Retro Guest Room Ideas: Designing Around Family Furniture
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
This guest room started with a compromise.
Matt had these dressers that belonged to his dad, and he really wanted to use them in the room.
Me?
I'll be honest..... they were absolutely not my style.
But instead of fighting against them, we decided to lean all the way in!
Somewhere between sentimental mid-century furniture, an I Dream of Jeannie meets Brady Bunch vibe, bold wallpaper, and a wildly glossy red carved bed... this space became one of my favorite spaces in our home.
It's nostalgic.
It's quirky.
It's colorful, meaningful ,and completely unexpected.
So today I thought it would be fun to do a full "shop the room" blog post with all the details behind this retro guest room - including paint colors, wallpaper, decor pieces and similar finds that helped bring this room together.
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"Shop Now" Section: Retro Guest Room Ideas
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The Wall Paint Color:
I wanted something warm and playful that worked with the wood tones in the dressers and the dramatic red bed.
It was REALLY bold and a lot scary at first.
But once the room was all put together? It is simply perfect!
The Wallpaper:
We spent WEEKS looking at wallpaper!
At one point, I honestly thought we were never going to agree on one.
But the second I found this one, I had a feeling it was "the one"!
We both really liked:
The movement in the design
The retro-inspired shapes
And especially the oversized scale of the pattern
If you've ever wanted to try a peel and stick wallpaper, I highly recommend this company.
We have used several brands over the years and this one is by far the easiest to install! Not to mention the paper itself is luxurious!
The King Sized Carved Red Bed:
Thrifted from Facebook Marketplace for $100
This heavily carved bed was always meant to be the feature piece of the room!
The bold color and shiny gloss finish make it unapologetically "too much"... which is exactly what I was after.
I wanted it to NOT fit in....but to stand out!
Mission accomplished!
See my How to Painted Carved Wood Furniture: A Bold Red Bed Makeover blog for all the painting details for this show-stopping piece!
The Bedding:
I have these sheets on ALL of our beds.
They are the 100% cotton sheets that take me back to my grandmothers house!
You will LOVE them!
Thrifted Suitcase Bedside Table:
Vintage Suitcase - Thrifted from Goodwill for $25
This was such an easy DIY flip!
If you have an old suitcase from days gone by, all you really need are hairpin legs. They come in all sizes and I've listed the link for you HERE.
Simple. Affordable. And the perfect quirky addition to a retro guest room.
Retro Decor Ideas: Details that Made The Guest Room
The smaller details are what really pushed this room fully into its retro personality.
I hope you find the links below helpful in shopping for these items. Here are a few of my favorite finds.
Why This Retro Guest Room Means So Much to Us
This room reminded me that sometimes the best spaces come from compromise instead of perfect design plans.
I never would have chosen these furniture pieces on my own, but building this eclectic guest room together made it feel personal in a way that trends never could.
Honestly?
It may be one of the most "us" rooms in the entire house.
FAQ: Retro Guest Room Ideas
How do you make a guest room feel retro?
Layer bold paint colors, vintage-inspired lighting, playful wallpaper, and nostalgic accessories like lava lamps, retro phones, and starburst fixtures.
Can you mix sentimental furniture with bold modern design?
Absolutely. Leaning into contrast often creates the most unique and personal spaces.
What colors work well in a retro guest room?
Warm oranges, reds, mustard tones, turquoise, pink, and rich wood tones all work beautifully in retro-inspired spaces.
Is peel-and-stick wallpaper worth it?
Yes! Especially for statement walls. Quality peel-and-stick wallpaper is much easier to install than traditional wallpaper and works beautifully in guest rooms. Try Wall Blush for quality paper.
More Inspiration:
I pulled a few blogs from past room redesign projects that came to mind when working on this project! I hope you can use them to draw inspiration for your upcoming room redesign.
Teen Bedroom Makeover - rose gold and gray retreat
My Dining Room - with cotton candy pink chairs
Master Bedroom Makeover - how to update on a budget
And of course, don't forget to visit my blog on How to Painted Carved Furniture: Bold Red Bed
Click on any photo below for more up-close photos and all the design details
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