making it easy to find your perfect anchor piece.

Negative Space is Your Friend: Modern interiors benefit from breathing room. Don't cluster all your retro treasures together—space them throughout your home where each can be appreciated individually. That statement magazine rack from 1970s Milan deserves its own moment to shine rather than competing with your collection of vintage bookends.

The beauty of shopping for retro home accessories at MA+39 is that we've already done the hard part—sourcing pieces with the perfect balance of character and refinement. Our collections aren't about dusty relics; they're about bringing the sophisticated craftsmanship of mid-century European design into today's homes.

retro home accessories at MA+39


Which Retro Side Tables Work Best for Small Los Angeles Apartments?

Los Angeles living often means making the most of modest square footage without sacrificing style. Retro side tables are the unsung heroes of small-space living—they add function, storage, and major personality points without commanding too much real estate. Here are our top retro side table picks for compact LA living:

Nesting Tables: The ultimate space-savers, Italian nesting tables from the 1960s and 70s feature clean lines, rich woods, and ingenious design. Pull them apart when entertaining, then tuck them together when space is at a premium. Our collection of rosewood nesting tables with brass accents brings warmth and flexibility to small apartments.

Hairpin Legs for Visual Space: Retro side tables with slender hairpin legs create visual space beneath, making rooms feel less crowded. These Italian-designed classics from the 1950s pair beautifully with both mid-century and contemporary furniture. The geometric marble-topped versions in our collection seem to float rather than dominate.

Multi-Function Marvels: The best retro home accessories work twice as hard in small spaces. Consider our flip-top side tables that conceal storage, or vintage magazine racks that double as side tables. These European pieces were designed when space efficiency mattered—perfect for today's compact urban living.

Which Retro Side Tables Work Best for Small Los Angeles Apartments?

Glass and Lucite Options: When visual lightness is key, our Italian glass and lucite retro side tables from the 1970s almost disappear while still providing function. Their transparency keeps sightlines open, a crucial design trick for small spaces. Bonus: they showcase your floors (or that vintage rug you splurged on).

At MA+39, we understand the unique challenges of Los Angeles living spaces. That's why we carefully select retro home accessories that offer maximum style with minimum footprint. Our European-sourced side tables have already survived decades, proving their durability and timeless appeal—exactly what you need when investing in pieces for smaller homes.

Top Trending Retro Home Accessories of 2025

While truly exceptional retro home accessories transcend trends, we're seeing particular styles gaining momentum in 2025. Here's what's captivating design enthusiasts and interior stylists this year:

Sculptural Lighting: Statement lighting from 1960s and 70s Italy is having a massive moment. Those mushroom-shaped table lamps, planetary floor lamps, and dramatic arc lamps we source from European estates are now centerpieces in fashion-forward homes. Their sculptural quality means they're as much art as illumination.

Top Trending Retro Home Accessories of 2025

Colored Glass Revival: The richly hued glassware that Italy perfected in the mid-20th century has returned triumphantly. Amber, cobalt, and emerald glass pieces—especially our collection of Empoli and Murano treasures—add instant color and character to neutral spaces. Use them as standalone decorative pieces or functional vessels.

Travertine and Terrazzo: These distinctly Italian materials are everywhere in 2025's most stylish homes. Our collection of travertine candleholders, terrazzo trays, and mixed-material boxes brings these sought-after textures into your space without requiring a full renovation.

Brass Accents: Warm metals continue their reign, with vintage brass pieces from our European collection adding glamour without glitz. Our 1970s brass table sculptures, picture frames, and decorative objects bring that perfect touch of retro sophistication.

Conversation Piece Seating: Unique accent chairs that surprise and delight are topping designers' wish lists. While not small accessories, our curated selection of statement Italian mid century lounge chairs functions as large-scale retro home accessories that anchor rooms and spark discussions.

What makes these trending retro home accessories so appealing in 2025 is their authenticity. Unlike mass-produced "retro-inspired" pieces flooding the market, every item at MA+39 carries genuine patina and provenance. They've lived interesting lives before arriving in your home—and it shows in the quality of materials and craftsmanship that can't be replicated today.


Which Retro Home Accessories Add the Most Character to Your Space?

If your home were a movie, retro accessories would be the supporting actors that steal every scene. But which vintage mid century decor deliver the biggest personality boost per square inch? Based on our experience transforming hundreds of Los Angeles homes, here are the retro home accessories with maximum character impact:

Which Retro Home Accessories Add the Most Character to Your Space?

Conversation-Starting Light Fixtures: Nothing transforms a room quite like lighting. A spectacular Italian mushroom lamp or a 1970s arc floor lamp creates instant ambiance and serves as a natural conversation starter. Our collection includes pieces from renowned designers like Gino Sarfatti and Achille Castiglioni that quite literally highlight your design savvy.

