Creating a Retro Look at Home

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It's no small secret that the retro look is very much in fashion right now, although some may like it more than others. If you're one of those who love it then you're probably interested in learning how to creatively bring this retro flare into your home.

To this end, here are a few things you might want to look into.

Colour

Anyone who's even remotely familiar with the retro theme will know that it heavily involves colour. Retro is many things, but it's rarely dull. Adding a splash of colour can make a big difference. White and primary colours are often used, for instance.

This can be done in virtually any room. Whether it's adding coloured, retro-themed glassware in your kitchen or new wallpaper in any of your rooms, this is an effect that isn't hard to achieve. It can also be cheap too. For example, taking a quick look into Sainsbury's pocket sprung mattress range will generate at least a few cheap options to brighten up any bedroom.

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Geek chic

When it comes to being retro, you need the right geek chic that links back to what you like about the retro movement. Is it old pop culture, comic books or video games that interest you, for instance? If you know what area of retro you like then you can find the right ways to decorate the home using this for inspiration.

Posters and canvases are a popular choice, as they can easily exemplify any look that you're trying to create. Old posters and comic book covers are becoming quintessential artwork for the modern home. This can both represent your tastes and tie into any colourful theme in the room.

You may want to be careful, of course, to not go too far into art-deco and pop-art themes. The likes of Roy Lichtenstein images utilise strong primary colour and comic book art but this doesn't automatically mean it is retro.

At the end of the day, retro is a very broad term. What it means in relation to your home is entirely up to you and while some people want to go all-out, others might just want a small flare here and there.

The choice is always yours but, as should hopefully be seen, it doesn't take much to introduce a little more retro flavour into any home.

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This is a guest post by Sainsbury’s. If you’re looking to inject some retro flair into your home then Sainsbury's have a great range of products and furnishings to help, including fantastic bed linen to go with

Ikea. I Don't Mean to be Rude but, Shut Up and Take My Money!!!

Sweet baby Jesus. Ikea have brought back their first ever piece of flat pack furniture. The table that started it all. The one, the only Lovbacken side table. First released in 1956 she's a work of mid-century perfection.  

Ive looked high and low for tables like this, and picked up a few in my time. The slanty legs, the Formica type wooden top, it's just beautiful. I want one. And it's only £40.   The tables I've seen before are vintage, but usually badly marked and more expensive than that. I hate the go-to comparison of Mad Men era, but this is about as Mad Men as you can get. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if you were fighting Don Draper in the pick up aisle for the last flat pack.

Ikea Belfast have them in stock already, alternatively check out Ikea Online. 

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My Horrendously Kitsch New Coffee Table

I'm not quite sure about this yet. I had a beautiful, wooden, Eames' era coffee table which was in as new condition when my Mum bought me it three years ago. Now it's bashed to bits, thanks to having a toddler.

I have a boat shaped cocktail bar, so this pirate themed, glass coffee table, with removable (sea) legs should match that. If I'm missing my wooden one too much I can just mount the table top above the boat bar as a wall plaque instead.

Ugly Duckling Revamped Furniture

When Ruth & Phill bought their first house two and a half years ago, they couldn't splash out on new furniture for their new pad.
Instead they took to the auction houses & charity shops and made over simple pieces to furnish their home.

They discovered a flair for revamping second-hand furniture & took their new passion to vintage fairs around Northern Ireland. Find them at www.AtHomeWithUglyDuckling.co.uk

ReFound Furniture Exhibition Space, Belfast

7 Wellington Place, Belfast is the new home of ReFound, and to celebrate they are holding a exhibition of their vintage furniture. The event is open to all and takes place on the 20th September from 6pm to 9pm.

I've yet to visit ReFound myself, but I'm always seeing people's amazing photos of their furniture pop up on Facebook and Pinterest. Definitely worth popping along to visit them.
http://www.refoundonline.com/

The World of Kitsch Invades Ikea Belfast

Ikea are celebrating 25 years in the UK this October. As part of the celebrations they've asked me to makeover some of their basic furniture pieces, to show visitors to the Belfast store how anyone can easily customise furniture at home themselves.

They will also be running in store workshops with Lulabelle's House, who's class I took last year and made over a telephone table. So if you are keen to try some arty DIY yourself, keep an eye on the signage in store for dates of workshops.

I'm looking forward to getting stuck into the decorating. In the meantime if you want to see some World of Kitsch art, I still have my light boxes on display at Crafty Belfast in T13 in the Titanic Quarter.