Taste the Rainbow: Vintage Kitchens of Every Shade

September 21, 2016 by Big Chill

A bright and colorful kitchen is a powerful thing, having an influence on our moods, emotions, and even on our food cravings. Your kitchen is your special place to showcase your personality and tastes, and can be a direct reflection of the energy and environment that exists inside of your home.

The 50’s, 60’s and 70’s were a colorful time for kitchens everywhere, with each decade showcasing their own unique identities with off-the-wall shades and colorful variations of design.

A colorful kitchen is timeless. Looking for a customized color that speaks directly to your tastes? Check out our Big Chill custom color swatch with over 200 custom colors.

Big Chill Retro Studio Refrigerator

Red

Red is a timeless accent color that will always get your kitchen the attention it deserves. The 1940’s and 50’s brought red to the forefront with cherry colored everything. In the ’50s, paint colors were widely available for the first time in any hue imaginable, and red as a color scheme was huge. Red as a decorating color represents power, strength, and courage.

Retro Collection in Cherry Red

/p>

Orange

Not afraid of a cheerful dose of color? The 1960’s and 70’s introduced the use of loud and in-your-face orange shades to kitchens everywhere, manifesting in countertops, cabinets, and cookware. In the 1970’s, orange was commonly paired with terra-cotta tiles, hanging plants, and exposed ceiling beams for that perfectly warm and groovy kitchen.

Retro Collection in Premium Orange

Yellow

Pale yellow was an extremely popular color scheme in the 1950’s, with pastel colors being a popular pick for cabinets, appliances, and wallpapers. Vibrant and mustard yellows were introduced in kitchen decorating schemes later, providing bolder backdrops for the radical changes of the 1960’s and 70’s. Yellow is the color of optimism, and can be a healthy addition to any kitchen.

Retro Collection in Buttercup Yellow

Green

Mint green was another popular pastel color that was ubiquitous in kitchens of the 1950’s. It was not unusual for countertops, flooring, appliances, and cabinetry to all be decked out in this minty hue. Greens became bolder and darker in the 1960’s and 70’s, with avocado green being one of the top decorating schemes of the times. Green is the color of balance and can do bring a grounding energy to your home.

Retro Collection in Jadite Green

Blue

Pastel blue began making a regular appearance in American kitchens following WWII, and turquoise was an extremely popular color scheme in the 1950’s. Later decades produced either funkier or more muted shades of blue, representing the moods of the then current culture and times. A pop of blue is a soothing and refreshing addition to any kitchen.

Retro Collection in Beach Blue

Pink

The 1950’s introduced the use of pale pink, adding a romantic blush of color to appliances, cabinets, countertops, and wallpapers. The addition of the color pink to your kitchen invokes feelings of romance, warmth, and femininity.

Retro Collection in Pink Lemonade

Purple

While purple isn’t the most common shade in kitchen décor, it is certainly fabulous, and the inclusion of pale lilac was popular in kitchens of the 1950’s. The 1960’s and 70’s brought deeper shades of violet and eggplant, usually showcased in kitchen accessories like floor rugs and place settings.

Retro Collection in Custom Color #4005 Blue Lilac

Beverage Fridge in Custom Color #4005 Blue Lilac