The word “retro” is commonly associated with fashion and design suggesting an outmoded style from the post modern past. It generally implies a vintage of at least 15 or 20 years. Despite these definitions, retro upholstery fabric seems to have taken on a “timeless” quality.
Recreate Any Era in the Bedroom
Your bedroom is a perfect place to recreate a mood. Replicate a scene from That 70s Show with the “mod” flowers and bold geometrics or give your room a more vintage appeal with retro barkcloth popularized by textile designers of the 50s.
Here are a few suggestions to get started:
1. Upholstered Headboard – Choose your favorite retro fabric, and make your headboard from foam board by cutting it to the shape you want (if your headboard isn’t the kind that can be covered.) This could be a whole lot of fun designing the shape of your headboard. Have you ever wanted a heart-shaped or smiley face headboard? Here’s you chance to get creative. Tack on the fabric with fabric glue spray, and you’re done!
2. Reupholster a Vanity Chair – Chairs, especially chairs with smalls seats, are easy and economical to cover. Remove the vanity chair seat and cut your fabric around the seat edge, allowing 2 extra inches all around. Lay the fabric print side down and your chair seat on the fabric. Pull the fabric up and secure with heavy-duty staples around the perimeter of the chair seat. Voila! You have a new vanity chair!
3. Cover Accessories – You don’t have to replace that yellowed lamp shade, simply recover it. If you can work a glue gun, you’ll have this project complete in minutes. If you want to get a little fancy, adorn with contrasting trim like braid or piping.
Go Retro in the Kitchen
You can go all Happy Days here. Did you know that you can buy retro appliances that are manufactured with the latest heating or cooling technology inside? Buy a few vintage chrome bar stools or table chairs, and use the instructions above to cover your chairs in a retro upholstery fabric. A couple yards of contrasting fabric, a few strait seams and you have matching placemats.
You can sew a simple curtain(s) to complete your retro makeover. Just remember to keep your color palette to no more than two colors or the contrasting designs could overwhelm your room, especially if it’s a small kitchen.
Give yourself room to explore when redecorating with retro upholstery fabric.
