How to Decorate a House With '50s Glamour

Refinish your walls in a 1950s pastel paint color such as turquoise, mint green, pale yellow or blue. Some of these colors are too much for an entire room, so think about painting the room a neutral tone, and then use a bright 1950s tone for an accent wall. Black and white was another popular color scheme during the 1950s that you could work into your paint color choices.

Hang '50s-era window treatments featuring bold patterns such as stripes, polka dots and atomic graphics to complement your newly painted walls. If you want to incorporate some 1950s glamour without going overboard, try using these fabrics to make a few throw pillow covers for the pillows on your couch. This option is a good way to add a '50s theme without clashing with modern tastes.

Furnish your room with Scandinavian-inspired pieces featuring organic shapes and light-colored wood. Other styles of furniture popular during the 1950s include vinyl chairs, chrome-legged tables and laminated plywood pieces. To add a bit of 1950s flair to an otherwise modern room, place a classic '50s-era end table on either side of a simple leather sofa.

Install a black-and-white or red-and-white checkered floor, or paint the existing linoleum or vinyl flooring in your kitchen. If you choose to paint your floor, cover it with six to eight coats of polyurethane to protect your work from peeling and water damage.

Accessorize your home by adding metal or wooden atomic clocks, melamine dishes and decorative glassware to your mantel tops and end tables. Select pieces featuring bright colors to flow with the 1950s theme. If you prefer to add a bit of 1950s glamour to a room that's otherwise modern in decor, try using a few colorful accessories as accent pieces to brighten up the space.

Place 1950s-style lamps on your end tables. Lamps during this era were meant to be decorative as well as functional, so select something sculptural with a patterned shade. Geometric shapes and bold color patterns were popular themes for the fabric or fiberglass parchment shades that topped most lamps during the 1950s.

Replace the appliances in your kitchen with vintage appliances or modern ones with a chrome finish. Select chrome or stainless-steel accessories and other small appliances such as toasters, bread bins and canisters to complete the 1950s feel in your kitchen.

Hang vintage prints and photos or 1950s-era advertisements as wall art in your home.