Retro, according to Merriam-Webster, means relating to, reviving, or being in the styles and especially the fashions of the past. In other words, these items could be newer or older. It's quite a vague term. But what about the way the word is typically used in interior design? ‘Retro refers to items from or inspired by recent past decades, often the 1950s through the 1980s,’ explains Nadia Watts of Nadia Watts Interior Design. ‘Retro pieces are bold, playful, and graphic, perfect for adding a fun, unexpected twist to a more traditional or neutral design,’ she says.