Retro Style Paint Colour Palette

Explore Benjamin Moore’s “new retro” paint colour palette, a celebration of influential colour and design details of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s.

A retro style room with white-painted walls and ceiling, a brown accent wall, large windows and a red chair.

Explore Benjamin Moore’s “new retro” paint colour palette, a celebration of influential colour and design details of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s.

We’re shaking up the concept of “retro style” by taking iconic design styles and blending them with a modern, eclectic kick. Pair thrift store finds with family heirlooms and contemporary touches to create a unique look that is distinctive to you.

Design inspiration for the new retro colour palette includes:

1950s: Playful refreshing pastels, colourful appliances and bold tile patterns
1960s: Organic colours juxtaposed with bright curated hues and midcentury modern vintage décor
1970s: A mix of amped up earth tones and synthetic hues; shag, wicker and rattan

The Benjamin Moore New Retro Colour Palette

Redefine vintage with our “new retro” paint colour palette, a reflection of colour and design details from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s.

"Our eclectic mix of 50’s-, 60’s-, and 70’s-inspired hues can help to bring an effervescent nostalgia to your space."

Arianna Cesa - Colour & Design Expert

A dining room in neutral hues, with wooden beams, a wooden table, wicker chairs and tabletop baskets.

Weaving Retro Style with Natural Materials

Tap into ‘70s boho by using woven, natural materials in furniture, lighting fixtures and accessories. Textured touches like shag, macramé and rattan add warmth to any room.

Natural elements pair beautifully with the rustic side of the new retro palette, from soft off-white Cloud Cover OC-25 to Mississippi Mud 2114-20 to golden York Harbour Yellow 2154-40. Add a modern twist and pair breezy accessories with cool grays like Vapour Trail 1556, shown here.

If you dig the laid back, effortlessly cool vibes of the 1970s, it’s easy to recreate it in your home. Use a comforting colour palette of earth tones centred around dark brown Mississippi Mud 2114-20, paired with any combination of Clay Beige OC-11, Cloud White OC-130, Bennington Gray HC-82, and Sussex Green HC-109.

An entryway with red-trimmed door, red print rug, and green-painted bookcase.

Accent with Saturated Paint Colours

Beyond the earth tone colours of the ‘70s is the wilder, more surreal colour palette of the decade. Add floral patterns, squiggly lines and sturdy synthetics for far out, maximalist style.

Here, bold Smouldering Red 2007-10 on the door and cheery Woodland Hills Green 543 on the bookcase provide complementary, high contrast colour and nostalgic feels.

The furniture-like finish for the door and bookcase shown here comes by way of ADVANCE^® Interior, a premium paint recommended for deluxe cabinets, trim, doors and more.

A bright room with white painted walls, beamed ceiling, French doors, red Egg chair and red hanging mobile.

Curved, Colourful Furniture

Synonymous with midcentury modern design, the 1960s found soft, curved couches and chairs in bold hues as a new living room mainstay. Our new retro paint colour palette synergizes beautifully with this decade’s iconic furnishings.

For furniture in warmer hues like red, orange, yellow, consider First Light 2102-70, Shaker Beige HC-45, and White Opulence OC-69 (shown here).

Furniture in cooler hues like green, blue, and purple pair beautifully with walls in Palladian Blue HC-144, Cloud Cover OC-25, and Metropolitan AF-690, a former Benjamin Moore Colour of the Year.

A room with dark blue-painted wainscoting, a light blue wall, gray desk and white and red chair.

Clean Lines Meet Monochromatic Paint Colours

Sleek, monochromatic paint colours beautifully accentuate the clean lines of midcentury modern design.

Case in point: This home office combines Palladian Blue HC-144—a warm blue-green, with Van Deusen Blue HC-156, which provides vibrancy and depth. A sleek desk, tulip™ chair and sunburst clock round out the 1960s vintage charm.

Other monochromatic colour pairings we recommend include:

Sophisticated & Light: White Dove OC-17 and Seapearl OC-19
Sunbaked Neutrals: Bar Harbour Beige 1032 and Clay 1034
Saturated & Sleek: Yukon Green 2051-10 and Misted Green 2138-50

A kitchen with light pink-painted cabinets, a pink toaster, cutting board, dishes, and tan-painted wall with blue clock.

Pales, Pastels and Pink: ‘50s Dreaming

Playful pastels and refreshing pales say 1950s—with pretty pinks in the spotlight. From punchy bubblegum hues to blushed petal pinks, pink is a feel-good colour that plays a starring role in our new retro palette, thanks to First Light 2102-70, a former Benjamin Moore Colour of the Year.

If an all-pink look isn’t quite right for you, try pairing pink with softer neutrals for a more subtle, contemporary approach to this retro look.

Pink and neutral pairings we love include:

Heather Pink 2091-60 and Muslin OC-12
Gentle Butterfly 2173-70 and Silver Song 1557
First Light 2102-70 and Thunder AF-685, from our fan favourite Affinity^® Collection (shown here)

A hallway with a gray and white check- painted floor, white walls and ceiling, blue doors and trim, a bench and chairs.

Painted Checkerboard Floor: A Modern Twist

The classic checkerboard floor instantly evokes retro vibes. Prevalent in 1950s American diners, this look is commonly found in kitchens and achieved with tile or linoleum.

Use paint to take a more creative approach to the checkerboard floor and swap colours out during a DIY weekend project. Go for classic black and white, or switch it up with more vibrant hues. We love checkerboard floors in entryways and mudrooms for a cheerful, nostalgic welcome.

In this hallway, dark gray and off-white pair beautifully for a modern twist. Glass Slipper 1632, a soft, powdery blue-gray on the window trim and painted doors, round out the retro look.