Have you ever stumbled upon a website that felt like a blast from the past but somehow… completely fresh? A site that used bold, retro fonts, vintage color palettes, and nostalgic layouts—but didn’t feel outdated? That’s the magic of Newtro, and if you own a Squarespace website, you might already be part of this movement without even knowing it.
Newtro (a mix of “new” and “retro”) started making waves in South Korea years ago, reshaping everything from fashion to branding to digital design. It’s about taking the best of the past—classic typography, structured grids, muted pastels—and revamping them for the modern world. If you’ve ever been drawn to sleek, vintage-inspired Squarespace templates, you’re already tapping into the future of web design.
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Our Picks: Top Rated Squarespace "Newtro" Website Templates
Belisa
- Combines retro website aesthetic with modern functionality.
- Designed for bars or restaurants with a nostalgic twist.
- Highlights classic cocktails in an old-school layout.
- Perfect for establishing a cozy, throwback ambiance.
The Belisa template captures the essence of a retro cocktail bar, creating a unique online presence for restaurants and bars. This retro website theme emphasizes bold typography, dark colors, and cozy design elements, making it feel like stepping into a classic speakeasy. It’s perfect for venues wanting to emphasize tradition with a twist, allowing each menu item to stand out.
Ideal for locations that value ambiance and aesthetics, this template draws visitors into a vintage-inspired space, creating a visual storytelling experience. The retro website aesthetic works beautifully to highlight unique drinks or dishes, while interactive elements make reservations easy and accessible.
With Belisa, customers will be eager to explore the atmosphere you’ve created, making it perfect for a bar or restaurant that values charm and personality. This isn’t just a website; it’s a mood, an experience, a digital night out.
Hemlock
- Retro website template tailored for vegan restaurants.
- Combines nostalgic vibes with a modern, clean layout.
- Designed for brands prioritizing natural, organic aesthetics.
- Perfect for creating a groovy, welcoming atmosphere.
Hemlock brings a warm, vintage-inspired touch to vegan dining, combining classic elements with a fresh, inviting layout. This retro website theme makes use of soft colors, playful typography, and a relaxed structure, ideal for brands wanting to communicate both charm and eco-consciousness. It’s a perfect way to convey a sense of authenticity while maintaining a polished and professional appearance.
For restaurants, cafes, or brands that are all about natural ingredients and a friendly vibe, this template resonates with those values. It’s not just about the food—it’s about creating a space where customers feel welcomed. The retro website aesthetic draws people in, while the simple reservation system and contact details make everything convenient.
This template is ideal for any restaurant aiming to leave a lasting impression. It has that nostalgic touch, but with modern functionality, giving your brand the best of both worlds.
Alta Loma
- Retro website design with a minimalist twist for soap brands.
- Highlights product quality with a clean, timeless layout.
- Built for showcasing artisan, small-batch items.
- Perfect for brands that value simplicity and elegance.
Alta Loma combines retro design with a serene, minimalist approach, ideal for artisan soap brands or skincare products. This retro website template uses soft hues and elegant typography to create an inviting, calming experience. It’s the kind of design that doesn’t overwhelm, instead gently guiding the viewer through each product and story.
This template is perfect for brands focused on purity and craftsmanship, capturing the essence of “less is more.” The retro website aesthetic here isn’t flashy; it’s intentional, ensuring the focus stays on quality and natural beauty. Every element feels purposeful, making it an excellent choice for small businesses in the wellness or beauty space.
With Alta Loma, you’re not just selling soap; you’re sharing a lifestyle, a philosophy. This design is timeless yet modern, letting your brand’s essence shine through.
Soony
- Retro website theme with a bold, fun twist.
- Perfect for showcasing unique, whimsical products.
- Offers an interactive, visually engaging experience.
- Captures a quirky, nostalgic feel with a playful layout.
The Soony template is perfect for brands with a sense of humor and a love for nostalgia. This retro website design celebrates bold shapes, bright colors, and a layout that feels like a blast from the past. It’s ideal for creative brands selling products that are unique, whimsical, and fun.
With an eye-catching, nostalgic vibe, this template lets each product shine with its own unique personality. The retro website aesthetic makes browsing feel like a playful experience, pulling users into an imaginative world where each candle is its own character. Perfect for brands wanting a distinct, memorable online presence.
Soony is a fantastic choice for stores looking to bring a bit of joy and surprise to their audience, making every scroll feel like an adventure back in time.
Rotate
- Strong, empowering retro website design for fitness studios.
- Embraces a dynamic layout with bold colors and images.
- Perfect for building community and engaging users.
- Captures the energy of a retro-inspired fitness movement.
Rotate offers a throwback to bold, expressive design, ideal for fitness studios focused on strength and movement. This retro website theme uses large images, impactful fonts, and a powerful layout that feels energetic and engaging. It’s a space that invites users to connect, join in, and feel the vibe.
