We have all spent more time at home than ever before in the last twelve months, which has led to many of us taking up home improvement projects to keep us focused and sane during lockdown.

For most of us, the kitchen is the heart of the home, as it is not only the space where we cook and eat our meals, but it is often where we entertain guests, spend time with friends and family and also most recently, educate our children. Therefore if you plan to make some improvements to your home, then what better room to start with than the kitchen? Although, after you’ve made your home improvements, it might take a further year for your friends and family to share this enjoyment with you! Who knows!

The recent increase in people making changes to their homes and living spaces has brought about some new trends and designs that will likely continue throughout 2021. One of the most popular kitchen trends is the comeback of the retro kitchen. Who would have thought it? Retro coming around again! And this time a comeback that isn’t in the fashion design industry. The retro style kitchen typically includes colourful surfaces, round shapes, and vibrant accessories, and is a great way to spruce up your kitchen area. 

Yet, turning your kitchen into a retro-haven isn’t as difficult as you might think, and we’ve put together this useful guide to give you all our top tips and tricks. Happy retro-ing! 

Go for pastel colours 

Just like when you are making any changes to the decor in a room of your house, you first need to consider what colours you want to go for. We recommend that you go for pastel colours to help create the fun and vibrant feel that is synonymous with a retro design. 

Our top retro pastel colours include sherbet, pink, green, or baby blue. However, don’t feel like you have to paint every wall in the kitchen one of these colours to create the retro kitchen of your dreams. You could keep it simple and subtle by adding pastel coloured cabinets, or you could just go for a single pastel coloured wall to help bring out the contrast against neutral and cream coloured cabinets and worktops. Remember that the beauty of retro means that you can change it up a bit and make it to suit your own taste. Adding a pop of pastel will instantly fill you with happiness whenever you enter the heart of the house – the kitchen. Whatever the season or weather, a pastel palette will make your kitchen bang on trend. 

Appliances should be retro too 

You are bound to damage the retro vibe you are going for in your kitchen if the decor looks the part, but the appliances do not. Luckily enough for you, retro kitchens are a huge trend at the moment so there are plenty of classic style appliances to choose from. This includes retro style kettles, toasters, and even fridges. 

A classic fridge is a statement piece in many kitchens, so will look even more at home in your retro throwback space. Refrigerator brands such as SMEG are well-known for their retro looking appliances while still offering all the convenient features of modern day life. As SMEG appliances basically fit in any kitchen, having a retro kitchen full of SMEG, will make everything just click into place – trust us on this one! 

Don’t forget about retro accessories 

Retro kitchens have become so popular in recent months as they offer the classic lived-in and homely vibe that we have come to rely upon while spending so much time at home. As one good thing to come about the pandemic is that we all appreciate our home comforts and loved one’s much more than ever, this style of decor gives you the opportunity to create a space that is both aesthetically pleasing and ever so comforting. In addition a retro kitchen ensures your kitchen is not too constricted or stationary as some modern interior trends are.

Therefore, we recommend that you make the most of this by adding lots of different retro, and colourful accessories to create your unique space. From retro styled racks, mugs, and kitchen scales, to wall prints inspired by the 60s era, the accessories you include in the kitchen will have a huge impact on how on trend your kitchen will look. 

Consider patterned flooring 

It can be tricky to find the right kind of flooring for any kitchen, but even more so if you are wanting to create a retro aesthetic within the four walls of your home. If you are going for more of a 1950’s inspired vibe in your kitchen then you may consider bright coloured vinyl and plastic flooring that is both on-trend and versatile. Vinyl flooring is a good option for any kitchen as it is practical and an easier surface to deal with when inevitable kitchen spillages or leaks occur. 

Opting for bright coloured vinyl flooring will make everything pop, the retro furniture, pastel coloured additions and everything else, will just come together perfectly! Trust us!

However, if you are struggling to find the right flooring for you then Magnet kitchens have a retro kitchen quiz dedicated to helping you create the perfect kitchen space specifically to your taste. From what type of flooring you would prefer, to retro colour schemes, and unique features, the quiz generates all your answers into the perfect recommended kitchen for you. Magnet kitchens can then take you directly to the flooring that perfectly fits your needs. It’s like having your very own personal shopper! Forget where the days were personal shopping experiences were all in store, you can do this virtually now!

Renovating your kitchen doesn’t have to be a long and complicated process, and instead by using our top tips and online resources, such as Magnet’s quiz, you can easily create the kitchen of your dreams that suits your lifestyle, with a big dollop of retro nostalgia.