Blog

The puritanical 50s were behind, mankind had flown into space, and there was finally a rise in all fields of science and the arts. The 60s had arrived.

 

It was an incredibly vibrant and colorful time. One fashion trend replaced another at lightning speed. Not long ago, the “Stilyagi” with their bouffant hairstyles and narrow trousers were in fashion, but they were swiftly replaced by long-haired hippies dressed in multicolored tunics and flared trousers.

 

Let me tell you about the approach to creating an interior in the style of the 60s. So, the main features of the design include:

 

• Furniture of unusual shapes, having either angular or smooth surfaces;
• An abundance of geometric patterns in decor items, finishes, and also in home textiles;
• The main materials are glass, plastic, chrome-plated metal, and inexpensive wood or plywood, with a preference for artificial or cheap materials;
• Extraordinarily bright and bold color combinations – green with orange or yellow with blue, not only in furniture but also in wall and floor finishes, as boldness and free-thinking were in fashion;
• A mix of stationary and foldable furniture, with foldable tables and sofas becoming widely used during those years;
• An abundance of wooden shelves or racks for books, as the 60s saw a surge in interest in literature, and besides books, one could place various photographs and small artistic items on the shelves;
• Any items with a space theme, which included not only photographs of rockets but also furniture with quirky futuristic shapes, such as hanging spherical chairs.

Это основные направления в дизайне 60-х. Но на некоторых стилях я хочу остановиться подробнее.

 

Now, I will tell you about how to furnish various rooms in a house according to the design styles of the 1960s.

 

Hippie Style

 

Young people who formed the hippie movement, calling themselves “children of flowers,” preached love, non-violence, freedom, and brotherhood. The Vietnam War significantly influenced this movement, with hippies actively advocating against killing and war.

Fascination with Eastern philosophy, yoga, and the culture of the East, especially India, left a mark on this style. Hippies brought back colorful and exotic fabrics, jewelry, accessories, and even furniture pieces from their numerous travels around the world. To create an interior in the hippie style, designers today use items in Eastern ethno-style, multicolored wall paintings, and bright, shiny fabrics.

Retro Style

 

I caution novice designers against certain mistakes in creating a 60s-style interior. You should not recreate a 1960s interior with old furniture pieces that have survived well but use modern equivalents that reflect the main characteristics of the style.

An interior recreated with old furniture and household items is considered “vintage,” not retro style. Often, if not done skillfully, your home or apartment can end up looking simply old-fashioned and boring, as if no one has lived there for 50 years and the furniture remains untouched.

Therefore, I recommend choosing modern furniture and decor items in retro style, which are much better in quality than their older counterparts. Using old items is fine, but they should be few and serve as accents.

Now, let’s look at the main directions you should follow when interpreting a contemporary interior “in the 60s style.”

Bold Color Combinations

 

This is a good solution for styling in retro. Sometimes it’s enough to simply paint some furniture pieces in bright neon colors, throw a multicolored geometric-patterned rug on the floor, and hang a few eye-catching 60s-style posters on the wall.

If that’s not enough, you can decorate one of the walls in striking lemon, green, or red shades. Wallpapers with geometric patterns are perfect for this purpose.

In the 1960s, inexpensive plastic furniture was allowed, so simple chairs painted in bright colors would be just right. You can even coat some furniture pieces with varnish to create glossy surfaces, fitting the main style.

For kitchen cabinet fronts, mint, blue, red, and orange shades are ideal. In the kitchen, floors can be laid with black and white ceramic tiles in a checkerboard pattern. In the corridor and living room, parquet flooring with a herringbone pattern will look great.

Proper Furniture Selection

 

The use of bulky and heavy cabinets was uncharacteristic for the 1960s; they appeared much later as the once-popular “wall units.” But in the 60s, the preference was given to more compact options for sideboards, buffets, desks, and dressers – they should not exceed a height of 1.5 meters.

Low, asymmetrical, or oval-drop-shaped coffee tables without any frills are characteristic of the 60s style. Furniture fronts should also be smooth and uncluttered.

Soft furniture should definitely be on legs, preferably wooden. It can be of simple lines or quite whimsical and flowing.

To create a 1960s feel, you should use items made of plastic and chrome-plated steel in the interior – these can be tables, chairs, lamps, etc. But metal should not stand out too much, it’s better to use it only as hardware.

 

 

Striking Decor Items

 

In the 60s, they loved to place them on bookshelves, as books occupied the most important part of any interior. It was believed that the more intellectual and educated a person was, the more interesting and attractive they were as an individual. Therefore, if you plan to decorate rooms in the 60s style, stock up on a rich library.

In addition to small figurines, vases, and live flowers in pots, wall clocks, and tall lamps with torchieres were very popular in the 60s.

For curtain patterns, you can use polka dots, circles, checks, lines, etc. It would be good to match tableware with similar patterns. Similar prints and patterns should be chosen for rugs.

Remember, the 60s were also the time of pop art, so paintings and posters in the style of Andy Warhol will be very apt in creating the atmosphere of those years. These could be famous portraits of Marilyn Monroe and other celebrity reproductions, or even simple advertisements and movie posters from that era.

These items are very important in the interior, so seriously consider acquiring them. Of course, it might not always be possible to purchase old originals for various reasons, but you can always order their new versions.

Ending my narrative, if you are inexplicably nostalgic for the time of various revolutions, hippies, and the Beatles, then it’s time to start decorating your dwelling in the spirit of the tumultuous 60s. And I, designer Olesya Blaschenko, will certainly help you in this challenging task.