Top 65+ Charming Fifties Kitchen Design Satisfy Your Imagination

(47 reviews)

Bring back the nostalgia and expand the style of your kitchen with the best fifties kitchen design. It’s a classic, timeless element of retro design that captures the cheerful vibes of the post-war period. With a range of color palettes and clever materials, you can make your kitchen both chic and original. Whether you’re a fan of vintage, mid-century or something more modern, there’s something for everyone in our top picks for the best 50's kitchen design. Get inspired, and have fun browsing!

1950s Kitchen Decorating Ideas

Adding a vintage feel to your kitchen’s decor could be a unique way to bring about a retro style. In the 1950s, kitchens were all about white walls, two-tone cabinets, bright colors, and bold and unique textures. Naturally, retro decor in the kitchen should fit the era: bright or pastel patterns of fruits, vegetables, and flowers featured thrift shop furniture and antique kitchen items that could be brought together in one space. From cabinet finishes, countertops, appliances, and wall coverings, recreating a vintage look could be challenging but achievable with the right resources.

When it comes to fifties inspired kitchen decor, a good starting point is Accent Your Retro decor. Pick through a variety of vintage kitchen pieces and mix and match with the modern convenience of today’s kitchens. Utilizing basic and classic principles for decorating can easily create a unique and timeless kitchen with pops of colors and texture. You can also combine fabrics into the fabric of your kitchen through materials like curtains and tablecloths. For cabinets, try repurposing a vintage style panel with wood color and glass-lined doors.

1950s Kitchen Decorating Ideas

Vintage Kitchen Design Ideas

When designing a vintage kitchen, try to focus on classic shapes and materials like wood. Vintage cabinets that were popular in the 1950s featured framed door panels and sleek metal-like designs with small knobs or handles. Vintage styled furniture and appliances gives the room a distinctive atmosphere and adds charm that can turn the kitchen into a delightful space for dining, cooking, and entertaining. For a mid-century style kitchen, opt for traditional wooden furniture like tables and chairs that come with a typical 50s look. Start with adding a kitchen island with a vintage-style hanging light or two over it and wall-hung cabinets for a warm look.

When it comes to the flooring, hardwood floors are the classics, but vinyl floor tiles with a checkerboard pattern or white-and-black geometric patterns are in tune with the era. Other details that can bring life to your kitchen are vintage wallpaper and 1950s-style wall clocks.

Vintage Kitchen Design Ideas

Retro Kitchen Design and Decorating Ideas

When creating a vintage look, a retro kitchen can focus on unique design through a mix of different materials, shapes and colors. The focus is on bringing a bold statement to the room, which can be best achieved by utilizing mid-century furniture pieces with colorful accent pieces. Retro decor can also be incorporated through area rugs, shelves, and other decorative features like mouldings. Geometric wallpaper, classic tile, and black and white checkered diagonal flooring are some of the number one options for bringing the ‘50s back to life. Other ideas for unique kitchen decor include pendant lighting, dramatic kitchen island designs, statement wallcoverings, vintage-styled hardware, and chandeliers.

Installing an apron sink will also help add texture when it comes to vintage styling. If you want to go all out, you could also add a matching faucet and refrigerator –let’s not forget the knobs and pulls! A few colorful pots and pans hung from a pot rack or displayed on the counter can help contribute to the overall design.

Retro Kitchen Design and Decorating Ideas

1950s Kitchen Cabinets

The focal point of a vintage kitchen is often the cabinets. In the 1950s, framed doors, sleek metals, and wood-paneled doors were popular designs, with smaller knobs and handles for functional use. When painting your cabinets, it’s worth considering warm colors that will help to enhance the look and feel of the room, such as bright shades of yellow, oranges, browns, and umbers. If you want to go more modern, blues and greens could add a splash of color against the neutral cabinets.

The beading around the edge of the cabinets was also a popular design feature in the 50s. Another way to capture a ‘50s feel is by adding cabinet accessories lovingly collected from antique shops and flea markets to give a sympathetic old-fashioned finishing touch.

1950s Kitchen Cabinets

1950s Kitchen Color Schemes

The 1950s kitchen was typically painted in pale colors such as cream, pastel blues, pinks, and peaches. The addition of bright paint colors was a popular option that offered a stylish retro look. Add yellows, greens, and oranges to recreate the look, or even mix and match by painting the cabinets and walls different colors. You could even consider a hidden corner of the kitchen painted in a bright color for a juxtaposed look.

Wallpaper was also a popular choice in the 50s, which can be used as an accent or a main feature according to your preference. Consider mosaic tiles, bold geometric patterns, and floral designs to add vibrancy into a fearroom. There are also many fun options for the kitchen sink through the use of bold and interesting colors.

1950s Kitchen Color Schemes

1950s Kitchen Accessories and Appliances

To complete a vintage kitchen look, accessorize the space with some essential kitchen items that were popular in the 50s, like salt & pepper shakers, sugar canisters, and measuring cups. Fifties decor also includes items like brightly-colored hand towels, canisters, and pot holders. Pots and pans can be displayed on a pot rack, preferably a vintage-style rack to complete the timeless look.

