England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland
Interiors
Pinterest’s ‘Kitschen’ Trend
How to embrace nostalgic design in your home
By Matthew Currington, Technical Director, The Lighting Superstore
According to Pinterest Predicts, nostalgic design or “Kitschens” is going to be a big interiors trend for 2024.
Inspired by a design trend of the past – and popular with Boomers and Gen X - it involves reimaging 1920s Art Deco, mid-century modern styles of the 1950s and 60s, and the bright and bold taste of the 1980s and 90s to bring memories back to life and invoke a sense of nostalgia.
Creating comfort and familiarity, aesthetic appeal and a sense of cultural revival is what drives this popular trend. But it is important to embrace modern features to appeal to a contemporary audience too.
So, how can you create nostalgic design in your home?
#1 Let colours abound
If you have modern taste, use vibrant colours but in a contemporary style. Growing search volume for eclectic kitchen décor on Pinterest showcases how colourful kitchens are embracing the colours of the past but with modern designs and finishes.
#2 Refresh your vintage look
However, if love the vintage look you already have, but you’re looking to refresh your kitchen, consider repainting kitchen cabinets in soft pastel pinks, blues, greens or yellows typical of the 20s and 30s. Mixing two or three colours in one room is very effective.
If painting isn’t your thing, you could look to incorporate patterned tiles typical of the 80s, likely to make a statement in juxtaposition to modern, sleek kitchen units.
#3 Shine your neon lights
Invest in 1950s diner-tyle stools to complete the look and seek out retro pendant style lights if you have a kitchen island. With modern smart lights on the market today, bring neon lighting into the mix – which is especially fun when entertaining guests and is typical of the American diner but with a 1930s twist.
#4 Embrace flamboyance and Hollywood glam
To embrace nostalgic design in bathrooms, make use of flamboyant wall papers to fill the room with colour. If wallpapers are out of budget, DIY wall panelling is a relatively quick, easy and affordable way to add colour to a previously dull room.
Decorative items like scalloped lampshades for wall lights, scalloped mirrors, vibrant indoor greenery, colourful rugs or handtowels and flower arrangements bring authenticity to the look. For example, fans of 1920s Hollywood glamour will love recreating the backstage dressing room aesthetic with Hollywood style mirrors.
#5 Make the finer details count
Finer details are key in successfully incorporating nostalgic design into your home, so you don’t have to completely change a room. For example, art-deco prints, flashy colourful doorknobs, retro kitchen appliances and gilded 1980s light switches are very effective.
The Lighting Superstore
#6 Thrift shop till you drop
Finally, take your time and remember to upcycle. Perusing charity, vintage and antique shops for furniture, retro light fittings and other decorative bargains will help you achieve your nostalgic design. Sofas can easily be reupholstered in a fabric of your choice while fulfilling the structural look typical of another era. Or, vintage frames can be repurposed for modern artworks.
Matthew Currington, Technical Director
