Fall In Love With Vintage '60s Kitchen Tables and Chairs
The sights, sounds, and tastes of the 1960s evoke nostalgia for the groovy era of beanbag chairs, lava lamps, and go-go boots. What better way to celebrate the decade than by time traveling back to the fabulous retro world every time you sit down for a meal? Vintage 1960s kitchen tables and chairs let you recreate mid-century modern cool with pops of retro color and space age silhouettes suited for today's open concept kitchens.
Beyond the kitschy appeal, used 1960s dining sets offer substance too. Craftsmanship stands the test of time better than the particleboard common in budget furniture today. By sourcing secondhand instead of buying new, you can curate a stylish vintage look while actually saving money. Read on to learn why 1960s kitchen furnishings are experiencing a comeback and get inspired to fall in love with the atomic age all over again.
Defining 1960s Style
The 1960s delivered much more than eco-friendly granola and free love. The iconic looks we associate with mid-century modern design also emerged during this defining decade. Alongside Scandinavian influences, American industrial prowess produced durable laminates and molded plastics ideal for mass production of nifty tables and chairs with slim profiles, tapered legs, and groovy shapes.
Colorful and Patterned Formica Tabletops
Think boomerang patterns, gold sparkle flakes, or citrus colored surfaces to brighten the room. Everything laminate goes mod in the 1960s with textured surfaces mimicking natural wood grains in crazy colors. Easy to wipe down formica tabletops also withstand scratches better than real wood, explaining their continued popularity over half a century later.
Distinctive Tapered or Slim Metal Legs
With influences from Danish modern beginning mid-century, unadorned wooden chairs often accompanied dining tables supported by tapering metal rods. Chrome polish reflects light to create the illusion of more space within modest kitchens. The narrow side view left room for easy traffic flow, suiting open floorplans.
Danish-inspired Teakwood
Teak imported from Southeast Asia was the preferred material for Danish designers like Hans Wegner. Tables or chairs crafted from teak incorporate gentle organic forms, dynamically steam bent with smooth joinery. The natural oil content makes solid wood chairs durable and easy to maintain with a quick sand and layer of protective oil to revive the golden finish time and again.
Funky Melamine Chairs
On a budget? Colorful melamine resin allowed mass production of those crazy patterned retro chairs at prices middle class families could afford. Echoing laminate tabletop looks in complementary hues, melamine chairs resist fading, wear, heat, and stains while remaining easy to wipe down after messy family meals. Talk about chair-isma!
Why Choose Vintage 1960s Furniture
Beyond the atomic age aesthetic, 1960s tables and chairs offer craftsmanship that leads them to outperform inexpensive reproductions or new furniture purchases today. Quality mid-century construction coupled with deals waiting to be discovered at estate sales or on resale sites means you can give your kitchen a facelift on almost any budget.
Better Construction Quality than New Budget Options
Furniture mass produced today simply doesn't match up to the solid wood, durable laminates, and sturdy metal framing found in vintage 1960s pieces. Sets produced to last passed through everyday life intact allowing vintage shoppers to score well-made furnishings for a fraction of the cost of modern equivalents. Even melamine dinette chairs withstand heavy use over generations.
Unique Character from Retro Patterns and Colors
Why limit personality in a space meant for gathering? Vintage formica surfaces and melamine chairs give you permission to take design risks with delicious '60s patterns rare to find today outside custom commissions. The right atomic print livens neutral backdrops, while bright colors inject cheer into a dreary kitchen.
Furnish Stylishly for Less Compared to Reproductions
Big box stores caught onto the appeal of these retro styles with mid-century reproductions selling at high price points. Skip the lookalikes with cut corners and quality issues by hunting down an authentic vintage set on resale sites for a steal. With some elbow grease to polish up a secondhand find, the savings mean more room in your decorating budget for an atomic ranch overhaul.
Enjoy Pieces Passed Through Generations
Beyond the monetary value, vintage kitchen sets carry the legacy of previous eras with them. When sourcing secondhand furniture you may welcome well-loved pieces already infused with generations of memories into your home. Hand them down to your own kids to continue loving.