When it comes to appliances, refrigerators, stoves, and dishwashers with a vintage look can be acquired today if you’re willing to pony up the funds for it. Finding dishwashers and refrigerators with sleek and glossy finishes can help complete the look. For ovens, a standard, simple encasing should be ornate enough to capture the essence of the era.

1950s Kitchen Accessories and Appliances

Retro Kitchen Decor

Retro kitchen decor is a great way to add unique and notable characteristics to any kitchen. In the 50s, decor pieces typically had floral, ribbed, or polka dot patterns on them. Prints and patterns like that can easily be brought into the room today through a variety of resources like wall art, kitchen towels, and placemats.

Vintage-style canisters, sugar shakers, and coffee jars added charm to the countertops of 1950s kitchens and still do today. Decorative accents and wall hangings can also be added to a space to provide an eclectic and fanciful atmosphere. Options can range from vintage pictures, a collage wall with frames of different sizes, and bold artwork that matches the rest of the decor.

Retro Kitchen Decor

1950s Kitchen Design Ideas

When designing your kitchen, try to start with neutral colors like classic blacks, whites, or cream. An older kitchen can look bright and warm with warm colors of oranges, reds, and yellows that bring a fun and lively atmosphere. Utilizing framed doors and a variety of other decorative elements will help tie in all the pieces together.

Integrating mismatched chairs that don’t quite match can also provide an interesting effect. Utilizing unique up-cycling and repurposing projects can also bring the best out of an old concept. Appliances that blend in with the rest of the decor can complete the retro feel of your kitchen space.

1950s Kitchen Design Ideas

Retro Kitchen Design Look

The look of a 50s kitchen is often recognizable due to its classic color schemes and notable furniture pieces. The look of the kitchen should be approachable with vintage furniture finds like a turquoise-colored table and chairs featuring vibrant colors and 1950s design motifs and patterns. Fifties wall art pieces could also be used for a unique visual appeal. Utilize prints, florals, and vintage finds like a metal sign that could be hung between cabinets or benches.

Mixing modern frames with vintage artwork, a collection of 1950s newspapers and magazines, a wall of vintage kitchen utensils, polka dot ceiling, or a vintage wallpaper feature wall are also excellent ways to achieve a vintage-style kitchen.

Retro Kitchen Design Look

1950s Kitchen Countertops

Retro designs typically featured marble countertops in kitchen decor and these materials are back in the spotlight these days. Retro kitchen designs are more welcoming to a wide variety of materials such as natural wood and ceramic, which were common in the 1950s era. Utilizing classic lines of cabinetry and on storage solutions can be combined to recreate a mid-century style kitchen.

When it comes to kitchen countertops in a '50s kitchen, you can choose from a wide range of materials such as ceramic, wood, Formica, metal, and composite. Each of these materials will bring a unique texture and feel to the room, whether it’s for a new look or to provide contrast with the other materials in the room. Choose materials that are easy to clean, long-lasting, and weather-resistant for long-term value.

1950s Kitchen Countertops

When people think of the 1950s kitchen, they often think of the signature retro style

fifties kitchen design Designed by some of the most renowned mid-century architects, the fifties kitchen design style is known for its use of bright and bold colors, such as pink and turquoise. Other common features of the style include sturdy Formica countertops, vinyl floors, and most often, rounded countertops and appliances. The classic 1950s kitchen's unique style and colors make it stand out from other era-inspired designs.

Popular Materials and Features in 1950s Kitchen Design

fifties kitchen design Natural materials such as wood, marble, and glass were commonplace in 1950s kitchen design , and traditionally accompanied by chrome accents. Materials such as marble and granite were often used for countertops, while oak and maple were often used for cabinets. 1950s-style design incorporated appliances such as bright refrigerator units, creamy yellow stoves, and matching microwaves that complemented the kitchen overall. These appliances can still be found and used in today's modern kitchen.

The Vintage look of 1950s Kitchens

fifties kitchen design One of the main characteristics of 1950s design was its vintage look. This was achieved by adding hardware and furniture pieces with intricate patterns and designs, which would often pick up the colors of the kitchen. Kitchen appliances were also designed in a bold, curved style to give them a unique look, even in comparison to modern sets. A command of craftsmanship was seen in the efficient use of the available space, with the introduction of creative storage solutions such as overhead cabinets and built-in ovens.

The Popularity of 1950s Kitchen Design

fifties kitchen design The fifties kitchen style has seen a strong resurgence in the past few years, with its popularity being reflected by the number of interior designers bringing it back into homes. Its distinctive colors, unique furniture pieces, and retro-inspired appliances bring a modern feel to any kitchen. Homeowners who are looking for a stylish yet timeless design now turn their attention to this classic American design that goes back half a century.

Modern Revisions

fifties kitchen design With the resurgence of 1950s kitchen design, modern revisions of the original style have also appeared. Sleek modern appliances pair nicely with the bold colors, patterns, and features that make the style unique. Homeowners can also incorporate modern materials like stainless steel to update their kitchen while still keeping the fifties look.

Conclusion

fifties kitchen design Whether you're looking to update your kitchen with a nostalgic look or add a modern twist to a classic style, fifties kitchen design is the perfect choice. Its timeless yet bold design is sure to stand the test of time, and bring a modern edge to any home.

10