Nostalgia is a powerful emotion. “Those days when…” is probably the most powerful social media status you can find. When you walk into Shyam Balekar’s house in Navi Mumbai, nostalgia assaults you. His house is an ode to the 70s – that glorious decade of Flower Power! “It’s one of my favourite decades,” says Shyam. “I love the style of that era. The movies they made! The entire look and vibes of that decade! All those colours and the sheer power of those colours!”
The 70s was a time when people were embracing the new with the old. In his living room, beautiful floral fabrics jostle with handcrafted Mexican and Moroccan accessories.
In the dining room, in keeping with the spirit of the 70s, the table is made from salvaged wood. He has added colour with orange dining chairs. And kitsch is never far behind as Shyam keeps funky ceramic bowls from a local crafts store, complete with flower motifs. The bedroom has some chic bedding as well with big, bold prints. The overall look brims with colour and a peaceful vibe.
Impressed, we asked him about the best ways to incorporate a retro feel in our homes:
Think bright and beautiful
No matter the decade, giving a room a vibrant hue never fails. Orange and brown can indicate a 70s-inspired feel while the 80s had more of pastels and chintz. But you don’t have to worry about the decade.
Think simple and just see where you can add colours. Just the addition of a few yellow or orange cushions can entirely change the look of your living room furniture!
Shyam suggests hunting down funky and flowery lampshades in antique shops for that vintage look. A vintage floral tablecloth can add that touch of glam and chic!
Accessorize
One of Shyam’s favourite pastimes is finding eclectic curios that he proudly displays on a mantelpiece in his home. “Use any online site that you trust. I got these really quirky coasters for my dining table that were based on ads popular in the 60s and 50s online. These make for great conversation starters as well and a great trip down nostalgia lane!”
One simple way is to get some sepia prints of the decade you love and have them arranged in a wall frame. Framed photos can be teamed with accent chairs and some mismatched furniture to give just that right funky feel.
Antique lamps or mirrors can give a sophisticated look without taking away the contemporary look of your home. The key is not to overly choose a retro theme but to incorporate elements of retro in the house to make it stand out from the ordinary and mundane. Styles and fashions change, and you would not want to be stuck with a retro-themed house.
Patterned rugs are another great addition, Shyam says. Continue with side tables, cabinets, or even a beautiful chandelier, he suggests, for adding a dash of retro style to the living room! Wallpaper gives you a hundred options to choose from as well.
Light up the look
Along with furniture, lighting is extremely useful in capturing a retro look. Vintage-style lights can give your room an instant retro upgrade. Step back in time to search for graphic shapes and that bold, vintage flair.
Shyam says that just a few retro style wooden pendant lights can provide the right warmth and welcome to the kitchen or living room.
As we pass through Shyam’s beautifully restored living room, he points out an old radio that adorns a mantelpiece. “This was not something I bought. I discovered that this was my grandfather’s radio from the time when we just had All India Radio. It still works!” he says, tuning into a station. As the radio buzzes into life, nostalgia weaves its patterns all over again. A house is more than just a space for living – it becomes the summation of your past.
