Kitschy style is the design trend making a return to our kitchens this summer
Kitschy vintage style is taking over kitchens this summer. Find out everything you need to know about the trend
More than any other room in your home, your kitchen can be a space of creativity – not just for what you're cooking but for your interior design, too.
Kitsch is the interior design trend that allows you to blend colours, patterns and shapes in a way that's unique to your home – and it's making a trending return this summer. While it might sound new, kitsch is in essence all about nostalgia. Think warm, earthy tones and florals patterns of the 1960s and 70s, or the bright electric colours and chrome accents of the 1950s and 60s. At its heart it's a carefree blend of colourful dopamine décor with a splash of retro style, but really, the fun of embracing kitsch is making it exactly what you want it to be.
But don't worry, you don't need to remodel your whole kitchen to make it kitschy. It can be as simple as combining colours that don't match or bringing together clashing patterns, or as elaborate as buying a new fridge in a statement colour. No more neutrals! Kitsch design embraces bold shades and confident style choices, whether that's bright painted cabinets, patterned vases overflowing with flowers, tongue-in-cheek prints on the walls or pastel appliances on your counters.
Read on for our favourite ways to bring kitsch back into your kitchen this summer.

What is kitsch kitchen style?
Kitsch sits somewhere between the bright colours of dopamine décor and the 1950s designs of retro, with a combination of colourful pastel hues and vibrant patterns.
You can embrace the trend as much or as little as you want, from having a brightly coloured fridge to opting for vintage tableware in contrasting patterns. Lots of modern appliances also feature retro designs with curved shapes, bright colours and chrome details.
One of our favourite things about having a kitschy kitchen is the freedom to mix and match different colours, patterns and styles. When it comes to this vintage aesthetic, it's the more the merrier.

The best ways to bring kitsch into your kitchen
Oliver Bonas Kitchen Disco framed wall art
- Available from Oliver Bonas (£70)

If you're anything like us, your kitchen regularly becomes an impromptu dance floor. This print is a colourful addition to your walls with a blue chequered background, star motifs and gold glitter details.
KitchenAid Artisan tilt-head 4.8L stand mixer in pistachio
- Available from Harts of Stur (£358.95), Currys (£359), KitchenAid (£439.20)

KitchenAid's tilt-head stand mixers are somewhat of a kitchen icon with a silhouette that's recognisable to any baker. These mixers are powerful and versatile, with accessories available to transform them into ice cream makers, pasta rollers and even meat grinders. But one of our favourite things about KitchenAid's range is the colours on offer. Pistachio is a muted green that's perfect for bringing a hint of kitsch to your kitchen – or take your pick from pastel pink, butter yellow and many more.
Roberts Revival Petit 2 in sunburst yellow
- Available from Amazon (£99), Selfridges (£99.99), Roberts Radio (£99.99), Currys (£99.99)

Roberts Radios have been around for nearly 100 years, and combine retro designs with modern convenience. Whether you're having a kitchen disco or listening to your audiobook while cooking, a radio is a must for making your kitchen feel like home. With this radio you can use Bluetooth to connect to your phone, or DAB/FM to connect to the radio, plus it's portable so you can move it around your kitchen with you. We love this bright sunburst yellow, but there's a wide range of pastel colours on offer.
Bodum x MOMA Bistro programmable coffee maker
- Available from Selfridges (£110)

If you're someone who likes a mellow, fruity, gentle coffee rather than a rich espresso or milky cappuccino, owning a filter coffee maker is a great option. But this doesn't mean your coffee machine has to look boring, or not fit in with your kitchen style. This machine is a collaboration between Bodum and MOMA, and makes use of a retro design with pops of yellow, purple and green.
Lucy Tiffney floral small storage container
- Available from Next (£14)

Mixing and matching different colourful prints can be a brilliant way of giving your kitchen a kitsch feel. This storage jar would work really well for salt or sugar, and is pretty enough to live on exposed shelves or in pride of place next to your cooker.
Smeg retro tall fridge in pink
- Available from Marks Electricals (£1,369), Smeg (£1,399)

There are few brands that fit the kitsch kitchen style aesthetic quite as well as Smeg. And no kitsch kitchen would be complete without a Smeg fridge. You could go for the muted cream if you're after a more minimal retro vibe but we think the pink is perfect for making your kitchen scream kitsch.
Orla Kiely Atomic Flower set of six stacking mugs
- Available from Amazon (£50)

Whether it's your morning coffee, a cup of tea in the afternoon or an evening hot chocolate, a good set of mugs is crucial in any kitchen. In the case of kitsch decor, they're a great and relatively affordable way of touching on a trend in your kitchen without changing anything major. These mugs from Orla Kiely are stackable for easy storage with a retro pattern.
Our Place Wonder Oven in spice
- Available from Our Place (£195), Selfridges (£195)

We've tested dozens of air fryers, but there aren't many we can say are truly beautiful. But this one from Our Place is truly gorgeous, with a glass window and round dials that are sweetly reminiscent of a child's toy oven. Our favourite part is the brand's signature matte-finish colours which earns this air fryer a place on your countertop. We love Spice, a warm pale pink, which marries well with the retro design, making it ideal for a kitsch-themed kitchen.
Emma Bridgewater marmalade tea towel
- Available from Emma Bridgewater (£13)

Having a fruit motif, particularly citrus fruit, is a key part of kitsch kitchen style. Emma Bridgewater is well-known for its prints, and we love this new marmalade print tea towel which would look beautiful hanging on your oven door as a bright pop of yellow and orange.
Le Creuset Kone kettle in nectar
- Available from Amazon (£72.75), Harts of Stur (£74.25), Le Creuset (£99)

Using a stovetop kettle rather than an electric kettle is a great way to introduce some retro elements into your kitchen. It's also a brilliant way of adding a pop of colour, like this bright yellow Nectar from Le Creuset. It has a 1.6L capacity which is great if you're regularly brewing tea or coffee for a crowd.
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