How to Make a Retro Kitchen

Look through magazines and books or visit museums to find visual references for your retro decorating era. Retro styles stretch from the early 20th century up through the '80s or '90s. Doing this research will help you settle on a retro style and help you determine the kinds of furniture and accessories to buy for your kitchen.

Paint in retro colors. Paint colors not only reflect an era's fashion trends, but also the availability of certain pigments during a particular time. Many modern paint colors that didn't exist or weren't popular during certain eras. Choose paint colors that were common in your retro era to set a tone of authenticity. Paint the cabinets and walls with these colors. Choose trim colors from the same era.

Find kitchen furniture that comes from your retro era. Scout second hand and antique stores as well as online sites such as eBay to find retro pieces. If you're decorating in the '50s style, for example, buy chrome kitchen chairs with vinyl seats. Look for Art Deco tables made of solid wood with metal inlays.

Look for accent pieces that fit your retro-style kitchen. These items can include Felix the Cat clocks, Betty Boop cookie jars, sunrise clocks and Fiesta Ware dishes. Hang these items on the walls, display them on the top of the refrigerator or place them in your open-faced cupboards.

Select the right kind of appliances for the era. For example, chrome milkshake makers were popular during the 1950s. Many people used hand-held flour sifters during the '30s and '40s. Howdy Doody cookie jars sat on many counters in the post-World War II years.