If you associate retro style with the Mad Men era, you're on the right track. Primarily, retro style "refers widely to the mid-century time frame, where we saw a lot of distinct styles come forth in colors, patterns, furniture and decor," explains designer Eleanor Trepte. "Original retro style is rooted in the color and design ethos of the '60s and '70s, but faded away in the '80s through early aughts as other, more contemporary design styles came into favor."
However, this is not solely the case, designer Jonathan Rachman notes. "While a mid century modern interior may be a type of retro style, it is not always," he says. Rather, retro style interiors may also reflect influences of art deco, Rococo style, or other design elements of the past, he explains.
