Whenever we hear the word “retro”, it may co conjure up in our minds something old, outdated or in some cases vintage. The word “retro”, is mostly synonymous with fashion or music and usually refers to the period which is 30 to 40 years ago. Actually, retro when taken in the positive sense means retrospective, and when people start looking for beautiful old things, it becomes a trend.

Coming specifically to furniture, one should be clear in mind that retro is not antique. It could be vintage depending on how old a piece is though. There was a time when people could go to charity or auction houses and buy second hand furniture because of the affordability factor and then paint it or distress it to give the vintage or retro look. Generally, retro furniture has certain characteristics that were recall a particular period in time - angled legs, certain finishes of timber for example are synonymous with a retro 50’s & 60’s look.

A piece of distressed furniture can be retro, vintage or antique. It can be either new or old. On one hand, when we buy a piece of old vintage furniture and give it a fresh coat of paint, we revamp it. On the other hand, any furniture where a distressed or ageing look is given through a new paint finish makes it rough, in order to appear as aged or vintage furniture.

Distressed furniture is becoming increasingly popular as it blend the old with the new. With recycled timber, it also has a unique appeal to people who have different attitudes towards decorating their home and don’t want that ‘standard’ mainstream look. There is also the incentive of being environment friendly, not to mention the ‘love of a bygone era’ which sees the demand for retro distressed furniture keep increasing in popularity when it comes to creating unique interiors.