Retro Bedding

By Stacy Taylor

Choosing a retro bedding ensemble to enhance bedroom décor makes a bold statement about the type of person who sleeps there. The latest styles marry sleek new textures and fabrics with whimsical details from past eras to make any bedroom more inviting. From the wild and chaotic 60s to the fun and funky 70s, going back in time has never been more exciting.

Defining Retro Decor

Most of the time, retro decorating refers to a fusion of outdated styles and modern trends. In general, people love the funky designs and colors from previous times but may prefer more modern fabrics. Retro can also mean a design scheme using only vintage items and materials rather than mass-produced replicas of bygone times. Either way, your bedroom design is an excellent venue in which to revisit past eras. A great way to get started is by designing your own retro bedding scheme.

Retro Bedding Design Elements

There are a lot of factors to consider when it comes to choosing a retro ensemble for your bedroom. Bedding elements, themes, colors, patterns, and accessories are all important in creating the perfect atmosphere to highlight your personality as well as your creativity.

Bedding Ensemble Items

Retro bedding can include many different components, or it can be as simple as sheets and a bedcover. Here are a few items to consider:

Bed skirts
Bedspreads
Blankets
Comforters
Duvet covers
Euro shams
Neck roll pillows
Pillow shams
Pillows
Quilts
Sheets

Colors

Fortunately, retro design incorporates a huge array of colors, both traditional and non-traditional. There is no wrong choice and even clashing colors have a place in retro bedding design.

The post-war 1950s were all about streamlined shapes and mood-lifting colors. Bedroom design stood apart from the fledgling avocado and lemon color schemes of the kitchen with the incorporation of bright pastels and beiges. Bright pink and sunshine yellow bedding was common for girls' bedrooms while bright blue, green, and brown bedding was popular for boys' bedrooms.
By the dawn of the 1960s, bedding colors had become more avant-garde and fun. The brighter shades of the 50s evolved into eye-popping psychedelic patterns and boldly intense single hues. Hot pink, aqua, turquoise, red, orange, black, brilliant yellow, and mustard green were popular in bedroom design.
The bedding colors of the mid- to late 1970s reflect America's post-Vietnam War sense of relief. Fresh hues like mint green and coral were developed to complement the bold shades of the 60s, resulting in a softer appearance. Later in the decade, earth tones such as deep brown, dark green and rusty orange were introduced into bedding colors.

Patterns

In addition to color, patterns were a big part of past era bedding design. This trend began in the 1940s and became a mainstay all through the mid-twentieth century. From stylized themes to random images, patterns lend an air of authenticity to all retro bedding components. Check out these pattern ideas from the 50s, 60s, and 70s:

Patterns of the 50s included floral designs, fruit images, and elegant geometric shapes. For kids: circus scenes, cowboys, spaceships, puppies, kittens, and bunnies were used to jazz up ordinary bedding.
Floral motifs were still popular in the 60s, but with a more stylized and impressionistic approach. Other popular patterns were peace signs, large and colorful daisy prints, checkerboard prints, psychedelic swirls and whorls, and classic Mondrian shapes (grid-based designs).
During the 70s, the "tie dye" trend became popular in bedding as well as in fashion. Faux fur animal print bedding also emerged during this era, and children's bedclothes included fictional themes like the Smurfs, Peanuts, and Star Wars scenes.

More Retro Bedding Ideas

For more retro décor and design ideas, check out the links listed below. Whatever bedding scheme you choose, don't forget to have a good time designing your new bedroom.