Introduction
Vintage style never goes out of fashion. Whether you live in a historic home or a modern apartment, bringing some old-world charm to your kitchen can give it a cozy, timeless feel. From antique cupboards to retro appliances, there are countless ways to infuse vintage flair into your cooking space.
Below are a dozen ideas to help you make your kitchen look straight out of the past. With just a few simple changes, you can give your kitchen an irresistible vintage vibe that family and friends will adore.
Choose Vintage-Inspired Cabinets
One of the easiest ways to add old-fashioned appeal to your kitchen is by installing cupboards with classic styling. Look for cabinet doors made of reclaimed wood in distressed finishes for a rustic farmhouse look. Glass-front cabinets with brass hardware have an Art Deco elegance, while painted cabinets in muted tones evoke French country charm.
Investing in vintage-inspired cabinets makes a major impact because they take up so much visual space. Opt for ones with timeless details like exposed hinges, carved panels, and scalloped edges for panache. Mixing open shelving with traditional upper cabinets also helps strike the right balance between vintage and modern.
Display Vintage Kitchenware
Filling your cupboards with retro kitchen tools, dinnerware, and appliances is a fun way to cultivate old-timey appeal. Search flea markets, antique stores, and online shops for vintage utensils, tea towels, mixer stands, and more.
Display your finds openly in glass cabinets or on shelves to highlight their nostalgic style. Stack classic white dishes next to cognac glassware. Hang weathered copper pots from ceiling rails. Place a clawfoot cake stand at the end of your countertop.
Let vintage kitchenware spark fond memories while giving your cooking space oodles of old-fashioned flair.
Style with Vintage Signage
Add a dash of yesteryear charm by decorating your kitchen walls with antique-looking signage. Think classic enamel signs advertising food brands, soda shops, bakeries, and country general stores. Or put up custom signs with cheeky vintage slogans related to cooking, drinking, and dining.
Distressed wooden signs featuring retro fonts have a timeworn look, as do painted metal signs with deliciously antiqued patinas. You can also display old tin advertisements rescued from flea markets. Cluster various sizes of signs forvisual interest.
Vintage-style signage infuses your kitchen with nostalgic character. Let signs with quirky retro messaging reflect your own lighthearted personality too.
Install a Retro Refrigerator
Swap out your modern stainless steel fridge for a splash of 1950s or 60s kitsch. Brands like Smeg and Big Chill make retro-style refrigerators mimicking styles from the mid-20th century.
Models with curved corners and playful colors like mint green, pink, or turquoise create an eye-catching focal point. Or opt for a classic white fridge with chrome accents and sleek lines for timeless appeal.
For extra authenticity, find an old working fridge from the postwar era to restore. Seek out desirable vintage brands like General Electric, Frigidaire, or Westinghouse. Add custom handles or hardware if needed to perfect the retro look.
Choose Vintage-Inspired Hardware
Take your kitchen’s vintage vibe up a notch by adorning cabinets and drawers with period-appropriate hardware. Antiqued brass, copper, or nickel pulls and knobs have an irresistible old-world look.
Look for styles such as keyhole plates, ceramic knobs, or glass crystal pulls common from the 1910s to the 1950s. Replacing modern brushed steel hardware with vintage designs makes a noticeable impact.
Visit antique stores to find authentic period hardware salvaged from old homes and buildings. Or purchase new hardware styled after vintage looks from companies like Anthropologie and Restoration Hardware.
Let hardware that appears aged and imperfect complete your kitchen’s vintage essence.
Incorporate an Apron Sink
For a farmhouse twist, install a vintage-look apron sink as the focal point of your kitchen. Also called farmhouse sinks, apron sinks have an exposed front panel that replaces a slab countertop across part of the base cabinet.
Stainless steel apron sinks with a brushed finish have an industrial feel, while enameled cast iron models come in soft vintage colors like sea foam green or daffodil yellow. Fireclay sinks with a slightly uneven glaze mimic antique ceramic styles.
Pair your apron sink with vintage plumbing fixtures like cross handles or a retractable sprayer for a harmonious look. The exposed sink design itself makes a statement and brings undeniable old-timey appeal.
Add Open Shelving
Open shelving instantly gives kitchens a retro diner feel. The airy, open design showcases glassware, dishes, cookbooks, and decor in a casual display. Built-in shelving saves space in small kitchens too.
Paint the shelves, brackets, and wall a fun pop of color to contrast your cabinetry. Or give the wood a weathered whitewash for a vintage garden room vibe.
Open shelves work especially well when mixed with some traditional cabinetry. Try doing shelving just across your stove, sink, or another highly visible spot. Then fill the shelves with your loveliest vintage kitchenware finds!