Sourcing 1960s Sets and Pricing
Finding that perfect vintage set at a price that fits your wallet simply takes knowing the right places to shop. Learn to evaluate condition issues commonly resolved with some DIY elbow grease too. Then look forward to welcoming a cool '60s set home with you!
Where to Shop: Estate Sales, Flea Markets, Antiques Shops
Estate sales offer the chance to score pieces still set up right in the home where a 1960s set served families across generations. Get there early on opening weekend for the best selection! You may also get lucky and spot mid-century kitchen pieces mixed into flea market vendor booths or antiques shops focusing on 20th century decorative items.
Evaluating Condition and Quality Craftsmanship
Inspect tables and chairs carefully before purchase. Minor scratches or water marks come out fairly easily, but be wary of major damage like missing veneers, deep gouges, splits to the wood, or rust. Quality craftsmanship should feature smooth joins rather than nails or glue visible. Hoist melamine chairs to ensure sturdy intact frames.
Estimated Pricing for Tables and Full Dinette Sets
Expect to invest between $50-$250 for a single mid-century modern chair, $100-$500 for standalone tables, and $250-$1000+ for full dinette sets with coordinating chairs. Rare patterns by designers like Paul McCobb fetch higher sums. But deals under these general pricing guidelines frequently pop up in secondary markets.
Styling a 1960s Kitchen or Dining Space
First, consider your goals for the room. Seeking an entertaining hub or a cozy family hangout? Then determine the vintage furnishings joining your main event stars: the table and chairs! Pull the room together through color schemes or contrasting patterns layered atop forfeiting textures.
Mixing Eclectic Patterns and Textures
Create interest by pairing laminates with wood chairs or introduce varied leg silhouettes between sets. Contrast matte formica with the shine of chrome legs. Just take care to coordinate eras so the overall vibe remains cohesive. The right balance transports visitors right back to the era.
Complementary Accent Colors to Make It Pop
Scan vintage magazines from the 1960s to identify color combos that pop. Tangerine chairs sing against turquoise lowboard cabinets. Pumpkin tabletops shine brighter against true white subway tiles. Use era-appropriate colors in accessories to tie the scheme together.
Ideas for Wall Art, Flooring, Centerpieces
Final touches complete the nostalgic mood. Hang brightly colored glass globes as pendants to echo melamine chair hues. Roll out vinyl tile flooring for an authentic foundation. Craft atomic starbursts using Sculpey bakeable clay for fun table decor. The right details get guests mingling like they just walked onto the set of Mad Men.
Caring for Your Vintage Sets
With pieces that have made it 50+ years already, just a little periodic TLC keeps vintage sets serving for decades to come. Learn the appropriate care for the materials your pieces feature. Then break out the cleaning supplies or DIY repair kits to handle minor issues as they pop up.
Cleaning Tips for Wood, Laminate, Chrome
Dust buildup on wood calls for a seasonal wipe down with oil soap and warm water to revive the grain before reoiling. Laminates also benefit from gentle soap and water when tackling sticky spills or grimy film buildup. Use vinegar or chrome polish to tackle small rust spots on metal legs as needed.
Repairing Scratches, Staining, Loose Joints
Mineral spirits tackle white water marks or heat stains etching into wood tables before reoiling to protect. Fill in scratches with wood filler before sanding for an invisible fix. When chair or table joints loosen from use over time, use wood glue and clamps to reinforce the bond.
Touching Up Chips and Discoloration
For melamine chairs, pick up paint pens matching retro hues to seamlessly touch up any chips or scrapes marring the crisp finish. Use touch up markers on chrome scratches too. Kits also allow laminate repairs for chipped formica or heat damaged surfaces to regain a smooth and bright tabletop.
DIY 1960s Inspired Makeovers
Even if authentic vintage isn't in the budget right now, you can still infuse that playful retro spirit through DIY projects. Transform flea market finds into showstoppers, paint up a bargain set with 1960s flair, or craft custom laminates. Let your creativity run wild!
