The Retro Design Style and the Place of Retro Lamps

It’s happening again – it happens every generation or so. The re-emergence of fashions and styles that disappeared years ago is now presenting as the latest fashion trend. The humble lamp from the 1950s is now being sought after as a perfect complement to a retro style room and while bench surfaces, chairs, lounges and most other room items have gone through drastic changes, many of the vintage retro lamps that were designed in the 1950s and 60s are still preferred today.

One of the reasons that decorating in retro style is coming back into popularity is that almost anything goes, as long as it is fun, combines colors and shapes and looks unique. Floor lamps such as the subdued square drum-shaped lampshade on a ceramic base or the classic Arco floor lamp that is the centrepiece of any modern retro style and will look appropriate in any modern retro room. The cone lamps pointing in different angles from a central pole…and all of the light shades of different colors, they define the retro style in my mind. From there it’s up to your own discerning eye as to how funky you want to make the lamp shade with options of tassels, trimmings or prints to bring out your retro preference.

The great thing about deciding on a retro lamp is that if you don’t particularly like the look of the traditional lamps from the era, you also have the more space-aged looking lamps that were inspired by the exuberance of the post-war optimism. New products such as melamine interspersed with chrome and designs that were sleek and sophisticated combined to produce a very forward thinking look.

The interesting fact about using the vintage retro lamps that your parents loved is that the burnt orange lamp shades or the avocado ceramic lamp stand is now cool again because, well because it’s retro. Whether you want a retro table lamp or a retro floor lamp, there is a widening range once again.