Statement Wall Art and Mirrors: Mid century mirrors and art pieces draw the eye and set the tone for your entire space. Look for unusual frames, sculptural elements, or unexpected materials. Our collection of sunburst mirrors from 1960s Italy and abstract wall sculptures create instant focal points in any room.

Unexpected Storage Solutions: Retro magazine racks, record holders, and decorative boxes add function with flair. These practical retro home accessories reveal your attention to detail while keeping clutter at bay. Our brass magazine holders from 1970s Milan transform mundane storage into display-worthy accessories.

Bar Accessories with Heritage: Few retro home accessories tell stories like vintage bar tools and glassware. Our Italian crystal decanters, cocktail shakers, and unique glassware collections instantly elevate home entertaining while showcasing your appreciation for the finer things. Plus, they're natural conversation starters—"This decanter? I found it at this amazing shop that specializes in European retro treasures..."

Tabletop Sculptures: Small enough to place anywhere but impactful enough to define a space, retro sculptures are the easiest way to inject personality. From abstract brass forms to marble geometrics, our collection of European table sculptures makes powerful statements without overwhelming.

Tabletop Sculptures

The magic of these character-building retro home accessories is their versatility. At MA+39, we guide clients toward pieces that can migrate around their homes as needs change. That sculptural candleholder might start on your dining table, move to your entry console, and eventually find a permanent home on your office desk—bringing its character-building powers to each new location.


How to Use Retro Glassware and Sculptures as Focal Points?

Think of retro glassware and sculptures as the jewelry of your interior—they might be small, but they complete the outfit and often become the most memorable elements. Here's how to showcase these stunning retro home accessories for maximum impact:

Create Vignettes with Purpose: Group retro glassware by color family or style, but include breathing room between pieces. Our collection of graduated Empoli glass vessels in amber or cobalt creates stunning color stories when arranged with intention. Remember: editing is as important as collecting.

Play with Light Placement: Position retro glass pieces where natural light will activate them. A windowsill lined with our colored Italian glassware creates a stained-glass effect as sunlight passes through. Similarly, strategic lighting can cast dramatic shadows from sculptural pieces, essentially doubling their visual impact.

Use Unexpected Surfaces: Don't limit your retro home accessories to conventional display areas. A striking brass sculpture on a floating bathroom shelf. A collection of small colored glass vessels lining a kitchen window. A significant marble piece anchoring your bedside table. These unexpected placements create delightful moments of discovery throughout your home.

Consider Scale Relationships: Pair oversized retro home accessories with smaller complementary pieces. A substantial Murano glass bowl becomes even more impressive when placed near more delicate objects. Our collection offers pieces across the size spectrum for creating these dynamic relationships.

Show Restraint: Sometimes a single exceptional retro accessory deserves solo billing. A spectacular Italian marble sculpture centered on a coffee table needs no supporting cast. At MA+39, we often encourage clients to let their most distinctive retro pieces breathe rather than competing with too many companions.

How to Use Retro Glassware and Sculptures as Focal Points?

The beauty of retro glassware and sculptures is their versatility—they can be purely decorative or functional elements in your daily life. Our Italian crystal decanters aren't just display pieces; they elevate everyday rituals. The retro magazine rack isn't just sculptural; it keeps your reading material organized. The finest retro home accessories seamlessly blend form and function.


What Makes MA+39's Retro Home Accessories Unique in Los Angeles?

In a city filled with vintage shops and flea markets, MA+39 stands apart through our singular focus on exceptional European and Italian retro home accessories. Here's what distinguishes our collection from others you'll find in Los Angeles:

Direct European Sourcing: While many shops rely on local estate sales, our team travels regularly throughout Italy and Europe, building relationships with dealers, estates, and collectors to discover exquisite retro home accessories before they reach the mainstream market. This direct sourcing means we find pieces you simply won't see elsewhere in Los Angeles.

Curation with Context: Each retro accessory in our collection is selected not just for its aesthetic appeal but for its story and provenance. We can tell you about the designer, the manufacturing techniques, and the cultural context of every piece—because understanding an object's history deepens your appreciation of it in your home.

Quality Over Quantity: We're not interested in filling our shop with mediocre vintage. Our selective approach means we may have fewer retro home accessories than some warehouses, but each piece meets our exacting standards for condition, authenticity, and design significance. Nothing in our collection is "filler."

Styling Support: Unlike impersonal vintage warehouses, we offer complimentary styling advice with purchases. Not sure how to integrate that spectacular Italian table lamp into your space? Wondering which retro picture frames would create the perfect gallery wall? Our team provides guidance on making these special pieces work in your specific home.

At MA+39, we believe that remarkable retro home accessories should be accessible to design enthusiasts across all budgets. While we carry investment-worthy statement pieces, we also offer entry points into European vintage through smaller unique vintage finds for the home like brass candlesticks, decorative boxes, and picture frames. Your journey into retro home accessories can begin with a single perfect piece that ignites your passion for the extraordinary craftsmanship of bygone eras.

 

 

Retro Accessories for Apartment Living Infographic

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