While some decorating themes go out of style, many come back in with a vengeance!  Today, a retro 1950′s style kitchen is back and better than ever.  Known for a clean look and bright colors, the look brings to mind those old diners like those featured in the television show Happy Days and the movie American Graffiti.  If you are looking to give your kitchen a vintage look, the tips and ideas below will help.

First things first

Before you get down to the details, your retro style kitchen should be open, bright and airy so you want to avoid clutter.  Remove those things you do not use on a regular basis, and put the knick-knacks away.

Instead of wooden cabinet doors, replace them with glass fronts so that you can put your old or vintage dishes on display.  A checkerboard pattern on the floor designed with black and white tiles is appealing and adds to the retro look.  Consider adding a mezzanine so that one area of your kitchen is elevated, complete with two or three steps for easy access to that level.

The dining room is plain and simple

The dining furnishings used in a 1950′s setting are simple and often crafted of vinyl, Formica and chrome.  If you have a bar area suitable for eating, add red vinyl stools for sitting.  A Formica topped table flanked with vinyl seating and chrome tube legs adds further authenticity to the look.  The look is modern and clean.  If you want to cover the table with a tablecloth, vinyl in a checked red and white pattern or solid color adds to the look.  Top with a white vase filled with red and white flowers, and an old-style chrome napkin holder.

Appliances may be hard to find, but don’t despair

Finding those appliances that were actually made in the 1950′s may prove a difficult task, and it would be especially hard to find them in condition to work and that you can depend upon.

There are plenty of vintage-style pieces you can find that were made in recent years but designed to look like those from the 50′s.  To really accomplish the retro look, find stoves and refrigerators in bright colors such as red or yellow.

Decorate the walls to complete the look

For the walls, nothing is better for achieving a retro 1950′s look than a chalkboard, complete with the menu for the day.  Old tin signs add further to the appeal; find some large black and white photographs or prints and frame them in black or chrome.

Accessorize your kitchen with a vintage inspired toaster, blender and canister set.  Display clear milk shake glasses in your cabinets, along with a few clear glass coffee mugs on a hanging rack.  If you have the money, go all the way and invest in a juke box!

Always keep in mind that black, white and red are the basic colors when it comes to giving your kitchen a 1950′s retro look.  Have fun with it!

If you’re searching for a great new theme for your kitchen, what about black-and-white retro? Yes, this is a retro theme from way back when, but this style has become a classic. If you’re considering a retro theme for your kitchen, then here are some tips to get you started.

Use Red as an Accent Color in the Kitchen
Use red as an accent color along with the black and white to make your retro kitchen look more authentic. By adding touches of red, you can bring some interest and color to the room while still maintaining the retro feeling. Have you ever seen a black-and-white diner or kitchen from years ago? They almost always incorporate red into the design. However much red you use in the kitchen is entirely up to you. Either save it for smaller items such as placemats and window treatments, or use it more broadly, such as for a backsplash or the color of a wall.

Flooring Options for a Retro Kitchen
If you’re designing a retro kitchen, one of your best flooring options is a black-and-white tiled floor. You can definitely enhance that retro look by creating an alternating pattern of black and white tiles, which will give the room that old-diner feel. If you’re working with a limited budget, look for laminate flooring with a black-and-white checkered pattern. If you can, try to avoid wood flooring in a black-and-white retro kitchen, but if you really want to go with wood floors, then go with a darker-colored wood. You can always add at least one area rug with black, white, or red in it to complement the retro look.

Cabinets for a Retro Kitchen
As with the flooring, it’s best to stay away from wooden cabinets. A better option is to paint the cabinets white. Or, if you feel daring, paint them black. Just be sure it fits with your wall color. Use silver retro pull handles to add accents to the cabinets. A great way to get really creative is to make your own one-of-a-kind cabinet pulls, hand painting them with a checkered or geometric design.

Choosing Appliances for a Retro Kitchen
White was the standard for refrigerators back in the day, and thus most kitchens, in turn, had white appliances. These days there are so many different options for appliances that you can play around with the different choices. Stainless steel appliances, for instance, would look great with a retro kitchen style. If you haven’t used that much black in the rest of the room, you might also go with black appliances. Don’t strictly limit yourself to retro options, as you can easily add a modern twist to your black-and-white retro kitchen.

If you’re looking to give your kitchen a unique style, a black-and-white retro theme can be a great way to decorate your kitchen. Just be sure to keep the room comfortable and inviting as well as stylish, as your family will be spending a lot of time in there.