For woman-owned studios or those looking to build an inclusive community, this template speaks volumes. It captures that 90s-inspired confidence, blending retro website aesthetics with functionality that’s perfect for showcasing class schedules, testimonials, and merch.
This template is all about creating a space that feels empowering and inviting. Rotate isn’t just a site; it’s a movement, an invitation to become part of something greater.
Minoru
- Playful, colorful retro website template for educators.
- Combines fun design with clear, interactive features.
- Perfect for personal branding in education or coaching.
- Captures a friendly, accessible vibe with retro charm.
Minoru is a retro website theme designed for educators or tutors who want a playful, welcoming online space. This template’s bright colors, bold fonts, and interactive layout make learning feel like an adventure. It’s perfect for anyone looking to add personality to their teaching style, engaging students with a friendly, relatable vibe.
The retro website aesthetic here makes things approachable, breaking away from the formal, sterile feel of typical educational sites. This template is ideal for anyone looking to teach in a way that’s personal and connected. The design is both nostalgic and engaging, bringing a sense of fun to every interaction.
Minoru is all about making education feel inviting, like learning with a trusted friend. It’s perfect for those who value connection and creativity in their teaching approach.
While the West is just now catching up with the return of Y2K aesthetics, archival branding, and 90s minimalism, Korea has been perfecting this blend of past and present for years.
The question is: how can you use this knowledge to stay ahead of the trend?
What is Newtro?
Newtro is all about taking familiar retro elements and updating them for today’s world. It’s more than just copying old aesthetics—it’s about reinterpreting them to feel fresh and exciting.
For example, APT-core draws inspiration from Korea’s 80s and 90s apartment buildings, turning their raw, functional aesthetic into something aspirational. Pink Black, another rising trend, blends soft pastels with bold, moody contrasts, creating a stylish and timeless look.
This concept goes beyond fashion—it’s deeply embedded in graphic design, branding, and especially website layouts. Many Squarespace templates with bold typography, structured grid layouts, and retro-feeling elements reflect the same design principles that Newtro perfected in Korea years ago.
How Newtro is Already in Squarespace Design
If your website has ever used a retro-inspired yet highly functional template, you’re already tapping into the Newtro aesthetic. Some key elements that make a website feel both nostalgic and modern include:
- Retro Typography with a Modern Twist – Think bold, vintage-inspired fonts with updated weight, spacing, and alignment to feel contemporary.
- Grid-Based Layouts Inspired by Print Media – Magazine-style designs that balance structure with flexibility.
- Muted Pastel + Bold Contrast Color Schemes – Soft 80s and 90s-inspired hues mixed with deep blacks, navy, or burnt oranges for a modern depth.
- Nostalgic Photo Treatments & Filters – Soft grain, subtle fading, and retro-inspired color grading that make a website feel timeless yet fresh.
Squarespace’s latest design trends echo the same balance of old-meets-new that Korea has perfected through Newtro, proving that the future of design often takes cues from the past.
Why This Matters for Squarespace Designers & Website Owners
Right now, vintage aesthetics are everywhere. Y2K fashion, archival branding, and classic design elements are making a huge comeback. But here’s the thing—Korea has been leading this shift for years through Newtro.
In South Korea, reviving cassette players, flip phones, and retro fonts wasn’t just a passing trend—it was a design philosophy. Every element was modernized to feel fresh and relevant, instead of just being a throwback. Now, we’re seeing the same approach in global branding, web design, and product aesthetics.
If you design websites, work in branding, or run a business on Squarespace, Newtro’s influence is already shaping the look and feel of modern digital spaces:
- Website Design: Retro-inspired yet sleek and structured Squarespace templates that blend nostalgia with modern UX.
- Typography & Logos: 80s and 90s-inspired fonts coming back, but with updated spacing and minimalism.
- Branding & Product Design: Beauty and fashion brands leaning into a mix of vintage and futuristic branding styles.
How to Stay Ahead of the Trend
If you want your website to feel fresh yet timeless, take inspiration from how Korea evolved nostalgia into something new. Notice how they modernized retro elements without making them feel outdated. That’s exactly where design, branding, and website aesthetics are headed next.
Some takeaways for Squarespace users and designers:
- Experiment with retro-inspired, but user-friendly website designs (structured layouts, nostalgic colors, but sleek UX).
- Try mixing old-school fonts and logos with modern spacing and minimalism.
- Pay attention to how Korean brands refresh past trends instead of just replicating them.
The best part? You’re discovering this now, before it becomes oversaturated. Vintage isn’t just a passing phase—it’s a design movement, and knowing about Newtro gives you the inside track on where aesthetics are headed next.
So next time you update your Squarespace site, think about this—how can you blend the past and future in a way that feels fresh, stylish, and completely now?
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