Retro living rooms often build around one bold move: a patterned floor near the hearth, a run of geometric tile on a feature wall, or a warm mustard and chocolate palette used with real confidence. Large format tiles in calmer tones frame the rest of the room and keep maintenance low, suiting a fully committed retro scheme as well as a more classic room with just a hint of period warmth.
Around a fireplace, smaller decorative, mosaic, or brick-shaped tiles bring texture and pattern exactly where the eye lands first. Stone effect, wood effect, and large plain porcelain remain the most popular choices for the wider floor. A patterned feature wall is also worth considering, since it brings a level of warmth and personality to a living space that paint on its own cannot quite achieve.