Painting Techniques to Get That Retro Look
Drab unfinished wood sets become dazzling with just paint! Sand until smooth before priming, then use rolling, sponging, or splatter techniques to develop dimension with two paint colors evoking 1960s palettes. Decoupage cutout patterned paper across the surface too. Finally, seal it in with a protective clear coat to admire that handcrafted look for years.
Reupholstering Kitschy Vintage Chair Styles
Thrifted chairs get revived when you reupholster seat cushions in eye-catching retro fabrics - the wilder, the better! Use foam cut precisely to size and spray adhesive to attach the fresh covering directly onto the existing seat. Then staple underside seams neatly before screwing the seat base back onto the salvaged frame.
Steps for a Faux Boomerang Laminate Table
Custom printed papers attached to plywood builds faux formica tabletops mimicking retro stone patterns or graphic prints. Use contact cement to tightly adhere shelf liner paper atop boards cut precisely to size. Then trim overhanging edges with an art knife before attaching tapered hairpin legs found online. Seal it off by coating in clear epoxy resin applied across the surface for scratched resistant durability that looks like the real deal!
Where to Buy Your Own
Once that vintage buying bug bites, you'll want to start your search for affordable 1960s kitchen sets to call your own right away. Here are top sources to browse online and locally before planning your estate sale debut too!
Top Vintage Dealers to Browse Online
Major players in the mid-century marketplace like Chairish, 1stDibs and Etsy offer search tools to connect buyers and sellers across geographic regions. Sort by item location to potentially score something close enough to arrange local pick-up. Invest in all-in pricing upfront so vintage gems get safely delivered right to your door instead.
Local Listings on Facebook Marketplace
Search generic terms like "vintage table" or "retro chairs" to uncover hidden gems in nearby listings. The site allows saving custom searches too so you get notifications anytime new items matching your keywords pop up for sale in surrounding areas. Moving sales mean negotiating opportunities to potentially snag pieces below list pricing as well!
Planning Your Estate Sale Shopping Trip
Watch estate sale listing sites for mid-century merchandise previews then bookmark the most promising sales to launch your search. Set your GPS for mapped locations and early arrival to beat the crowds. Bring cash, flexible measuring tape, and an SUV/truck to transport big ticket pieces. Now just keep your eyes peeled for red "sold" stickers and be prepared to act fast once you spot that atomic dream set to take home!
More Nostalgic Decor Ideas
The atomic ranch design influence shaped more than standout kitchen tables and chairs. Continue your vintage vision throughout surrounding cabinetry, appliances and breakfast nooks too. Then mix in additional eras for an eclectic home showcasing 20th century style at its very best.
Extending the Style to Cabinets, Appliances
Salvage metal kitchen cabinets dating back to the 1950s or 60s for sly smooth surfaces contrasting tactile laminate countertops. Hunt down a retro refrigerator in a quirky color to become the heart of your kitschy kitchen. Pull it all together by coating walls in era-evoking pastel hues like powder blue or muted yellow.
1950s Atomic Ranch Kitchen Influences
Channel mid-century predecessors through atomic starburst clocks, patterned metal pendant lights, and advertising print wall art. Harvest gold fixtures, butcher block surfaces, and diner-style barstools capture 1950s ambiance. Just mix in those 1960s tables and chairs to evolve the attitude into the next decade.
Set an instant nostalgic scene for casual meals and cups of joe by incorporating a vibrant vinyl diner booth snagged from a restaurant resale site. Pair with checkerboard black and white floors that contrast brightly with chrome edges and tabletop jukeboxes summoning memories of malt shops and poodle skirts now channeled through your cheery breakfast nook!
Let the calming benefits of nostalgia wash over you every time midday hunger strikes or your family gathers together for dinner when you welcome vintage 1960s style to your open concept kitchen or dining space. With better quality lasting decades and affordable secondhand prices, snag your own funky retro chairs or sleek laminate table today!