"Modern Retro" Is the Mood of the Moment, and These 5 Designer Schemes Got the Memo

Think rich woods, deep reds, burnt oranges, and a surprise hit of blue for nostalgic, yet contemporary design

Living room with traditional mural on walls, blue-green velvet sofa, burr wood coffee table
(Image credit: Pablo Enriquez. Design: Night Palm)

You can get a real sense of how people are feeling, and what they're craving, by the interiors trends of the moment — which is why the current appetite for nostalgic, modern retro decor is so interesting. It speaks to a collective need for comfort, warmth, and a yearning for a rose-tinted past.

And designers are delivering with schemes that embody modern retro decor in all its glory – think warm, earthy palettes of reds, yellows and oranges, materials like rich woods and stones layered together, and pattern brought in through a decorative mural, a prized landscape painting, a tortoiseshell vase. It's the interior design trend we can't get enough of.

Feeling the nostalgia yet? If not, you soon will — scroll on for the best retro room schemes around.

1. Balance out warm colors with a hit of cool

Living room with magnolia walls, muted blue rug, wood coffee table, yellow sofa and burgundy armchairs

(Image credit: William Jess Laird. Design by In Common With)

Lighting brand In Common With opened its showroom in a Tribeca loft in 2024 in time for NYCxDesign, and this space within is full of retro decor ideas – not least the color palette, with its ochre, burnt orange, burgundy and magnolia.

It might be the muted blue rug that's the most interesting part, though. Without it, the scheme would feel cocooning but a little one-note; instead, the addition of the carpet offers an opposing cool tone that imbues the room with a soft energy.

2. Layer rich and extravagant materials

Burr wood and blue marble in a kitchen

(Image credit: Clemente Vergara. Design by Tatjana von Stein)

In this private event box at Ascot Racecourse by Tatjana von Stein, burled wood is undoubtedly a huge driver of the nostalgic mood; the designer combines it with red-toned parquet flooring and blue stone surfaces to deepen the richness of the scheme. "We [were] inspired by the racecourse – the colors of the grass and the jockeys’ tops," says Tatjana.

It's through materials, however, that the nostalgia is really delivered. "I think beyond the colors it might be the extravagant use of burr wood paneling, the marble counter, and an overall slight nod to the Art Deco era that transports you — which was our aim, to walk into a little world as you enter this private space and what tends to be a day of revelry," says Tatjana.

3. Take cues from vintage-inspired patterns

Living room with traditional mural on walls, blue-green velvet sofa, burr wood coffee table

(Image credit: Pablo Enriquez. Design by Night Palm)

Retro room ideas often reference classic vintage patterns or mural-style wallcoverings: the pieces in this scheme by LA design studio Night Palm were influenced by the wallpaper from Pierre Frey. The result is a soft, almost sepia-toned palette, brought up to date by the the grey-blue sheen of the living room sectional sofa.

"The palette was inspired by Italian cinema and a 90s floral Gucci editorial," says the studio’s founder, Tiffany Howell. "Our Pierre Frey wall covering was the starting point, which we pulled throughout the space." The use of warm, vintage-inspired colors – "sun faded and washed out tones such as greens and soft rose" – along with layered materiality, creates a "dreamlike romanticism," she adds.

4. Add a retro twist to a darker, moodier scheme

Dining room with dark green walls, red table and sculptural wood chairs

(Image credit: Shade Degges. Design by Studio Montemayor)

Rather than build on a warm neutral backdrop, Studio Montemayor chose a deep green for the walls and ceiling here – neutrals are instead offered through the carpet and sheer curtains – while the red of the nostalgic palette is drawn in through the table and chairs. "Colors have long been used to evoke emotion, and the red and green to create a comforting environment and draw the residents in," says principal Regina Perez Montemayor.

Rich, deep color trends are key to modern retro decor, Regina adds. "They trigger nostalgia because they are colors of our past — colors used in old master oil paintings, old photographs from our childhood, and more simply colors found in nature."

5. Use 'unexpected' color to bring the look up to date

Bedroom with red and blue quilt, dark red and pink curtains and deep blue cushion

(Image credit: Chris Mottalini. Design by Prospect Refuge)

In this houseboat scheme by Minneapolis studio Prospect Refuge, red and beige tones are interrupted by a cobalt cushion. The pink curtain is something of an interrupter too, acting as a scheme- and mood-brightener. "Enveloping, cozy and comfortable, the mix of patterns and the unexpected blue keep the scheme from being monotonous," says designer and founder Victoria Sass.

While the teak original to the boat has aged to a warm, rust tone, Victoria wanted to add a twist. "Playing into more of a purple undertone for the textiles feels playful and irreverent," she explains. "It's my personal opinion that purple goes with just about everything. I wanted it to feel like a space that had come together and been collected over a lifetime of travels."

Ellen Finch
Deputy Editor (Print)

Ellen is deputy editor of Livingetc magazine. She works with our fabulous art and production teams to publish the monthly print title, which features the most inspiring homes around the globe, interviews with leading designers, reporting on the hottest trends, and shopping edits of the best new pieces to refresh your space. Before Livingetc she was deputy editor at Real Homes, and has also written for titles including Homes & Gardens and Gardeningetc. Being surrounded by so much inspiration makes it tricky to decide what to do first in her own flat – a pretty nice problem to have, really. In her spare time, Ellen can be found pottering around in her balcony garden, reading her way through her overstacked bookshelf or planning her next holiday.