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A 1950s rotary telephone adds authenticity.Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images
Put in checked linoleum floors for a 1950s kitchen or diner look. Alternatively, low-pile carpet or patterned throw rugs warm up the floor and suit the look. - 2). Hang pendant lamps with glass or metal shades. These classic 1950s light fixtures cast a warm glow and create an instant retro effect to transform your garage.
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A vintage radio and furniture with tapered legs out of the 1950s.Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
Arrange authentic or reproduced '50s furniture in the garage. Choose from streamlined rectangular couches, curvy loveseats, vinyl diner booths with chrome-edged tables, metal-legged wooden chairs, retro rocking chairs or chunky upholstered armchairs, depending on how you want to use the garage. - 4). Add side tables with clean lines, a standing lamp, a funky table lamp from the '50s -- such as a bear holding up the lampshade -- and a big, square 1950s TV with rabbit ears. Rabbit ears looked like alien antennae and sometimes required frequent adjustment for good TV reception.
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Pin-ups are a classic 1950s garage accessory.George Marks/Retrofile/Getty Images
Decorate the garage with choice accessories such as a 1950s radio and a rotary dial telephone. Connect the phone to a live phone line and you'll get the old-fashioned phone ring for an authentic effect. - 6). Hang wall art such as '50s movie posters, ads or classic pin-ups. These images evoke the styles and personalities of the past. For example, hang posters or movie stills from "Rebel Without a Cause," "Singin' in the Rain" or "Vertigo."
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A classic car with a gleaming chrome grill provides instant time travel.Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
Hang pleated drapes or Venetian blinds along one wall to create a fake picture window. Alternatively, park a classic car on one side of the garage and hang a large movie screen in front of it. Use a movie projector to create your own 1950s drive-in.
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