When you think back to your family’s kitchen, what colors come to mind? Here’s a look at all the best vintage kitchen colors from the past several decades.
By Nancy Mock and Lisa Kaminski, Taste of Home
Harvest Gold
This iconic, golden hue was introduced in the late 1970s and stayed all the rage right through the 1980s. Every appliance and kitchen gadget you could possibly need for was available in Harvest Gold—including ranges, dishwashers, mixing bowls, utensils and even Tupperware.
Avocado Green
The preferred kitchen color palette of the ’70s had earth tones like avocado, often paired with wood grain and floral patterns. This is a vintage kitchen color that looks dated to many, but some folks love the homey feel.
You can dip your toes into the waters of 1970s nostalgia without going full-on avocado.
Pink
Candy-like shades of color were very trendy in kitchens of the 1950s. Pink was the favorite color of then-First Lady Mamie Eisenhower who wore it often, and it became a popular shade for home decor as well.
Poppy Red
Red is a color that keeps coming back in vogue. In the ’50s, diners were everywhere and home kitchens copied their iconic red and white decor. Later, in the ’70s, Poppy Red was introduced alongside other natural tones. And today, dark red details in white kitchens create a homey, farmhouse kitchen look.
Teal
This color is so irresistibly cheerful it’s hard to believe it went out of style. This bright teal hue reached its peak popularity in the 1960s.
White
Before kitchens took on every color of the rainbow, homeowners favored a clean and simple aesthetic in the kitchen. This was the most popular hue from the 1920s until the ’40s. The concept is back in full swing today, with light-filled kitchens and bright, white cabinetry, appliances and subway-tiled walls and backsplashes.
Chrome
Think of 1950s cars and you can’t help but picture chrome—and that gleam could be found in the kitchens of the decade, too. There were chrome-plated coffee pots and blenders, chrome trim around counters and chrome on kitchen tables and chairs. Larger appliances like refrigerators and stoves also debuted in chrome that decade.
Aqua
This is another color that is highly sought after in vintage kitchen pieces, especially for bigger appliances like refrigerators and ovens. Vivid aqua hues became a popular choice for kitchens in the 1950s, the post-war era that saw a surge of bright and cheerful color in home decor.
Off-White
This shade was also known as bisque or almond. The yellow, brown and green kitchens of the ’70s gave way to more minimalist, white kitchens in the ’80s, and these shades of off-white were the colors of choice for kitchen gadgets like this Cuisinart.
Pale Yellow
Another cheery, pastel hue of the 1950s, pale yellow brought sunshine to kitchens on walls and surfaces. (This kitchen is a perfect example with canary yellow that’s accented with chrome!) We love seeing this vintage shade bring a splash of color to today’s white, minimalist kitchens, too.
Coppertone
This shade was also known as coffee or cocoa. Its deep brown color could be seen in ’70s kitchens as part of the earthy, natural palette that was the norm back then. You could also find dark brown in decor elements like natural wood or faux wood grain finishes, and in vintage kitchen appliances like this wall-mounted double oven.