Install a Butlers Pantry or Bar Cart
For added vintage character, incorporate a butler’s pantry or bar cart into your kitchen’s layout. These ancillary spaces are back in style and create a nice visual division from main work zones.
A butler’s pantry traditionally functions as a staging area between the kitchen and dining room. Fill yours with glass-front cabinets for displaying antique china and linens. Addopen shelving above for vintage cake stands.
Bar carts offer movable storage and prep space. Stylingone with bottles of bourbon or vermouth and vintage glasswaremakes a bold, nostalgic statement. Let it store your go-to drink mixing supplies too.
Either addition lends distinctive retro flair!
Style with Vintage Fabrics
Don’t overlook the power of textiles for complementing your kitchen’s vintage style. Tea towels, aprons, and curtains made from floral, striped, or gingham fabrics scream retro charm.
Display glassware in open cabinets against a backdrop of patterned scrapbook paper or gift wrap featuring retro motifs.
Make chair cushions, seat covers, or tablecloths from vintage grain sack fabrics or feedsackcloth in cheerful 30s and 40s prints. Reuse the fabric of old dresses or shirts for a more sustainable DIY approach too.
Lastly, don’t forget cheerful cafe curtains in stripes or ginghams at your windows to complete the old-fashioned look!
Source Retro Decor Items
Amp up your vintage design by decorating with pieces that recall the 1930s through the 1960s. Combo antique shop finds with vintage reproductions available online and in stores.
Search for antique kitchen scales, flour and sugar canisters, juicers, salt and pepper shakers, egg beaters, and pitcher sets. Cluster them on open shelves or group atop a butcher block cart.
Pick accent pieces like a distressed metal colander, painted rolling pin, or porcelain mixing bowls. Arrange them decoratively when not in use.
Use colors and materials of the era too. Opt for robin’s egg blue, sunny yellow, or mint green. IncorporateFormica, enamelware, chrome details, bakelite plastic, and brushed brass. Creating mindful vintage vignettes makes your kitchen feel curated.
Choose Checkered Flooring
Lending a retro diner aesthetic, black-and-white checkered flooring screams 1950s nostalgia. Vinyl composite tile (VCT) offers this classic look affordably. Or splurge on vintage-look ceramic tile or linoleum.
Pair with coordinating countertops for a seamless retro feel. Black granite, white quartz, or stainless steel work nicely.
For a more subtle approach, install black-and-white checkerboard tile as an accent in just part of your kitchen. Use it underneath or as a backsplash behind your range for maximum visual impact.
Let the timeless pattern set the tone for your vintage space.
Utilize Mid-century Modern Furnishings
Furnish your kitchen with iconic mid-century modern pieces to enhance the vintage ambience. Mix curved, molded shell chairs with spindle-legged stools for eclectic appeal.
An oval Tulip table contrasts nicely with rugged farmhouse cabinets. Pop in bright molded plastic Eames chairs. Include a sputnik chandelier or starburst clock.
Many retailers now carry reproductions of popular mid-century designs. Find authentic antiques on sites like Chairish and 1stDibs – but prepare to splurge for icons like eggshell seat Eames chairs or Nelson platform benches.
Let these furnishings transport your kitchen to the space age era in style!
Conclusion
With creativity and commitment to period style, it’s simple to give your kitchen an irresistible vintage overhaul. From wall decor to furniture, appliances to flooring, each detail makes an important impact. Don’t be afraid to mix old with new too. Blending authentic antiques and vintage reproductions creates a beautifully curated look.
Most importantly, don’t forget that infusing vintage charm should be fun! Let your kitchen reflect styles from eras that spark personal nostalgia. With these dozen tips in mind, you’re sure to cook up a ravishing retro space your whole family will adore.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some quick ways to add vintage charm to a kitchen?
Some quick, high-impact ways to add vintage charm include:
- Hanging vintage-inspired signage or art with retro motifs
- Displaying antique kitchenware, like vintage mixer stands and aprons
- Replacing modern hardware with antique brass or porcelain knobs
- Styling an open shelf with vintage cookbooks and unique glassware
- Incorporating retro kitchen accessories like antique canisters or scales
What colors evoke a vintage kitchen aesthetic?
Vintage-inspired kitchens tend to use soft, muted color palettes for an old-world feel. Some popular vintage kitchen color schemes include:
- Pastel hues like mint green, lemon yellow, or baby blue
- Neutral tones like antique white, almond, light taupe, and pale gray
- Warm metallics like aged brass, copper, and nickel
- Rich colors like turquoise, sunshine yellow, robin’s egg blue and cherry red
What are vintage kitchen features to avoid?
