How to Make a Kitschy Dining Room

Pick a decade. Kitschy decor generally revolves around some of the more cringe-worth trends that make you wonder what people were thinking. Each decade has its own kitsch. For example, the 1970s had geometric shapes with bold patterns and colors, while the 1950s thrived on pastels, florals and Americana. Choose the decade that's nearest and dearest to your heart, or perhaps the decade that reflects the architecture of your home.

Choose flooring for your room if you are replacing your old flooring. For much of the 20th century, linoleum would have been the standard flooring. Thanks to the growing interest in vintage and retro styles, many patterns from decades gone by are available again. Black and white checkered floors are an excellent option for '50s and '60s dining rooms. Hardwood will never steer you wrong, and you can dress it up with an area rug such as a green '70s shag rug or a black and white geometric 60s mod print.

Paint your walls a color that is the hallmark of the era and style you're going for. Pre-1950s should be white, while pastels like turquoise and cotton candy pink were the rage in the '50s when more colors became available. Alternately, use a geometric patterned wallpaper or wood paneling.

Select a dining room set made out of heavy, solid wood that has been stained to a rich color. Alternately, furnishings made of laminated veneers were in vogue once they became available, especially in shades of crisp white or shiny black. Get matching chairs; complete sets were preferred to collecting eclectic pieces.

Hang a light fixture, such as a gaudy chandelier with low quality imitation crystals and fake electric candles. Alternately, go with a "modern" painted aluminum fixture and sleek, ceiling-mounted frosted globe.

Put up window treatments in layers. Start with a cheap shade that has gold trim glued across the bottom. Hang panels in bold prints that were the sign of the times, and tie them back with braided ropes. Layer that with a heavy scalloped valance. Add tassels, tiebacks, ruffles and fringe as a bonus kitsch.

Research the popular artists of the decade, and try to incorporate some replicas of their artwork. Lithography allowed the work of pop artists, such as Roy Lichtenstein or Andy Warhol, to be mass manufactured. Go all out with the artwork if you really want to be daring. Nothing says kitschy like an Elvis painted on velvet, or a replica painting of "Dogs Playing Poker."

Rummage through thrift shops, flea markets and antique stores for brick-a-brack to display. Seek out tacky yet quirky mass-produced pieces that resemble things you've seen in old movies and TV shows. Put a big bowl of waxed fruit studded with pearly beads on the table as a centerpiece, and hang a black and white cat clock on the wall. Flank sideboards with cheap knock-off statues of maidens in togas bearing Grecian urns or overly dressed Victorians painted in pastel hues. Go wild and have a sense of humor as you make your selections.