Retro inspired colors refer to shades and palettes that were popular in past decades, usually from the 1950s to 1980s. They evoke a sense of nostalgia and vintage aesthetics. Some key aspects of retro color palettes include:
– Vibrant, saturated hues like electric blue, acid green, hot pink, and sunflower yellow
– Earth tones like avocado green, harvest gold, and burnt orange
– Pastels like powder blue, peach, and lilac
– Neons like bright pink, lime green, and purple
– Metallics like gold, rose gold, and silver
Retro color schemes tend to be bold, playful and psychedelic. They are widely used in fashion, interior design, graphic design, photography, and more to achieve a funky, nostalgic vibe.
History of Retro Color Trends
Here’s an overview of popular retro color palettes through the decades:
1950s:
The 1950s were characterized by bright, cheerful pastels and deeper shades like turquoise, pink, mint green, pale yellow, and coral. These reflected the suburban culture and midcentury modern style of the era.
1960s:
The 1960s brought bolder, more electric colors inspired by pop art and psychedelia. Bright reds, royal blues, acid greens, and oranges were popular. Towards the late 60s, earth tones like burnt orange, avocado green and rust also emerged.
1970s:
The 70s took inspiration from nature with earthy tones like harvest gold, mustard yellow, rust orange, and forest green. Pastels also remained popular, often paired with these earth tones.
1980s:
In the 80s, neon hues had a major moment. Bright pink, electric blue, purple, and lime green were widely seen. Metallic colors like gold, silver, bronze and copper were also prevalent.
Common Retro Color Palettes
Here are some of the most popular retro color combinations seen in fashion, design, photography and more:
1950s Pastels
– Mint green, pale pink, light blue, lavender
– Peach, yellow, robin’s egg blue, salmon
1960s Psychedelic
– Electric blue, magenta, acid green, tangerine
– Royal blue, bright red, hot pink, sunny yellow
1970s Earth Tones
– Harvest gold, avocado green, rust orange, chocolate brown
– Mustard yellow, terracotta, olive green, taupe
1980s Neons
– Bright pink, lime green, purple, cyan
– Hot pink, turquoise, acid yellow, electric blue
1980s Metallics
– Rose gold, silver, copper, bronze
– Gold, pewter, metallic purple, gunmetal gray
Using Retro Color Trends in Fashion
The vibrant, nostalgic nature of retro color palettes make them perfect for fashion. Here are some ways they are incorporated in clothing and accessories:
– Statement pieces: Coats, purses, shoes and jewelry in metallic rose gold, bright neon pink, or pastel mint green.
– Prints and patterns: Retro floral prints, geometric mod prints, or abstract psychedelic prints in bold retro colors.
– Color blocking: Pairing bright solids like electric blue with pastels like peach or yellow.
– Ombre: Fading from a neon shade to an earth tone, like pink to brown.
– Monochrome: Wearing different shades and textures in one retro color like burnt orange or forest green.
– Accessories: Belts, sunglasses, hats and other accessories that complement retro inspired outfits.
Using Retro Colors in Home Decor
Retro color schemes are also popular in interior design for creating a funky, nostalgic ambiance. Some ways to use them include:
– Accent walls: Paint a single wall in a bold retro shade like mustard yellow, teal or magenta.
– Furniture: Vintage or modern furniture like tables, chairs and couches upholstered in retro hues. Metallic finishes also add flair.
– Wall art: Framed prints and posters splashed in neon or pastels. Geometric and abstract designs work well.
– Appliances: Update a fridge, toaster or kitchen mixer in a retro color like turquoise or pink.
– Tableware: Plates, cups, utensils in retro prints or solids for a funky dining table.
– Lighting: Pendant lights, table lamps or wall sconces with colored glass or shades.
– Rugs and pillows: Rugs with psychedelic prints and throw pillows in earth tones or metallics.
– Plants: Houseplants with foliage or planters in shades like burnt orange, olive green and mustard yellow.
Retro Color Palettes for Graphic Design
Vibrant retro color combinations are also ideal for graphic design projects needing a funky, vibrant look:
– Logos: Brand logos featuring neon colors like hot pink or electric blue.
– Posters: Gig posters, movie posters using 60s inspired psychedelic colors.
– Album covers: Music album covers with earth tones, metallics or color blocking.
– Magazine layouts: Article layouts incorporating pastel colors or duo-chromes.
– Packaging: Product boxes and packages with retro inspired graphics.
– Website design: Websites with neon accents, Memphis style elements.
– Advertisements: Vintage looking ads using art deco color palettes.
– Stickers and enamel pins: Cool merchandise like stickers, pins, badges using retro color schemes.
Picking Retro Color Combinations
When selecting retro color palettes, here are some tips for creating appealing combinations:
– Choose 1-2 bright statement colors like neon pink or electric blue. Use these in smaller doses.
– Combine with 2-3 muted earth tones like olive green, terracotta, or mustard. These are easier on the eyes.
– Add a metallic like rose gold, silver or copper for shine.
– Use lighter pastels to soften and balance bold colors.
– Look for colors with retro associations like avocado green, burnt orange or lilac.
– Complementary colors like blue and orange or purple and yellow create vibrancy.
– Avoid matching tones and go for contrasting hues instead. This creates visual interest.
– Limit to 4-5 core colors in a scheme for balance.
Conclusion
Retro color palettes take inspiration from fun, vibrant decades like the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s. They utilize saturated brights, earthy tones, light pastels and shiny metallics for a bold, funky and nostalgic aesthetic. These versatile color schemes work beautifully in fashion, interior design, graphic design and more. By picking colors with retro associations and combining in harmonious, complementary ways, anyone can achieve the perfect retro color palette.