Some vintage kitchen styles to approach with care include:
- Avocado, harvest gold, or brown 1970s color schemes
- Outdated linoleum floors beyond salvaging
- Dated laminate countertops from the 1980s-90s
- Bulky oversized architecture like soffits or dropped ceilings
- Obtrusive unrelated themes like roosters or sunflowers
Use restraint when incorporating dated trends to keep your vintage kitchen feeling authentic and elegant. Focus on curating classic pieces.
Where can you buy vintage kitchen accessories online?
Great places to buy authentic vintage kitchen items online include:
- Etsy – Excellent for vintage dishware, tables, small appliances, and hardware
- eBay – Great source for both used and reproduction retro items
- Chairish – Upscale vintage furniture, lighting, and decor selection
- Hip Vintage – Cookware, kitchen textiles, and barware
Always read seller reviews and product descriptions closely when vintage shopping online. Some reproduction items may not be accurately labeled.
What flooring options work well in vintage kitchens?
Timeless vintage kitchen flooring options include:
- Black and white checkerboard tile
- Hexagon mosaic tile
- Classic subway tile
- Wide plank wood floors
- Vinyl tile in retro colorways
- Patchwork or geometric patterned linoleum
Avoid modern large-format tiles or planks. Mixing patterns and material textures creates depth.
5 Tips for a Vintage Small Kitchen
Vintage style can work wonderfully even in petite cooking spaces. Here are 5 smart tips for bringing vintage charm to a small kitchen:
- Incorporate open shelving – Open shelving instantly makes small kitchens feel lighter and more spacious. Display glassware and dishes for a retro diner vibe.
- Add a retro bar cart – Bar carts are back in style and provide vintage flair on wheels! Styling one with vintage liquor bottles and glassware saves space.
- Use reflective surfaces – Vintage tin backsplashes or chrome diner accents make kitchens feel larger by reflecting light. A retro steel fridge does too!
- Opt for retro cafe curtains – Cafe curtains cover the top of windows without taking up floor space. Choose vintage prints for a playful punch.
- Mix small patterns – Tiny vintage tile patterns, like mosaics or black-and-white checkerboards, give the illusion of more square footage.
4 Ideas for a Vintage Kitchen Island
Kitchen islands are a popular way to add prep space and storage. Here are 4 ideas for vintage island styles:
- Reclaimed Wood Island – A weathered wood island looks right at home in farmhouse or cottage kitchens. Opt for turned legs or painted finishes.
- Soda Fountain Island – For a fun retro diner feel, create an island that mimics an old-fashioned soda fountain counter. Add round swivel stools.
- Antique Cabinet Island – Repurpose a vintage cabinet or dresser by topping it with a wood panel to fashion an island. So charming!
- Mobile Butcher Block Island – A vintage-look butcher block island on wheels provides flexibility. Use it as needed, then roll it aside.
6 Tips for Displaying Vintage Kitchenware
Vintage kitchen collectibles deserve to be shown off. Here are 6 ways to attractively display retro kitchenware:
- Hang vintage ladles, whisks, sieves from pot racks or open shelves. Clustering creates impact.
- Designate a vintage cabinet just for displaying sentimental dishes and glassware. Use plate stands for stacking.
- Complement an antique oak table with a pretty vintage tea tin filled with cooking utensils.
- Attach s-hooks underneath open shelves to hang retro coffee mugs, bowls, or colanders. It’s great for small kitchens.
- Prop vintage cookbooks up with bookends to create height and interest. Combine with other accents.
- Place antique kitchen scales, flour sifters, egg beaters, cheese graters atop open shelving. Style by color for a unified look.
Sample Vintage Kitchen Visualizations
To help envision the vintage kitchen style, here are a few sample kitchens showcasing some of the design elements discussed:
Farmhouse Vintage Kitchen
- White Shaker-style cabinets with exposed hinges
- Open shelves displaying collected vintage dishware
- Galvanized metal colander and chicken feeder repurposed as decor
- Restored antique apron sink and brass plumbing fixtures
- Wood cutting board countertop and checkerboard backsplash tile
Mid-century Modern Vintage Kitchen
- Sleek formica or laminate cabinets in muted pastel hues
- Retro bar cart styled with vintage liquor bottles and glassware
- Patterned vinyl floor tiles in pink and mint green
- Vintage starburst clock and Eames molded plastic chairs
- Midcentury modern oval Tulip table and matching seating
French Country Vintage Kitchen
- Romantic cabinetry painted in light robin’s egg blue
- Wire racks mounted on walls to display antique brass pots
- Vintage-inspired cafe curtains in red gingham print
- Rustic butcher block island on wheels provides prep space
- Open shelvingfilled with enamelware cooking pots in red,white, and blue
Hope visualizing these sample vintage kitchens sparks inspiration for your own vintage-inspired cooking space! Let me know if you need any clarification or have additional questions.
